Lesson 8: How to Stay the Course
Being consistent with house training will pay off in the long run
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public and make it simple for people to get dogs from good sources and for reputable breeders, shelters and rescues to put their dogs in good homes.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public and make it simple for people to get dogs from good sources and for reputable breeders, shelters and rescues to put their dogs in good homes.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public and make it simple for people to get dogs from good sources and for reputable breeders, shelters and rescues to put their dogs in good homes.
Having been in your shoes many times, we know exactly how you are feeling about now. We know that house training gets old before it gets done, that it takes longer than any of us expect, that we must be diligent, even now many weeks into the process. By now we want our house back and the ex-pen put away, and we want our puppy to have more freedom. But take it from us, this is the time to dig in and get it done. Do not let down!
You might be feeling guilty about having your puppy confined so much. You are thinking it’s only having the occasional accident in the house, which is no big deal to clean up, so what would it hurt? You’ve been asking yourself, “Would it really be a mistake to give my pup more freedom?” We hate to tell you but the answer is yes! You must keep at it!
At this point you've put so much into house training, you don't want to confuse your puppy. Your puppy may not be perfect, but it's really starting to understand that it is supposed to:
- Hold it until it goes outside
- Start telling you that it has to go
- Go when you give the potty cue
If you change things now, you WILL confuse your puppy. One of the most important rules in dog training is consistency--and that includes house training! It takes dozens, sometimes hundreds, if not thousands of repetitions for dogs to learn some behaviors.
In addition, your pup is still a puppy and despite your efforts and its desires, your puppy is likely not capable of being fully house trained yet. We promise it will come. All you have to do is stay the course by:
- Keeping your puppy confined in a small enough area that your pup will tell you it has to go.
- Taking your pup out on leash.
- Giving your puppy the potty cue.
- REWARDING your pup with lots of treats and praise every time it potties outside!!!
- And EVERY TIME your puppy does not go, putting it back in the crate or pen for 15 minutes then take it out again!
Tricks for Getting Rid of Guilt
We know you want your puppy to be happy, but don't feel badly confining it. Your puppy is comfortable in its pen! Your pup knows it's a safe place where good things happen. Sure, it may protest every once in a while, but remember you are buying your puppy a lifetime of freedom and involvement with you. If you are having problems, review the crate training guidance to get your puppy back on track.
If you want your pup to spend more time out of the pen, take three minutes a day to teach your puppy a few tricks. That's less time than it would take to clean up an accident! So pop on over to Puppy Fitness or Teaching Your Puppy Cues and do some training. Your pup's mind will be expanded, your relationship will grow and you will be able to show everyone what a smart puppy you have!
Dr. Gayle Watkins, PhD is the Founder of Avidog, the leading educational platform for dog breeders and puppy owners, and Gaylan's Golden Retrievers, her 40-year breeding program. Today, Gayle is the only golden retriever AKC Gold Breeder of Merit, and is a three-time AKC “Breeder of the Year.”
