You're the proud owner of a new boxer puppies.
Unfortunately, you are also the not so proud owner of a soggy living
room carpet. It doesn't take long to realize this can't keep happening.
So what do you do? It might just be time to housebreak your new pet.
Housebreaking may sound painful but relax. It really isn't all that
difficult. It is your dog's natural tendency to want to keep its living
area clean so once the home is firmly established in your pets mind the
problem will be resolved. There are several ways you can assist the
process to move faster.
The first thing you want to do is be sure your boxer puppies are healthy
to start with. If your pet has not been to the vet already, make an
appointment. Your dog should be checked for overall healthiness and for
conditions that would make house training difficult, such as cystitis
and kidney or bladder dysfunction. While your pet is visiting the
veterinarian, ask to have them checked for worms and parasites also by
way of a fecal exam. Also bear in mind the truthfulness behind mothers'
wisdom when she said "You are what you eat." A poor quality dog food, in
addition to contributing to a poor nutritional state, can cause
digestive problems resulting in loose stools, thus contributing to your
pup's inability to control itself.
The most important part of housebreaking your boxer puppies are close
supervision. This is necessary because your boxer puppies learns by
repetition. If you see your dog showing signs of needing to relieve
itself, then immediate action must be taken to get the animal outside to
its designated area. Consistency in training is critical. Do not think
being lax because it's cold or dark outside is acceptable or your pet
will adopt these same attitudes. Close supervision during housebreaking
is also necessary because it gives you time to learn your dogs special
quirks such as needing to urinate right after eating or a certain action
they take prior to soiling the floor so you can watch for these actions
and respond in the future. Also it allows you to correct a situation
while it is still fresh in the dogs mind. While being very intelligent
creatures, short term memory is not the strong point for most animals of
this species and correcting them after more than a few minutes have
passed serves no real purpose.
Another key to Housebreaking is giving your boxer puppies is a limited
amount of space. Baby gates across doorways or a pet crate help to make a
more confined area and help your pet to recognize this as his living
space. Their natural tendency is to go outside of their own living space
to urinate so making this association for your pet will make your job
easier. Lining this space with old news papers is a good idea at first
as it facilitates a much easier cleanup of any accidents your pet might
have. Also be aware that some surfaces are more pet-friendly than
others. Try to confine your new pet to areas of the home with tile or
vinyl floors which are much easier to clean. Avoid letting them have
access to carpet or hardwood floors which retain odors and can be
extensively damaged by an errant pup.
Remember to limit the amount of water your boxer puppies has access to
at the end of the day as you will otherwise be making a walk with your
pet in the middle of the night. A quick walk outside at regularly timed
intervals is advisable to training as this helps your pet to set an
internal schedule. Be certain to use a consistent keyword to tell your
pet why you are out in the yard such as "potty" or "toilet" or anything
you choose and do not return indoors until they have relieved
themselves. Also remember to give praise when your dog relieves itself
in appropriate places such as on newspapers or outdoors. Again
consistent training is the key.
If your pet does have an accident indoors, correct the animal
immediately and then clean the area using non-ammonia based products.
Instead use an Enzyme based deodorizer to clean the area and be sure to
remove all odor of the accident or the animal will repeat the behavior
again.
If you follow these simple rules, your carpets and your new pet should
be able to coexist peacefully and relatively free from stress.