There may have been some people out there who claim that they can properly potty train a puppy that is younger than 16 weeks old. There is a slight problem with this statement.

Puppies who are under than 16 weeks old are not able to hold their bladder, which means that any potty training that takes place will not yet be effective. It is not until the puppy is four months old that it will be able to hold it’s bladder long enough to make it over to a newspaper or to the back yard.


With that said, this does not mean that you cannot start to show the puppy where his bathroom is prior to his 16th week birthday. Of course, you cannot seriously expect the puppy to be able to make it to the designated area all that often. There are some puppies out there that can surprise you and actually train ahead of time, but this is usually only a week or so early. Then again, you just never know, there is always a first time for everything, although I would not count on it.

If you want to designate an area to be the bathroom for your puppy than you may do so. If you want to have your puppy urinate and defecate outside, make sure that you are taking the puppy out there very often. When you notice that the puppy goes to the bathroom in your desired location, make sure that you give praise. He will start to understand that going to the bathroom where you want him to is a good thing. Your puppy will start to catch on that this is the desired behavior but he most likely will not be able to control his bodily functions enough to make it happen.

This means that you should never, under any circumstances, scold a puppy that is under 16 weeks old for going to the bathroom in an undesirable location. He simply has absolutely no control over it so it cannot be considered his fault. This is often why such young puppies are kept in kitchens where the floor is tiled and will not be damaged. Another reason why you do not want to scold a puppy that young is because you can traumatize it and that is the last thing you want to happen.

Those that try to do some potty training at an early age may indeed have given the puppy a head start, but it is certainly not going to be all that big of one. Just make sure that you are putting too much pressure on the puppy. After all, he just probably got done learning how to walk and he is trying to figure out why you are so tall. Let him be a puppy for a few months and then you can begin some more intensive potty training when he gets to be a little older.

There have been many people out there who have expressed concern about the use of a den or a crate. While it is wonderful that there is a lot of concern for puppies, it is important to make sure that you understand why a crate is used and how it is actually extremely beneficial to the puppy.

Dogs are den animals by nature. In the wild, they would huddle up in a small den cave-like area to sleep. This allows warmth, safety and an overall feeling of security. In addition, because of the size of the den, the dog will not relieve himself there. Dogs generally do not go to the potty where they have to sleep.

Because of this, the use of a crate or den is a great way to potty train your dog while making him feel safe and secure at the same time. The crate should never be a place of punishment and it should be nice and comfortable for the dog. The key to crate training is making sure that you are using the correct size.

You want to make sure that the size is not too large or too small. Your puppy should be able to stand up on all four legs without hitting his head on the top. The puppy should also be able to completely turn around without hitting the cage or getting wedged. If the puppy has too large of a cage, then he might just make one end his bathroom and the other end his sleeping quarters. This is not what you want to happen.

When you leave the house or you are cleaning where you cannot keep a very close eye on the puppy, place him in his den. As soon as you come back to let him out, take your puppy directly outside. Most likely, if you have been gone for a couple of hours, your puppy will need to relieve himself.

As this becomes a habit, your puppy will know that it is okay to hold it because as soon as you come home, you will take him straight outside to do his business. Make sure that when your puppy is good and relieves himself outside that you are praising him kindly and petting him to show him how proud you are. Your puppy wants to make you happy so when he figures out what makes you smile, he will want to keep doing it.

If and when there are mistakes, which there will be from time to time in the beginning, make sure that you are not scolding your puppy. Most likely, by the time you find the mess and scold him, your puppy will have no idea what you are so mad about. A good firm “no” is only good when you catch the puppy right in the act of going to the bathroom inside. This is the only way he will associate the “no” with the action that he is doing.

Crate training a puppy is relatively painless as compared to training an adult dog. You can begin training your puppy immediately. You don’t have to delay it until he grows older. In fact, you can begin crate training as soon as you get your puppy home. The crate training method is advocated by vets and animal behaviorists as an effective means to housebreak a puppy.

The size of the crate is an important consideration while crate training a puppy. It shouldn’t be too large or too small. It should be big enough to allow your dog to stand up, turn and lie in it. Ideally, you should get a crate that is large enough to hold the full grown dog that your puppy will become. Initially, when your pet is still a puppy you can block off some of the area so that it’s just sufficient for your puppy and no bigger. If the crate is too large, your puppy will feel encouraged to litter in one part of it and rest in the other which is the last thing you want. So be careful and select a crate of an appropriate size.

