(This article is published in collaboration with Hundprat.se.)
How long does it take before the puppy becomes house-trained? It is a fairly common question among new dog owners and as difficult to answer as "How long is a piece of string?". Dogs are different, some puppies understand quite quickly where to go while others need more time. To help you and your four-legged friend, Jenny from Hundprat.se offers 5 tips to get the puppy house-trained as quickly and easily as possible.
1. Accept that the puppy needs time to become house-trained
After all, it takes a little time to get a puppy house-trained and many underestimate how long it can take. But with a little extra patience and consistent action it will hopefully take as short a time as possible.
2. A limited area helps the puppy understand
Dogs prefer not to do their business where they live or sleep, but it can take a while for the puppy to understand that your whole house or apartment is the dog's living area. By limiting the puppy's area where it is allowed to be, for example with a gate, you teach the puppy, one step at a time, what is living area and what is not. It is also easier for you to keep an eye on the puppy so that it does not run off and do its business in a hidden corner of the home.
"The best way to avoid unwanted behaviour is to prevent it and make sure it does not happen at all."
Limit the dog's area at night too and be prepared to go out with the puppy even at night-time.
3. Take the puppy out, often!
It is often said that what the dog is "trained" to do, it continues to do, so if the dog is "trained" to pee on the lawn it will continue to pee on the lawn. So take the puppy out often and make it a habit to take the puppy out right after it has eaten, after it has slept, after it has played and a lot in between, and you will quickly have a house-trained puppy.
4. Do you want a house-trained puppy - reward the right behaviour!
Dogs like to keep doing what they get praised for. So when the puppy does its business outdoors, reward it! Either you reward with words or with a treat or toy. Show the dog that it did a good job!
5. Protect your relationship
If an accident happens inside the house, gently carry the puppy out and show it where to go. Stay calm and do NOT get angry. Getting angry does not help the situation, it only harms the relationship between you and the puppy, and does not house-train the puppy faster.
Visit hundprat.se if you want more puppy tips, training tips or just a dose of lovely dog inspiration!
Good luck with the training!
