A new puppy brings an endless supply of joy, humor, and unconditional love to a household. As you revel in all the delights of your puppy, start housetraining them early to ensure good habits and behavior for the years ahead. In addition to taking them to the  veterinarian, below are a few housetraining tips that will make life with your puppy even more enjoyable than it already is.

How to Housetrain a Puppy

1. Feed Them on a Schedule

For a puppy to grow up happy and healthy, they need to be fed on a regular schedule. Veterinarians recommend smaller meals spaced out evenly three or four times a day. With regular mealtimes should come more regular bathroom breaks, so the puppy will start understanding their own pattern of eating and going to the bathroom. They will also begin to recognize when they have the need to go outside—and you will, too.

2. Be Consistent With Bathroom Breaks

Just as mealtimes should be on a schedule, so should bathroom breaks. As a puppy gets used to going out at appointed times, they will make the connection between going outside and going to the bathroom.

3. Offer Positive Reinforcement

Use specific words each time you take your dog to the bathroom. For instance, "Go potty" or "Let's go outside" can be the magic phrases that your dog will get used to hearing and start to associate with their bathroom habits. Each time they go to the bathroom outdoors, shower them with praise, attention, and treats.

4. Don't Punish Them

As frustrating as an accident in the house might be, a puppy doesn't have the ability to process that they've made a mistake. Punishing them will only frighten them and jeopardize any progress you've made together. Simply clean up the mess and don't call attention to it. If you catch up in the act of going to the bathroom in the house, say the "magic phrase" and immediately take them outside, even if they've finished. This establishes the connection between going to the bathroom and going outdoors.

Your veterinarian can give you some customized tips to help the housetraining process along. Elyria Animal Hospital is here for you and your puppy. Serving the Lorain County, OH, area, they are a full-service animal hospital and pet boarding and grooming facility. From spay and neuter services to specialized care and treatment, their veterinarians are dedicated to the health of your pet. Call (440) 365-3818 or visit their website to schedule an appointment.