Another thing to be taken into account is the duration of time to confine a puppy to a cage. Young pups will not be able to stay in the crate for long periods of time. They need to relieve themselves frequently. A two month old puppy will be able to stay put in a crate only for a couple of hours. So ensure that you let your pup out of the crate frequently.

Most pups will take to the crate without much ado. However some will show reluctance to get into the crate. In this case you can use treats to convince your pet that the crate is nice comfortable place to be in. Place food treats inside the crate so that your pet will get in of his own accord. After some time you can also give commands to get your dog into the crate. For example “In your den” or “In your house” are the commands you could use.

The crate should not be placed in a secluded corner. This is because pups need security and warmth. Avoid keeping the crate in areas like the kitchen, corridors or any place that is highly trafficked. The crate should be kept in a location that is peaceful and quiet but at the same time one that gives the pup a feeling of comfort and security. In the morning, you can keep the crate in your drawing room and it can be shifted into your bedroom at night.

Once the puppy gets used to being in a crate, then things become simpler. Meals should be given strictly on time. Feeding your dog on time ensures that he eliminates in a regular pattern. So this will give you a fair idea of when he needs to be taken outside to relieve himself. Puppies have to be released from their crates after napping. So take them out to relieve themselves first thing in the morning. They may need to eliminate even after activities like playing, drinking water or eating. Keep track and make sure that you take them out at the appropriate times.

If your puppy begins whining in the night don’t go to offer solace. Instead, approach him when he is silent. This will send a message that you’ll come when he is quiet and not when he starts whining and wants you near. Also, never punish a puppy in the crate. Remember, you want your pup to view the crate as a safe and comfy refuge where he can be at peace.

If you are vigilant, alert and consistent your pup will be crate trained and house broken in a matter of weeks. Not all pups are the same and some will take longer than others to be crate trained. But once they get used to it, you can relax knowing that your pet is secure even when you are not at home.

Many pet owners get alarmed when it comes to housetraining their puppy. Many are confused and anxious about the kind of effect it will have on the small defenseless creature. No doubt, housetraining a puppy can be quite taxing but once done it will ensure your puppy is disciplined and well-behaved.

There are many housetraining methods that you could use to discipline your puppy. Using a crate is one method that is proven to be highly effective.

The crate method entails getting a crate big enough for a puppy to lie down and stand up in. Since puppies have a natural instinct not to soil the place that they sleep in, this method teaches them how to exert control over their bowels until they’re released from the crate and taken outside to eliminate. Moreover, pups are naturally inclined to seek out and nest in places that are secure and comfortable. This is why you frequently come across dogs napping under tables, chairs or beds. Fortunately, this innate instinct of dogs makes it easier for them to adapt to lying in a cage. Moreover, once they find a safe haven, it’s the very last place they would want to soil.

While crate training a puppy, an important thing to remember is that puppies have almost no control over their bladders. They need to relieve themselves almost every hour. So they have to be taken out of the crate frequently to prevent accidents from occurring. Put your puppy on a leash and take him to the same place each time he has to eliminate. Use commands like “hurry up” or “potty”. Give him a sufficient amount of time to eliminate and then let him play for about 2 minutes before taking him in. Gradually increase the time that he spends in the crate before releasing him. This will teach him to control his bowels. Initially there may be an accident or two, but soon he’ll get accustomed to eliminating on schedule.

There are different types of crates you could get to housetrain your puppy. The types that are widely used are the plastic crates and the wire crates. The plastic crates are long-lasting and provide for ease in cleaning. The wire crates can be transported and moved about easily and are usually the best option when you’re traveling with your pet. But since these are open, you may have to swathe it with a blanket to give your puppy an illusion of a sheltered den.

Never punish your puppy if an accident occurs. Your pet does not know right from wrong and will not understand why he is being punished. He will not associate his “accident” with the punishment and instead will become wary of you. To minimize accidents you should put your puppy on a feeding schedule. Feed your puppy twice or thrice a day at regular intervals. Take him out to relieve himself 10-15 minutes after his meals.

Besides preventing accidents a crate is also useful to keep your puppy safe and secure when you’re away from home. However, it should not be used for excessively long time periods or as a punishment. When your puppy does something right, give him a treat to reward him for his good behavior. And never ever punish a puppy in the crate. You want him to view the crate as a cozy retreat not a chamber of torture.

To make the crate seem more comfy you could keep a bowl of water and a toy inside. This will give him an added incentive to stay happy inside the crate. If you are alert and consistent, using a crate to housetrain your puppy can be the best thing you could do to discipline your pet.

Biting is not extraordinary behavior as far as your puppy is concerned. When pups are in a litter, they tend to bite and nip each other. This is normal puppy behavior but not one that you want to encourage.

