How To Train Your Puppy

How to house train a puppy to make them as well-behaved as possible
When it comes to raising a well-behaved dog, it's all in the training – but this relies on a lot more than learning to sit, fetch, and shake.

House-training is important to ensure your puppy isn't getting up to too much mischief around your home.
more, it can begin the moment you bring them home. Through house-training properly from the start, you can truly set your dog up to win.

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House-training can begin the moment you bring your dog home. © Getty Images/iStock photo House-training can begin the moment you bring your dog home. Give praise
Praising your dog and giving out a food treat every time they toilet in the desired area is a very important habit to get into.

Be sure to make a big fuss so your pup understands they have done something that makes you happy and also rewards them.

Take them outside often
An eight-week-old puppy has a pretty small bladder, so they're going to need more trips outside than usual.
Make sure to take your dog's outside often, and always give them plenty of praise. © Getty Make sure to take your dog's outside often, and always give them plenty of praise.
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Offering frequent opportunities to go outside makes this much smoother and will help to keep accidents at bay. It will also help your pup's constant agitation too.

Make sure you wait with them while they toilet, so each time they relieve themselves you are there to reward them.

Anticipate toilet breaks
Puppies relieve themselves shortly after they wake up and also after a meal, so use this knowledge to immediately take your puppy outside after waking or eating.

Puppies often circle or sniff the ground when they're ready to go - so keep an eye out for warning signs. © Getty Images/iStock photo Puppies often circle or sniff the ground when they're ready to go - so keep an eye out for warning signs.
Then wait patiently until they do go and reward them with treats and praise.

While this might seem like a bit of work, the process should only take a few minutes.

Watch out for warning signs
Puppies usually sniff the ground and turn circles before they go to the toilet – so if you see this behaviour, be quick to whisk them outside before an accident occurs.

In fact, if you actually catch your puppy in the act, it's best to pick them up and take them outside. Then wait patiently to see if they finish.

When they do, bring out your trusty bag of treats once again and make sure you sing their praises too.

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Keep your dog confined to a smaller space when left home alone. © Getty Keep your dog confined to a smaller space when left home alone. Don't let your dog roam free in your home
Keep this tip stitched in your memory: Do not let them roam free in your home, attended or unattended.

If you are leaving your pup unattended for a period of time, wake them up before you leave and take him outside to go to the toilet.

Then, confine them into their playpen with something suitable to eliminate on, such as newspaper.

If you can't actively supervise your pup when you are at home, your next best option is to pop them in their playpen with something to chew.

Keywords like 'walkies' and 'sit' can work wonders to get instant good responses from your dog. © Getty Images/Mascot Keywords like 'walkies' and 'sit' can work wonders to get instant good responses from your dog. Use keywords and commands
"Wee-wees" and "walkies" are notable commands that plenty of dogs can recognise and easily understand.

Introducing these commands can help you indicate to your dog that it's time to go and make the whole event a lot more seamless.

Another handy note: It's a good idea to immediately have a game or walk after your pup eliminates to make him associate that when he eliminates something really fun will happen after.

Be sure to treat your pups, and don't punish them if they have an accident every now and then. © Getty Images/iStock photo Be sure to treat your pups, and don't punish them if they have an accident every now and then. Don't punish your pup if they don't get it right
This one may speak for itself, but it's a good reminder. If your dog does have a little accident in the house, it's best to see it, clean it and move on.

Rubbing his nose in it or yelling at them simply will not work. It makes your puppy scared of you or reluctant to go to the toilet in front of you.

For more puppy training tips from Dr Katrina Warren watch the video in the player above.

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