By Seth Mullins
By the time we bring young dogs into our homes, their early training has already been accomplished first by their mothers. Pups are completely dependent upon their dam for the first three weeks of their lives. Though their senses of touch and smell are developed, they can’t yet see or hear. They can’t even eliminate wastes without the stimulation of Mother’s lapping. At about 5 weeks of age they’ve developed their sharp little teeth, which are rough on the dam. This signifies that weaning time has come.Though the puppies, at this stage, often still have contact with their mothers, their breeder or kennel will have taken on at least some of her responsibilities. Their feeding, the removal of their wastes, and the training that teaches them to distinguish between the clean den and the mess area is now taken care of by human beings. These are the responsibilities that we inherit when we make the decision to own a dog.
We’ll want to be stocked with supplies beforehand, most of which will be used for the task of cleaning up after accidents. A couple months’ worth of newspaper is ideal, because it’s cheap, absorbent, and easy to spread. Newspapers should be set down at least four pages thick and overlapping. Waterproof puddle pads are also available at pet supply stores, though they are more expensive and not biodegradable because of the sheets of plastic that they’re backed with. Paper towels and spray cleaners are also essential. Cleaning up puppy accidents right away will remove their scent from a given area and therefore not encourage them to go there again. We should prepare for outdoor excursions by purchasing poop scoopers from the pet store and keeping a good supply of plastic bags (one-gallon food bags work well) for walks in public parks.
Kitchens are good areas to housetrain them in because they’re well trafficked, which encourages dogs’ socialization. Because we can’t supervise our new pets at all times, we’ll have to confine them somehow – either to the entire kitchen, with a baby gate, or in an exercise pen or dog crate. Crates are also handy to have if we intend to travel with our pets, and some plastic types are even safety approved for flying.
Because dogs eat almost anything they find, it’s important that we proof the area where they’ll be sequestered – especially cabinets where we store chemical cleaners. Electrical cords should be kept out of reach.
Training them to eliminate outside will be a time-consuming process for the first three months. Pups at this age will move their bowels as often as they eat, and may need to urinate every hour. The universal elimination times for all dogs are when they first awaken, after they eat or drink, and whenever they pause during play. Initially, we can scent an area in the yard by pouring a half-cup of water through some paper they’ve urinated on and letting it seep into the ground. We can then take our dog to the spot – which now bears a familiar scent - and wait with it until it goes.
Setting a rhythm like this is more effective and compassionate than using punishments to housetrain. Pups often react to punishment by hiding their puddles and poop where they think their owners won’t find it. Setting aside a designated area where it’s safe to eliminate will remove this source of stress for animals and owners alike. As we grow accustomed to our new pets’ schedules, and their body language, we can anticipate their needs and be ready when the time comes. Though there are always challenges involved with housetraining, a little preparation, kind communication, and plenty of love will go a long way towards making the process smooth.
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