They need to be taught that human skin is sensitive and it’s not okay to go around on a biting spree. A puppy has to learn bite inhibition which means that he has to develop a soft mouth and learn to use it sparingly and with care.

If your puppy bites you, it’s not a bad thing at all. On the contrary, it gives you a chance to teach him how vulnerable human flesh is. Your puppy or even an adult dog may bite at some point in his life or the other. When this happens, if your dog has developed a soft mouth it won’t cause much damage. So from the onset, your pooch should be taught to be cautious while biting or mouthing you.

Handling puppy biting is pretty simple and straightforward. To teach a puppy bite inhibition you can begin by playing with him in an enclosed area. When your puppy bites you shouldn’t grab him. Instead say something like “ouch”, wait for some time and begin playing again. The next time your puppy nips you, the power in his bite should reduce. If this doesn’t happen, say “ouch” again and walk away from the area. The point of doing this is that the pup realizes that you won’t continue to play with him if he isn’t careful while nipping your flesh. This temporary isolation is very effective in teaching your pup bite inhibition.

The next item on the agenda is to get your puppy to stop biting you altogether. Once you coach a pup to inhibit the strength of his nip, he will automatically reduce his attempts to bite you. To get him to completely stop using his teeth on humans you have to continue behaving in the same fashion. As soon as he bites you, say “ouch” and leave the confined area. Over time your puppy will quit attempting to bite on human flesh.

When your puppy bites you, you may feel inclined to yell or grab your puppy. This is a definite no-no. A violent reaction will only cause your puppy to get even more excited. Or it may try biting someone who isn’t strong enough to retaliate like a child or toddler. So refrain from using any other punishment to cure your pup of mouthing human-beings.

Once your puppy is 5-6 months old, he should not be biting anyone. If he continues nipping and showing unwarranted aggression you might want to consult an animal behaviorist. You should also take your pet to a vet for a check up. There could be an underlying health reason associated with his need to bite.

Sometimes, it’s also possible that your puppy is mouthing you to draw your attention to something. Maybe he needs a walk or needs food or simply wants to relieve himself. So ensure that your puppy is fed and relieved on schedule. And also make sure that he’s taken for a walk daily and given time to play and interact with other family members.

As your puppy begins showing signs of bite inhibition and minimizes his mouth action, you should reward him with a treat each time he doesn’t nip you harshly. You could also use a command like “Off” when you feel your puppy is on the verge of sinking his teeth into something or someone.

Handling puppy biting is not as difficult as it seems. With a little time, patience and effort you will have an obedient pup that will not nip or mouth you or anybody else.

While housetraining your puppy, one of the most important things is teaching him how to socialize. An unruly puppy normally grows to be an unfriendly dog that other pets and human-beings will want to stay away from. This is the last thing you want.

Therefore, socializing your puppy should be one of your main priorities. Friendly dogs make good companions and don’t feel threatened among unfamiliar people or situations.

Socialization is a process by which puppies learn to interact with other people and animals. The first step in the socialization process is getting your puppy acquainted with members of the family. Imagine your otherwise docile puppy snarling and nipping at family members. Definitely a situation you want to avoid! So first introduce your pup to your family members and close relatives and let him frolic with them on a regular basis.

Don’t be under the misconception that letting your pup interact only with family members is sufficient to socialize him. You may get a rude shock when your friendly pup suddenly bites a child or passerby. Socialization includes coaching your dog to be friendly and tolerant of all people, children and animals that you introduce him to. Socialization is definitely not a start and stop process. It should continue throughout your pet’s lifetime.

Visits to the vet during your pet’s lifetime are inevitable. If your puppy is not used to being handled, a visit to the vet may provoke unnaturally unfriendly behavior in your dog. To avoid this, you must get your dog accustomed to being handled. You can begin by handling your pup yourself to familiarize him with being poked and prodded. The best time to do this is when your pup is being fed. Put him on a leash and begin by touching and examining his mouth, ears, toes, back, head etc. For each new part that you examine, feed him a tasty morsel of food. Proceed very slowly and steadily and give your pup a few treats. All you need to do is set aside 5 minutes each day to handle your dog. This way your pet will not be resistant to grooming, getting his nails clipped and his ears cleaned. And moreover, he will not be alarmed when a vet tries to perform a routine check-up.

Another way to socialize your puppy is by hosting a party and inviting friends, neighbors, relatives and children. It should preferably be a mixed group that includes men, women and children. This way your pup will get used to interacting and being handled by all kinds of people. You can allow these people to feed your pup and handle him gently. Over time, you can gradually begin teaching your pup to also tolerate a little rough handling.

