House Training
A few days ago we, as a family, made the decision to introduce a puppy into our home.
Meet Chewy (short for Chewbacca). The kids chose his name based on how likes to chew… all the time! Plus he’s a walking carpet and we picked him up on May the Fourth.
One of the first things that you need establish with your new pup is the rule that we do not go to the bathroom on the floors inside the house. With a young puppy, this is a full time job in itself. Here are a few steps that I am doing to help Chewy understand this number one rule.
He is constantly by my side. Wherever I go, he goes.
When walking through the house or back yard, he is always on leash
He sleeps in a crate
He goes outside immediately after he wakes up or after he eats
He always has water available which means we go outside often
There is only one spot in the yard where he can poop or pee. Choosing a designated spot helps eliminate the chance of finding a landmine while us humans enjoy the rest of the yard.
There are many other tips out there from a whole lot of professionals and other dog owners. The key is finding out what works best for you and your pup along with your schedule.
There are some negative health factors associated with your dog pooping and peeing on your carpet, rug, or floors. There is also the smell associated… gross. It’s not going to be super easy. And for the first weeks your going to be woken up at night multiple times as your puppy will need to go out to relieve itself. Puppies can’t tell time… But, all that hard work in the beginning will pay off in the long run as you will eventually have a dog that has not picked up the bad habit of using your floors as it’s own personal bathroom.
Another element of house training is establishing the rule with your pup that your stuff is not a chew toy. Each one of us in our family has picked up the tip that we always have a chew toy ready for Chewy at any given moment. Instead of chewing the rug or leg to the couch, chew on the chew toy. Your house does not need to be ripped apart by your new furry family member. Having a chew toy in hand also helps with puppy biting. Instead of chewing on your hands or cloths, give an alternative like a large rope or other chew. The fact is, puppy’s have to chew. Being proactive about it will assist you with not only the physical aspect of your puppy chewing on everything, but the emotional also.
In short, rules need to be established for your new puppy or dog. But, at the same time, enjoy training and growing a bond with your new furry family member.