Welcome to HowPetCare, where we dig into this article to help you train your furry friend to go outside! If you've already read our “House Breaking 101” article and followed those protocols for a few weeks, you're ready to move on to the next phase of training. It's essential not to skip steps in the learning process, as it can lead to accidents and prolong the housebreaking timeline. Let's get started and teach your pup to “ask” to go outside every time!
The Prerequisite
Before we proceed, let's make sure you've met these goals:
- Consistently followed the schedule from “House Breaking 101.”
- No accidents during that entire time.
- Your pup may have already started indicating that they need to go out sometimes.
The Goal of the Next Phase
In this next phase, our goal is to promote the idea of your pup letting you know that they need to go out. We'll use a partially open door to create the realization that your pup needs your help in getting the door all the way open to go outside.
This is an Add-On Procedure
This “add-on” idea is meant for when you're spending supervised inside time with your puppy. Ensure that your puppy has access to the door through which you've consistently been taking them to the bathroom area.
Let Your Pup Smell the Outside
To transition into this training period, keep the door you've been using cracked open slightly. Your pup should be able to smell the outside without being able to get through the door by themselves. You can achieve this by pulling open sliding patio doors an inch or so. For regular swinging doors, an old-fashioned wedge-type stopper or a security door chain works well.
Encourage “Going Outside” when Your Pup Smells the Outside Air
Continue with the “going outside ritual” as you've been doing according to your schedule. Whenever your pup starts sniffing the outside air through the partially open door, ask them, “Do you want to go outside?” Pause for a moment and wait for an affirmative signal from your pup. It could be whining, barking, or pawing at the door. If your pup starts moving away from you and sniffing the floor intently, prompt them to the partially open door. Make sure to have your leash handy to take your pup outside immediately. Remember to supervise these bathroom trips by keeping them on a leash.
Bells
If you've chosen hanging bells as a notification technique, the procedure is similar. Once you reach the partially open door, wait until your pup's sniffing jostles the bells. When the bells ring, praise your pup, give them a treat, and open the door. Hang these bells throughout phase one of training, so they jingle every time you take your pup outside.
Encourage Only Bathroom Trips Outside
During this training period, it's crucial to only use the “outside” ritual for bathroom trips. Avoid mixing “business with pleasure” and play in the same area where your pup relieves themselves. When they ask to go outside, ensure they understand that it's solely for going to the bathroom. You can have separate play sessions or walks outside at different times.
Hopefully, these tips will help you in the next stage of training. You're almost there! Don't forget to check out other useful articles on our blog:
- House Breaking 101
- Crate Training 101
- Your Puppy's First Couple of Weeks: Tips to Make the Transition Easier
Best of luck with all your puppy training! For more helpful pet care tips and information, visit HowPetCare.
Keys to Take Away:
- Follow the prerequisites from “House Breaking 101” before moving on to the next phase of training.
- Use a partially open door to create the realization that your pup needs your help to go outside.
- Prompt your pup to the partially open door whenever they start sniffing the outside air.
- Consider using bells as a notification technique for your pup to let you know they need to go out.
- Only use the “outside” ritual for bathroom trips and separate play sessions or walks.
- For more pet care tips and information, visit HowPetCare.