Socializing with other animals has to be done once your dog is three months old and through with all his shots. Interacting with other animals especially dogs is of great importance. An easy way out is to enroll your pup with a puppy class. You should also walk your dog on a route where he will likely come across other dogs. You may want to get your dog familiar with other animals like cats, cattle and horses. In this case you have to teach him to obey you whether you are in the close proximity of other animals or not.

Besides this, you also have to get your puppy trained to be comfortable in different types of surroundings. So take your pup everywhere with you whenever possible: to the supermarket, the park, for a ride in your car etc.

Socializing your puppy is the best thing you can do for yourself as well as your little pet. A well-behaved and friendly pooch is a joy to be around.

Getting your puppy accustomed to being handled is part and parcel of the socialization process. Your pup will have to be handled many times during his lifetime and if he is not used to this, it may provoke him to react with hostility.

During his lifespan, he’ll have to be taken to the vet or to a dog groomer. Moreover, he’ll come into contact with adults and children who will try to pet or otherwise handle him. If he is not taught how to react to handling, he may display unusually violent behavior and in certain cases may also retaliate by biting or nipping. Therefore, getting your pooch used to being handled is now become the need of the hour.

You should try setting aside 5 minutes each day to handle your puppy. It’s simple and easy and will train your pet to minimize his resistance to being handled or even to welcome it. You need to get your pup to hold still and run your hands over his body. Begin at the top of his torso and work your way to his tail. Also don’t leave out the sides. Look for bumps or lumps on his body. Then raise each paw in turn and check if anything is stuck between the pads. Lift and look into his ears and also examine his mouth. If your pup is restless and refuses to let himself be handled, you can offer a food treat each time you handle a body part. This will divert his attention. Each time you try to prod a sensitive part of his body, give him an additional treat. This works like a charm when you’re trying to handle your puppy.

If your puppy lets you handle him without much ado, always reward him later with a treat. This will reinforce the idea that positive things happen when he lets himself be handled without a fuss. Next, you can take things one step further and begin grooming him. Wipe his body, brush his coat, clean his ears and clip his nails. Be generous during the grooming session and keep lavishing him with tasty food treats.

Once your puppy gets used to being handled by you, you can let others begin handling him as well. Start with immediate family members and then gradually include other people he is familiar with. After sometime you can also extend it to include people that he has never met before. Initially, you can let others only pat him. Once he gets used to being made a fuss of by other people you can then let them run their hands over his body and lift his paws and ears. Just remember to proceed very slowly and steadily and take it one step at a time.

Don’t forget to praise your pup with words each step of the way and if at all he seems unhappy or distressed, stop what you’re doing. Instead do something that he likes, play with him and try some other time.

Getting your puppy used to being handled has many benefits. You can examine and groom him at leisure. He will tolerate a vet’s prodding hands with minimum resistance. Moreover, you can be sure that he won’t snap or snarl when a passing child or adult tries to pet or otherwise handle him.

Socializing your puppy includes getting him used to being handled not only by you but also by others. In time, you’ll have an obedient dog who’ll tolerate all kinds of handling within reasonable limits.

When you notice that your puppy is urinates all over the floor whenever it becomes aroused, intimidated, or excited, you may have a submissive urinator on your hands. One thing that you have to keep in mind is that this is not the fault of the puppy, no matter how embarrassed or frustrated you get because of it.

Puppies who are naturally shy or timid, along with puppies that have owners who are intense or yell a lot are subject to end up with a lot of submissive urination.

This is not an uncommon thing in puppies but the thing is, it can be rather messy and it can carry on over into adulthood. Most of the time, puppies or dogs will get overly excited when there are loud noises, when they are being scolded, when there are arguments between people in the house, when guests arrive, when you arrive home and even when there is an over abundance of affection when you greet each other after being apart.

Before you can learn how to address this problem, you have to understand why dogs do this. You are the master. You are the pack leader – the alpha. It is the “job” of the puppy or dog to show that they are submissive to you. This is what causes a dog to avert their eyes if you stare at them in the eyes. It is also what causes them to roll on to their backs and urinate all over the floor. The puppy is showing that it is submissive to you and that you are the boss of the show.

The first thing you want to do is to have your vet check out your puppy to rule out any possible medical problems that could be causing the extra urination. If the puppy comes back with a clean bill of health then you have a pup that is urinating to show his submissiveness to you. Now it is time to fix the problem.

One thing you can do is to down play your greeting with your pet when you first come home. You will want to make sure that friends and family are doing this as well. Either simply give your dog a little “hello” or ignore him completely until he calms down and then you can greet each other.

