Every dog I've fostered has shared the same problem: they aren't house trained. I don't know if they wound up in a shelter, scheduled to be euthanized, only because they pee and poop in the house, but it was probably a contributing factor. It's simply really, really upsetting to keep finding dog pee and poop inside. The irritation gets multiplied if it keeps happening on your new carpet.
What's frustrating to me is that house training is pretty straightforward, so it's always the owner's fault. I've had issues with my own dogs, so I include myself in that statement. Knowing that it's my fault helps me keep my cool when I find a mess. I just calmly clean it up and figure out what I need to do in the future to prevent the problem.
So let's address cleanup. Dog's primary sense is smell and you'll notice that they usually sniff the ground before going potty. If they smell a spot where they or another dog has gone before, then that's a marker that they should go there too. So, it's important to quickly and thoroughly clean. We use Nature's Miracle which is an enzymatic cleaner that breaks down the odors and removes stains. If you have carpet, then a carpet cleaner might be on your shopping list.
When puppies are born they can't go to the bathroom on their own. Their mother licks their behinds which stipulates them to go and the mother eats it. It sounds gross, but that's how nature programmed her. Once the puppies get older and they can move around and can go on their own they will crawl out of the next to go. Again, mother will clean up after them. In the wild I suppose they go further away as they are able and mom no longer needs to clean up. At home, they'll start roaming the house looking for what looks like a good place that's away from their bed.
The first step of house training your puppy is to not let them roam in the house. If you can't supervise them then they need to be in their crate. Remember, they don't want to go in their nest (the crate) so they'll hold it as long as they can in there. The first thing you will always do when you let them out of the crate is carry them outside and wait for them to go. If they don't go, well back in the crate unless you can closely supervise them. This establishes a routine in their life and if you're meticulous then you'll never have an accident inside.
Your dog will need to go after he eats. So feed him in his crate. When he asks to get out he goes straight outside. Note that it takes longer for a dog to go poop. They're going to search all around to find the perfect place before they finally squat and do their business. You need to be patient.
You're dog will learn that the best place to go is outside, but he still won't know that it's the only place to go. So supervision is key. You need to learn your dog's special "tell" that let's you know he needs to go. It's almost always wandering off in search of something. That something is a place to go. Again, don't leave your dog unsupervised. Watching TV on the couch with your best friend? Put on his leash and put it around your wrist or tie it to your leg. When he starts pulling, it's time. He may learn to bark or whine. If not, you need to teach them something they can do when they want to go out. Try tying a bell to the handle of the back door where he can reach it. Ring it every time you go out. Help him ring it before going out. Before you know it your dog will be ringing the bell to let you know it's time to go out. If he decides it's a toy and plays with it then great. Every time he rings it out he goes. Dogs are smart. They quickly learn to only ring the bell to go out, which is much nicer than barking.
As your dog gets better and better give him more space in the house. Don't give him the whole house at once. Set the exercise pen up inside and let him play in there. Shut doors or use gates to give him freedom in one room at a time. Eventually, he'll be able to have freedom in the house and he'll let you now when he needs to go out to do his business.
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