We love the feeling of bringing a new puppy into our home and welcoming them into our family. The happiness of caring for a cute pup sometimes gets tested as soon as they start having accidents on your floors. Luckily, there are very popular and effective methods to train your new puppy not to urinate inside your home.
Housetraining takes time and consistency and accidents along the way are inevitable, so it’s important to have a pet urine odor removal treatment and carpet cleaning in Virginia Beach handy when this happens. For DIY pet urine stain and odor removal check out these tips on another one of our blog posts, but as for right now let’s learn about the top ways to housetrain your puppy.
1. Use the Kennel or Crate Method
You may have already heard of crate or kennel training because it’s one of the most common housetraining methods. Here’s are the steps that dog-owners typically use when crate training:
- Purchase a crate or kennel that’s the appropriate size for your puppy. It should be big enough for your puppy to stand up and move around comfortably, but small enough that your puppy can’t relieve themselves inside.
- Next, add treats, toys, and even pillows to the crate to make it comfy and cozy.
- After that, say phrases like “let’s go,” “in your crate, ”or “inside” to help your puppy learn to go in and out of the crate.
- Set a specific time each day (normally at night or during your work hours) for your puppy to spend in the crate.*Make sure not to leave your puppy in the crate for extended periods of time, especially if you have a large or high energy breed.
- Take your puppy outside of the crate for a designated time and let them do their business outdoors. This will help your dog associate post-crate time with a bathroom break
- Give your puppy a treat after they go to the bathroom so that they can associate this behavior with a positive reward.
2. Use the Schedule Method
The schedule method requires you to pay more attention to your puppy’s schedule and it also requires a bit more consistency on your part in comparison to the crate method. Here’s how to do it:
- Learn how frequently your puppy needs to use the bathroom and what times of the day they normally do their business. Typical bathroom break times are in the morning, after drinking or eating, before bedtime, and after being in their crate. *Younger puppies require more frequent bathroom breaks. As your puppy gets older, they can hold it for longer amounts of time.
- Next, take your puppy outside for around 5 minutes before each expected bathroom time.
- Praise and reward your puppy with toys, treats, and verbal appreciation when they go to the bathroom outside during this time. *Avoid negative reinforcement when your puppy has an accident inside. If you notice your puppy is about to have an accident, move them outdoors quickly. If they do have an accident inside your home, clean up the urine stain, and prepare for next time!
- As your puppy gets older, you’ll have to adjust their bathroom schedule.
3. Use the Puppy Pad Method
For the puppy pad method, you’ll have to purchase pee pads that absorb pet urine and protect your wood, tile, or carpet floors from urine stains. If this sounds like something you are interested in, here are the steps to do it:
- Put the pee pad in a specific location in your home (preferably on tile or wood floor).
- Before your puppy’s expected bathroom time, take them to the pad to do their business.
- If your puppy tries leaving the area, keep bring them back to the pad until they relieve themselves there. *Make sure to clean the area and replace the pee pad frequently.
- Give your puppy verbal praise or treats each time he uses the bathroom on the pad.
- After each time your puppy uses the bathroom, gradually move the pad closer toward the door.
- Eventually, take the pad outside and put it in a permanent location on the grass or wherever you like. Now your puppy has a precise place to do its business. *Make sure your puppy can go outside through a doggy door and easily access the pad.
Pet Urine Removal and Carpet Cleaning in Virginia Beach, VA
No matter what method you use to housetrain your puppy, it’s essential to stick with this method and be consistent using it. Housetraining your puppy is a process, so accidents are bound to happen. Thankfully, Southside Chem-Dry offers pet urine odor removal and carpet cleaning in Virginia Beach, VA!
Schedule your pet urine odor removal and carpet cleaning in Virginia Beach, VA today!