Housetraining is Not a Race

 

    I am not going to explain "how" to housebreak a puppy.  That has been covered in lurid detail in MANY books and articles.  It is not particularly complicated. What I would like to address is the overemphasis I think is often placed on completing housetraining quickly.   I think it can be risky for people to think that faster is better and then put more pressure on themselves and their puppies because they feel they are failing if they have not housebroken their puppy at a certain age. Many dog owners, particularly somewhat novice pet owners, place WAY too much emphasis on quick housebreaking.  On many occasions I have had people tell me how "smart" their dog was, and their evidence has been that the individual dog

 

        Obviously I share a desire not to have my house covered in excrement; however, I feel that establishing the tone of a lifelong relationship is so much more important, and since this is the first "training" that is going to occur for most dogs, I hate to think how many people are in such a hurry that they do not apply the same care and compassion they do with every other behavior.  I have watched many otherwise competent trainers forget everything they know about communicating with canids when their innocent puppy happens to squat on their precious carpet!  It is easy to housebreak quickly, but is it ideal?  I would rather take longer, and manage around it with baby gates and lots of outside time, then rush this key time in my puppies life.  This is exacerbated by the fact that people tend to think animals should naturally be tidy and are somewhat revolted by their puppies willingness to soil everywhere.  So for several weeks, puppy gets to know its new person as a frustrated, unhappy, lunatic who has a fit every now and then for no obvious reason!

 

        Put another way, most of us would not correct a dog for failure to complete a behavior UNTIL we were certain that the dog understood the desired behavior.  Yet how many people start correcting this behavior from day 1 without first ensuring the dog understands what is being asked?

 

        Furthermore, I find that how quickly my puppies end up housebroken has more to do with our circumstances than anything else- if it is summer and I am staying at a friends house or in a hotel, I can have a puppy fairly reliable in a few days, but it takes CONSTANT attention on my part.  If I am at home, and it is raining out and cold, it may take weeks because I am careless.

 

        Let me reiterate that I am NOT saying you need to go slowly.  Just that you need to do it right and not worry about the time it takes.  Lots of praise for success, lots of opportunities, lots of good management on your part so the puppy learns without stress or unhappiness!!