Dec 13, House Training Your Puppy Day 1, House training dogs

Below is a list of things you must do during the first day of the house training:

Below is a list of things you must avoid during the first day of the house training:

Avoid feeding too much.
Avoid letting your puppy walk to elimination spot.
Avoid changing location of crate, feeding and elimination spot.
Avoid puppy from getting free access to dog bowl all the time, especially water bowl.

You are about to begin the day 1 of the house training dogs session. Remember that your puppy is in the acquisition stage, she will take some time to understand you. Below is the suggested timeline for the first day.

7:00 AM If you are getting the puppy from the breeder, you need to prepare crate in your car. If you prefer to carry the puppy on your lap, make sure that you have towel with you and hold the puppy like your new born baby. Make sure that she eliminates before you continue your journey.

TIP: Let your puppy get use with her name, starting from inside the car and show affection and love to the puppy.

8:30 AM The moment you reach your house, you MUST carry the puppy to the elimination spot immediately. Puppy potty training starts at this moment! Use the potty command that you have selected (eg: "go potty", "potty time", "go pee" and etc.). Repeat the command until she has done and say "good girl" to praise her. I will use "potty time" for this guidance.

TIP: Note that if your puppy is less than 2 mouths, it might pee every 15 min as she has little control of her bladder.

9:00 AM After that, if it is the time for your puppy to have breakfast. Then go ahead and prepare her meal and also fresh water. Give her only 20 minutes time. Take away the bowls no matter if she finishes it. Make sure that you give her meal at the same location (eg: next to the crate) and same time everyday.

TIP: Small puppy generally requires more daily meal frequencies (3 or 4 times daily) compare with the older dog (2 times daily).

My suggested time for the meal for puppy is 7 am, 1 pm and 7 pm. But, it is actually up to time that you are convenient with. For your information, my dogs eat at 6 am and 6 pm.

9:35 AM Bring your puppy to the elimination spot after 15 minutes after the meal. This is another puppy potty training session.

TIP: If you want your puppy to be housebroken faster, it is important to have consistent food schedule together with the consistent trips to elimination spot.

9:50 AM After she has done, may be it is the time for her to look around your house, introduce to the family members or introduce to her dog house or dog crate.

TIP: Together with the command and the same location of elimination spot which has her own smell, this could help her to connect to the elimination act during the in home dog training.

10:20 AM After that, your puppy might be tired and needs a nap and I believe you need a rest also. So, this is the puppy crate training session, introduce her to dog crate and make sure that she is comfortable with it. You could associate it with the command "inside".

TIPS: The dogs usually will relieve themselves after a nap.

12:00 PM So, bring her to the elimination spot again after her nap. Should I repeat again? Remember to do it together with the potty training command that you have selected.

1:00 PM Time for her lunch. During this time, try to teach your puppy basic dog obedience training command "Sit" before she is allowed to have her lunch.

This is how it is done. Tell your puppy "Sit", then gently push the lower back of your puppy to the floor. If you puppy has done the action, give her part of her lunch. You may repeat the command for as many times as you want. If she is able to sit without you to push her body then it will be a great achievement for the first day. Make sure that your action will not hurt your puppy. Here is a video showing how to teach a puppy "Sit" Command.

1:35 PM Another puppy potty training session.

TIP: It is better to carry your puppy to the elimination spot rather than give her walk in the first day of puppy house training to prevent accidental leak on the way.

1:35 PM - 7:00 PM You may include a play time (eg: catch ball game) in this house training your puppy session. The "Sit" command is again trained with dog treat. Try your best to tire your puppy out during the play time. This is to make sure that she will sleep throughout the night until the next morning. Try not to give your puppy to have a chance to nap during these hours.

7:00 PM Dinner Time. Just repeat actions you have done during lunch time.

TIP: Prevent your puppy from getting access freely to water bowl after dinner.

7:35 PM Last potty training of the day. Watch the video below for the tips on potty training.

7:50 PM - 9:30 PM If your puppy is not tired yet. Here is your chance to make sure she walks or exercises enough.

12:00 AM Some puppies will need to relieve themselves at this time. You could visit your puppy and see if she is awake. If she is, bring her to the elimination spot.

Before heading to bed, you can review on your puppy house training on the first day.

Ask yourself some questions:

Was she comfortable with your house?
How was her potty training? Is she able to associate the elimination spot with your command?
How about her crate training? Did she like her crate?
How was her energy level during play time?
Was she able to acquire the "sit" command?

After the review, you may think about how you can do better tomorrow to help the puppy to be more joyful and comfortable with your family.

FINAL TIP OF THE DAY: Don't give up! House training your puppy needs time, patient and consistency. You can do it!