Putting a limit on how often your dog drinks water will help with this although it will not completely control it. At best, your submissive urinator will tinkle just a little. In addition, while you will continue to remain in control, it is important to make sure that you are building up the self confidence of your dog. Praise your puppy when he does things that meet your approval. Show him that he is loved and that he is a good dog.

The more time you spend working on this problem, the less frequently it will happen. This is something you have to be patient with. There is not a cure for this as it is a natural reaction for the puppy but it is something that you might be able to help get under control.

Many people find that once they get into potty training their puppy that it is much harder than they thought. The thing is though; it really does not have to be. As long as you are following a few basic guidelines and keeping a strict schedule, your puppy will be potty trained in no time at all.

One of the biggest mistakes a pet owner can make is being inconsistent. You have to make sure that you are keeping affirm schedule in the beginning. Sure, life throws you a curve ball once in a while but while that puppy is still learning about potty training, you have to do everything you can to make sure that there is a schedule that is being followed. Once the puppy grows up, there can be a little wiggle room in the schedule because the dog will have more control over his bladder.

Think of your puppy just like a baby. Babies cannot control when they go to the bathroom, but older children can. Make sure that you are only feeding your puppy and giving him water at certain times of the day. You also have to make sure that you are taking the next ten to fifteen minutes to make sure that your puppy goes outside after he is done. This will ensure that when the food and water finally passes through, the puppy is in the right place at the right time. Basically, you are setting your puppy up for success and he will love you for it!

You will want to make sure that two or three times in between meals you are taking your puppy out to go to the bathroom, just in case. Of course, when you are not home, you need to have someone else come to the house to let the puppy out.

Even though your puppy may not have just eaten, there is a good chance that he has to go pee. Do not scold the puppy if he does not go because maybe he does not have to. However, do make sure that you give treats and praises for when he does go to the bathroom. This will encourage him to at least try every time you take him outside.

You should also have a strict bedtime schedule as well. This will help the puppy adjust to a routine. Make sure that you are again letting him outside for any last minute business.

Do not be surprised if you wake up in the middle of the night to the sounds of a whimpering puppy that needs to go potty. Instead of being angry you were woken at up 3am, be happy that your little puppy was trying to let you know he needed to go out.

 With the help of the strict schedule and as your puppy grows older, you will find that the middle of the night potty outings will become less and less.

Some people tend to believe that their dog should always have food and water available. This way, the dog can get his drink or food whenever he feels like it. There are a few reasons why this is not a good idea. To start with, puppies should never have an unlimited supply of food and water all day long. Puppies have a hard enough time as it is trying to learn how to be potty trained for their master and they certainly cannot understand the concept of restraining themselves from drinking or eating so that they do not have any accidents.
 
When a dog or a puppy eats or drinks, there is only a short amount of time between finishing and needing to go to the bathroom. An adult dog that is trained may be able to hold it for an hour or so, but we cannot expect puppies to do that.  If the puppy is allowed to have food and water while unsupervised, such as while you are at work, there will be accidents. And the last thing you want to do is to scold a puppy that couldn’t help it, especially when you set the puppy up for failure.

Positive reinforcement is what works best with dogs, especially puppies. They want to do good for you and you do not want to clean up a mess every day. You want to set your puppy up for success by having him on a regular eating schedule.
 
You will want to give your puppy a breakfast, a lunch and a dinner. Sometimes, for growing puppies, they might need a little snack on their dog food towards bed time as well. Your puppy will also need water with his meals as well. During hot days, your puppy will need additional drinks of water.
 
Try your best to set scheduled times to feed your puppy. This will give him a routine that he can count on and it will ensure that you do not forget a meal for your pup. Also, a scheduled meal time means that you will have more control over when the puppy goes to the bathroom and does his business.
 
After your puppy has eaten his food and had his fill of water allow him to play or hang out for about five minutes, but keep a close eye on your puppy. When those five minutes is up or when the puppy starts to appear as though he needs to go, take the puppy outside or to the pee pad for potty time. If you want your puppy to eventually go outside for potty time, it is best to start him off that way instead of trying to transition him later.

Depending on how quickly the food and water is moving through the puppy’s system, which usually only takes about five to ten minutes, you may have to wait outside with your puppy. Once your puppy does his business, make sure that you are giving him positive reinforcement with verbal praise, a kind voice, and a loving pat on the back. Go directly back inside.

As your puppy grows into an adult dog, you still want to keep the regular eating schedule but it will take about fifteen to twenty minutes before your dog has to relieve himself.