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London Dog Forum > Dog Training & Dog Behaviour > FAQs by Puppy Owners > Will my puppy ever be housetrained?
Will my puppy ever be housetrained?
I imagine the same question passes through most new puppy owners’ minds during the first few months, but you can rest assured that by the time your puppy is 6 months old, and often long before, ‘accidents’ will be a dim and distant memory.
It is very important when housetraining not to get angry with your puppy and scold him. Gone are the days when you ‘rubbed his nose in it’ or whacked him with a rolled up newspaper, not only because it is unkind, but also he will learn quicker using kinder methods.
Always remember that a puppy will need to go out much more frequently than an adult dog because his bladder is very tiny, so the key is to anticipate his needs. Put your puppy outside every time that you would expect him to want to relieve himself and stay outside with him. Yes, I’m sorry, even in freezing weather! The times a puppy usually needs to go out are: when he first wakes up, when he has just eaten and following play or excitement.
As mentioned in THE LANGUAGE OF DOG-UNDERSTANDING HOW DOGS COMMUNICATE, puppies tend to ‘go’ in the same place even if it is your best carpet. Gwen Bailey suggests washing the area with a biological washing powder, allowing the area to dry, then wiping it over with surgical spirit to remove the smell but please do a patch test first to make sure the carpet is colour fast!
Success can also be obtained by placing a puppy soiled pad or newspaper outside in the garden fastened in place with stones.
When you have to leave your puppy unsupervised for any length of time, put him in a play pen or a safe enclosed space with an area of the floor covered with polythene and topped with a layer of newspaper to act as a makeshift toilet for him.
If your puppy goes to the toilet several times over a short period and your puppy appears to be in discomfort, please seek advice from your vet.
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