Just like a brand new human baby needs diapers
for the first few years of it's life, Siberian Husky puppies
need a place to pee and poop until their little puppy
bladders can hold it like an adult dog. Puppies have poor
bladder and bowel control - having to pee every few hours,
and poop several times a day. Keeping your puppy in an area
with quick access to newspapers, a puppy litter box,
puppy pee pads or the back yard is essential in the
first few months of your housetraining regimen. Accidents
are inevitable, so don't let puppy romp unsupervised in
areas where cleanup is difficult. Play with puppy where
there is no carpeting or furniture that can be soiled -
areas where flooring is linoleum, tile or well-sealed
hardwood are best. NEVER give puppy free reign of the house
- even when supervised. Watch carefully for signs of
impending peeing or pooping such as sniffing the floor,
moving in circles, or sudden disappearing acts. If you catch
puppy in the act - DO NOT SCOLD! - simply move puppy
outdoors or to his designated "bathroom area" - then clean
up the soiled area, using an
enzymatic cleaner specially created for pet odor cleanup.
You must completely eliminate the odor - or puppy may smell
it later and think it's a good place to go again. If puppy
finished doing his business where he is supposed to, praise
him lavishly! You can also offer him a tiny tidbit of his
regular kibble food as a reward.
Always feed your Siberian Husky puppy a
high-quality puppy food, and stick to the same food
at all times. Feed your puppy on a regular schedule, and
avoid giving puppy table scraps or other such tidbits and
treats intended for humans. Don't switch between brands of
food - puppy's tummy is sensitive and delicate. Human food
or sudden changes in diet will likely give puppy diarrhea,
which will make your housetraining attempts very difficult.
After puppy eats, take him outdoors to the
area where you want him to eliminate. Come up with a command
that you will use when you want him to do his business.
Whether it's "hurry up", "Let's do it", "Do your business",
or whatever you choose, be consistent and use the same
command every time. If possible, remain there until puppy
completely eliminates, then follow with lots of praise and a
small treat of his regular puppy kibble.
If you haven't already done so, your new
Siberian Husky puppy should be taken to your veterinarian
for a well-puppy check up. This will ensure that your puppy
is in good health and is free from conditions that might
hinder your housebreaking efforts, such as a bladder
infection, parasites, fleas, etc. Your veterinarian will
likely want to vaccinate and de-worm your puppy (unless your
breeder has already done so) and put him on a regular
schedule of vaccinations, de-worming, flea protection and
heartworm preventive medications.
You should spend as much time with your
Siberian Husky puppy as you possibly can, but when you can't
directly supervise your puppy, you should confine your puppy
to a
comfortable dog crate or small pen. You should also
place puppy there at night when the family is asleep. Your
puppy's crate or pen should be his oasis - NEVER use a crate
or pen as punishment. DO NOT confine puppy for excessive
lengths of time. Puppies thrive on human companionship and
can suffer greatly from separation anxiety, which can occur
when you leave him alone too long or too often. In addition
to being cruel, long periods of isolation can cause your
puppy to misbehave by chewing, digging, barking excessively,
hyperactivity and even harming himself. The puppy's crate
should be used for dog naps, overnight and for short periods
of time when you must leave the house. If you have to be
away all day, you can
hire a caring pet sitter to drop in on your puppy
to provide a break for play, companionship, elimination and
exercise. Better yet, consider putting puppy in a Dog
Daycare during the day where puppy can play with other dogs
and people. Many
Dog Daycares and Pet Sitters will assist in the
early training process for your Siberian Husky puppy - be
sure to ask!
Give puppy plenty of outdoor exercise! It's
good for both you - and puppy - and gives your puppy
lots of opportunity to pee and poop outdoors, where you want
the activity to eventually be limited to. Weather
permitting, your puppy should be taken for a short walk or
to play in your securely fenced back yard at least twice a
day for 20 minutes or more. Family members can take turns
exercising your puppy, or you can all participate at once.
Your Siberian Husky puppy loves you and wants
to make you happy. You are his world! Lavish him with praise
when he does good, and you'll soon have a do-gooder puppy!
When it comes to housetraining your Siberian Husky puppy, a
little praise can go a long way. Whenever puppy eliminates
in the right place, make sure he knows that you are very
proud of him. Say "Good Dog", "Way to Go", "Woo Hoo",
"Yippee" or whatever you feel comfortable with - and do it
with feeling! Give puppy a tiny treat of his regular dog
kibble at the same time, and be sure to reward him
IMMEDIATELY after he does his business. Don't worry what the
neighbors will think of you jumping up and down and whooping
like a goofball - THEY don't have to shampoo your carpets!
This goes for any behavior you want your puppy to repeat.
Praise and a small treat are a great way to positively
reinforce your Siberian Husky puppy's behavior.
Rome wasn't built in a day, and your Siberian
Husky puppy won't be housebroken in a week. Give it time and
be consistent. Make sure all members of the family have been
trained in the art of puppy housebreaking, and make sure
everyone follows the plan to avoid confusing your puppy.
In the event that you are unable to
successfully housetrain your Siberian Husky puppy, despite
your best efforts, please consider consulting a professional
dog trainer or dog behavior specialist. They can help you
determine where your efforts are going wrong, or suggest and
help you implement other more intensive methods for
housebreaking your Siberian Husky puppy.
Remember the commitment you made to your puppy
when you invited him to become a part of your family. You
wouldn't give away a baby or child for peeing on the carpet,
so why should your "Siberian Husky baby" be any different?
Puppies and even older dogs CAN be housetrained! It just
takes time, effort and consistency from every member of the
family.
