Best Housebreaking Tips for Puppies: A Step-by-Step Guide

 Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting adventure but it also comes with a few challenges—like housebreaking! Knowing how to guide your puppy through this important learning process can make all the difference in creating a happy, well-adjusted companion.

With the right approach, housebreaking can be a straightforward and rewarding experience. So, let’s explore the most effective tips to ensure your puppy quickly knows where they should (and shouldn’t) do their business, setting the stage for a lifetime of good habits. Here are the best housebreaking tips for puppies as a step-by-step guide for new puppy parents.

Setting the Stage: Prepare Before Your Puppy Arrives

Preparation is key when welcoming a new puppy into your home. It’s not just about having the right supplies—it’s about creating an environment where your puppy feels safe, loved, and ready to learn. 

Here’s how to get started:

• Puppy-proof your home: Just like baby-proofing, ensuring your home is safe for your curious new friend is essential. Remove small or dangerous objects, secure electrical cords, and block off areas where they shouldn’t roam.
• Stock up on essentials: Have everything ready—from food and water bowls to a comfy bed, chew toys, and training treats. These basics will help your puppy settle in and provide tools for teaching good habits from day one. 

• Plan for housebreaking your puppy: Otherwise known as housetraining, housebreaking is a crucial first step in helping your pup learn where to do its business. It involves teaching them where to relieve themselves and ensuring they don’t mess inside your home. 
• Crate training is your secret weapon: Crate training is a fantastic way to help with housebreaking while providing a safe space for your puppy. Crates tap into a dog’s instinct as a den animal—offering a cosy, secure spot where they can rest and feel safe. It also prevents accidents when you can’t supervise them directly, teaching them to hold it until they’re outside. But note that you shouldn’t put your pup in a crate longer than they can hold their bladders!

• Establish a routine: Puppies thrive on routine. Plan a consistent schedule for feeding, potty breaks, and playtime. This helps them understand what to expect and when to expect it, reducing anxiety and promoting quicker learning.

 

Housebreaking for Puppies Made Easy: Practical Tips for Success

Housebreaking puppies doesn’t have to be stressful. You’ll have a well-trained, happy pet in no time with patience, consistency, and a little understanding of how your puppy learns. Let’s dive into some practical housebreaking tips for puppies, with this step-by-step guide to help you on this journey!

Understanding the Basics of Housebreaking Puppies

Essentially, housebreaking is teaching your puppy where their designated bathroom spot is. Remember, your puppy wants to please you, but they might not immediately understand what you expect. 

The goal is to help them learn that the outdoors is where they should relieve themselves and to clearly communicate when they need to go out. 

Crate Training Tips

Crates are powerful tools for housebreaking because they help your puppy learn to control their bladder and bowels. Here’s how to make the most of crate training during this time:

• Choose the right size crate: Your pup should be big enough to stand, turn around, and lie comfortably. Too large, and they might use one end as a bathroom.
• Make it positive: Toss treats into the crate and use a command like “Crate!” Reward your puppy immediately when it enters. That way, they will create a positive association with the crate. Your dog’s food drive will play an important role through this process. The idea of getting their favourite treat for doing what is asked will motivate them to repeat the desired behaviour.
• Start slow: Only close the crate once your pup willingly goes inside. And only do it for a few seconds, then let them out again. Slowly build up their time in the crate to approximately two hours (that’s how long young puppies can hold their bladders).
• Use the crate strategically: When you can’t directly supervise your puppy, keep it in the crate. It helps prevent accidents and reinforces the idea of holding it until outside.

Establishing a Routine

A consistent schedule is crucial for housebreaking success. Here’s a simple routine to follow:

• First thing in the morning: Take your puppy outside when they wake up. After holding it all night, they’ll need to go right away.
• After meals: Dogs typically need to relieve themselves shortly after eating. Make sure to take them outside after each meal.
• After playtime or naps: Take your puppy outside after any activity. These are common times when they’ll need to go.

Remember, every time your puppy successfully relieves themselves outside, reward them with praise and maybe even a treat. Positive reinforcement is a powerful motivator!

Gradually Expanding Freedom

Once your puppy has been accident-free for several weeks, you can begin to give them more freedom around the house. 

Start with short periods and gradually extend the time as they become more reliable. Be patient—young puppies might not be physically able to hold it for long periods, so increase their freedom slowly. 

Supervising Your Puppy

Only give your puppy free rein in the house with supervision once it is fully housebroken. Even a few seconds of inattention can lead to accidents. Consider using baby gates to confine your puppy to a dog-proofed area where you can keep an eye on it.

Set Your Puppy Up for Success

Accidents are part of the learning process—don’t punish your puppy if they make a mistake. Instead, clean up thoroughly to remove any lingering scent and focus on rewarding the behaviour you want to see. Stay positive, be patient, and celebrate each success along the way. Don’t worry if things don’t go the way you wanted in the first few days, just follow our housebreaking tips in this step-by-step guide and watch your puppy adapt to it’s new routine, with less accidents every day.

How Our Puppy School Can Help

Our Puppy School app offers a step-by-step approach to teaching essential commands and building a strong bond with your puppy. Here’s what you can expect:

• Crate training for success: Using crate training as part of housebreaking helps reinforce routine and makes potty training easier and faster.
• Consistency in commands: Teach essential commands like “Bed” and “Here” to create a structure that supports housebreaking. These commands help guide your pup to their crate or designated potty area.
• Reinforcing good habits: Our lessons cover training basics while focusing on consistency and positive reinforcement to encourage good bathroom behaviour.
• Setting a routine: Our app helps you develop a routine that supports potty training and establishes trust, helping your puppy feel safe and confident.
• Building trust through leadership: Our app’s structured training will help you housebreak your puppy, build a strong bond, and establish yourself as the leader they can rely on.

With the right approach, housebreaking your puppy becomes less stressful, and our Puppy School program on the app guides you through every step, setting you both up for success.