Restraining Your Puppy While You Are Away
So, you know the importance of teaching your puppy to be polite and you know how much work you will have to do with him to become this way, but let’s face it, you cannot always be with your puppy and some times, we all need a break. What are you supposed to do when you have to leave your puppy at home by himself? Do you risk having all the work you’ve done come undone or do you choose to restrain him in some way?
Many people choose to restrain their puppy in a place where the puppy will be safe and comfortable without getting into trouble. In the past, many people would work to keep their puppies in an area such as the laundry room or kitchen or a bathroom, which is usually hard for them to cause trouble or make messes. Should you choose to confine your puppy in this way, it’s important to make sure that he has toys to chew on and a comfortable place to take a nap. Also, you should make sure that there is nothing in these spaces where a puppy could get hurt or chew on something they are not supposed to.
Now, if you cannot confine your puppy in a room, another option is to get a crate for your puppy. Try to make sure that it is a comfortable fit for him, and not too small or too large. This will keep your puppy from leaving you too many messes to clean up, as even young dogs do not like to do “jobs” in the space where they sleep. Over time, a crate will serve as a comfortable place for your puppy to rest even when the door is open, so it’s important not to punish him in this space.
Another option when you need to restrain your puppy and make sure that he is well behaved when you are not able to pay attention to him is to tie him to something. You can often tie him to a piece of furniture, as long as he is not strong enough to pull it over. Consider your kitchen table for this purpose. Give your puppy about four feet of rope and make sure that he has a comfortable bed for naps and plenty of things to chew on.
In the end, restraining your puppy when you are gone is the best way to make sure that he doesn’t destroy your valuable possessions and that your puppy learns to be polite, even when you’re not home to watch him. Don’t worry, you’re not being cruel to him; you are making sure he stays safe and happy to have that long life you want to spend with him.
Expert Tips for Success Puppy Housetraining
Many new dog owners have very little experience or none at all when it comes to puppy housetraining. In fact, most of them do not even realize just how important it is to train a puppy right from the first few weeks of its life. The longer you wait before starting puppy housetraining, the harder it will be to teach your dog to behave properly in the house and around other people.
Teaching your young dog the right time and place to go potty is probably the most important aspect of puppy housetraining. In order to do this successfully, you should be able to bring your puppy out to his potty area at the same times of the day. This will help him establish a routine and make it easier for him to control his poop and urine while inside the house.
According to renowned Virginia Beach dog breeder Stanley Kissinger, it is very hard to retrain a young pup when he has already gotten used to going potty in the wrong spots. This is why it is crucial to start puppy housetraining as early as possible in order to teach the dog the proper way right from the start.
In the beginning, puppies won’t be able to control their bladder very well so you should expect to have a few accidents during the first days of training. But the more you bring your puppy outside, the faster he will learn that going potty is done outdoors and not inside the house.
When taking your dog out to go potty, keep him on a leash and allow him enough time to sniff around and find a good spot. When you see that he is ready, say your cue command of “Go Potty” and let him do his business. Immediately after he is done and you have cleaned up his poop, take him back inside the house. This will let him know that the only purpose he was outside is to do his business and nothing else.
Puppy housetraining is not that hard but it does require you to put in some time and dedication. For instance, if you don’t want to wake up to the smell of fresh urine and poop, you should be prepared to get up early even on weekends to let your dog out for his morning potty.
If you live alone and work in the office all day, you might also need to go home during lunchbreak for your dog’s potty time. Alternatively, you can ask a helpful neighbor to lend some assistance while you are away.
You may need to make a few sacrifices during the first few days of puppy housetraining but once it is done and your dog can do its business on its own, you will realize that all your hard work will be well worth it.
