A Housetraining Checklist Every Dog Owner Must Live By

February 12, 2020

Not only is owning a dog a privilege; it is also a big responsibility. It exclusively depends on the owner for a place, food, and shelter, kind of like the 27-year old Adam who won’t move out of his parent’s house.

But sadly, unlike Adam, the owner has to housetrain the dog to take its business outside when it’s poop time. No matter what anyone says, housetraining a dog doesn’t have to be a stressful job. Dogs are fast learners and you don’t need to spend any more time than needed to properly train them to excuse themselves for their bathroom breaks.

Presented below is a housetraining checklist, for those who are becoming first-time dog owners.

Housetraining Checklist

Go for an already housetrained dog:

It is best to buy from an authentic breeder who has already housetrained the dog. The best case is if the breeder also did some crate training. When buying from shelter homes, know that those dogs have been rescued and passed on in small crates across the country. When living in small quarters, they don’t have enough space or the habit of eliminating outside, so the housetraining of such a dog will, of course, be harder.

Invest in a crate or baby gate

When getting a new dog, invest in a good crate or baby gate to keep your puppy confined in the first few days after its arrival. Keep the crate in a place that is rug-free so if the dog pees or poops, it is easier to clean after.

Look for the signs:

Although not fail-safe, dogs do depict some signs when they need to eliminate. Identifying these will surely make the housetraining process fairly effortless.

Sniffing
Restlessness
Whining
Pacing

Sneaking away
Barking at the door
Standing near
Scratching
Acting needy

Know when they might need to go:

There are a number of factors that determine when it might be the right time to take your dog out. Knowing them will help you manage better. Here is a brief of all the times your dog might need to go:

First thing in the morning
After waking up from a nap
Before going to bed

Immediately after play
Within the next few minutes of drinking or eating
When super excited
Schedule feeding times

Every dog must be fed 2 to 3 times daily, and that too, on a fixed schedule. The same schedule daily will make your dog’s elimination times easier and predictable.

Use verbal commands:

Whenever you are taking your dog or pup outdoors, keep it on a leash. As soon as they start to go, associate verbal commands like potty over and over until the dog learns of it as a signal to relieve itself. By learning to go on command, your dog will learn to go under your command in the near future.

If accidents have happened, clean every memory of it:

If, for some reason, your dog has defecated in the house, ensure to clean up thoroughly. And not just clean it up, leave no scent behind, as dogs sniff the place where they last defecated and consider it the elimination place.

Don’t forget to praise:

Once your dog has pooped outside, ensure that you let it know how happy you are about it. Make it a big deal as they have just won the blue ribbon. Unlike cats, dogs crave affection and therefore will always try to please their owners.

Give treats:

Praise isn’t enough, treats are necessary too. Treats increase the likelihood of repeatable behavior. They work as reinforcement to teach dogs that they are being rewarded for good behavior.

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