Tips For House Training Small Dogs When The Owner Works

With a diminutive animal comes a tiny bladder, so house training small dogs can take some creative thinking. This is especially true when the owner works outside the home. Some small breeds simply cannot wait eight or more hours to go outside. A compassionate owner can use the following tips to ensure success.

Purchase a suitable crate. A dog will not eliminate where it is forced to lay. So, with a small dog, simply purchase a crate intended for a larger dog. This will allow the pup to use his bedding for rest and an opposing corner for toileting. While crate training is not usually considered a good long-term solution, it can be useful in the beginning stages of training.

Consider alternate toilet areas. If the owner isn't comfortable with a doggy door giving access to the outside world, there are a wide variety of other materials one can train the dog to use. Puppy pads, a patch of washable fake grass, or even a litter box can become a secondary toilet area for instances where the dog is forced to eliminate inside the home. Not only will this keep the floors clean, it can help reduce the animal's anxiety over accidents. Use the alternative method in one corner of a room.

Use positive reinforcement. The vast majority of small breeds are noted for their intelligence and eagerness to please, so praising the dog for eliminating properly will ensure the correct behavior continues. Under no circumstances should an owner ever strike the dog or rub the dog's face in its own mess. Not only does this shatter the trust bond between pet and owner, it can cause damage to a small breed's delicate teeth and jaws if done too forcefully. House training small dogs should be approached with a positive attitude.

If the dog avoids the alternative toilet material consistently, try another type. Some pups refuse to use a litter box, but take to pads quickly. Others prefer fake grass, or even a towel kept for just this purpose. Don't be afraid to experiment.

Slowly expand the area once toileting takes place on the toilet area every time. If the crate is in a bedroom, give the pup free roam of the room. If this is successful, expand the territory incrementally until the dog has full roam of the house.

House training small dogs when the owner works outside the home is quite simple when following this method. By establishing an appropriate toilet area inside the home, the floors throughout the house will be unsoiled and the dog will not be anxious over accidents.

By: Sandy Rutherforde

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Are you looking for good dog training tips? Be sure to visit Dog Training Answers for puppy crate training tips and help with dog obedience training.