House training an adult dog isn’t as difficult as you might think. With the right dog training tips, you can make housebreaking your adult dog much easier. Here are some of the tips and tricks that are proving to make dog training much easier.
House training an adult dog doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, it can be quite enjoyable and a lot of fun for both you and your dog. Training an adult dog is harder because they’ve got a stronger inner bladder and greater bodily control so they’re better able to learn quicker. This leads to fewer trips out in public and little need (hopefully none) for you to get up at night to go potty.
One great way to make your house training with an adult dog a success is with positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement works in a couple ways. First, it helps you train faster because negative stimuli aren’t encouraged. With positive reinforcement, you can get your dog to stop doing what’s wrong before he gets confused and starts doing it again. The second way is that with constant positive reinforcement, your adult dog will learn to like going outside and will start to look forward to it.
Another one of the best tips is to never let your puppy have free run of the house. Before you know it, your puppy has figured out a way to relieve himself in your home. Get your pup out as soon as you can and immediately take him to the designated elimination area (like the door). Try to stick to one location and don’t give up until your pup gets it down.
Make sure that you do things the same way every time you potty train your puppy. Don’t let your pup to eliminate in an area that is too close to the other areas you’ve designated as potty spots. If you leave your pup on the floor, he will have no idea where he can go to do his business and you may be encouraging him to go potty in the wrong place. The goal is for your dog to understand that the spot he needs to eliminate is just down the hall. When your pup does have an accident, simply pick him up and place him in his designated spot.
Adult dogs have the same “go to” spot as puppies. If they need to go, they will find it. It may take a few times but eventually your adult dog will get it. One thing that helps with house training an adult dog with these types of problems is to keep a close eye on the dog. You want to be able to quickly spot any signs that he’s about to need to go potty.
Use positive reinforcement when training your adult dog. Many people feel that a reprimand or a “bad dog” call are helpful in house training an adult dog, but they often are not. A much better method is to use praise and a doggie treat when you catch your adult dog doing his business in the right place. This works because dogs love to see their master’s exerting authority and when they see that you are using treats and praise to train them, they know they’re doing the right thing.
House training adult dogs can be difficult but with the right training you can accomplish your goals. If you’d like to further improve your relationship with your dog, introduce some playtime after training. Playtime is great for both of you and it helps your dog learn to trust you. Dogs enjoy bonding and when they see their master exerting that authority, they know they are doing the right thing. House training adult dogs can be one of the most enjoyable things you will do with your dog.
