#MiddleburyCT #Puppy #HouseTraining
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I bought a puppy a few weeks ago who was between 2 to 3 months old. Star is wonderful, and housetraining has been OK. But yesterday, he pooed in the hallway while we were out. My boyfriend says I need to push his nose into the mess and punish him. I don’t think that’s the right way to train a puppy. What do you think? – Daria in St. Louis, Missouri
DEAR DARIA: Your instinct is spot on, and you should trust it more. That’s the wrong way to train a puppy. It’s aggressive, negative and doesn’t teach the puppy anything – except to be afraid.
Young puppies are learning machines, picking up habits quickly – both good and bad. They need to be constantly supervised to keep them safe and to correct them (not punish them) on the spot so they learn what they can and can’t do in the household. When they’re not supervised, I recommend placing them in a properly sized kennel crate. Think of it as a den for your puppy, a safe spot. Again, not a place to punish him.
Furthermore, puppies need to pee and poo more frequently than adult dogs – about four times daily at Star’s age, but sometimes more. It’s up to you to make sure their elimination schedule is adequate and that you are there to supervise them. Star couldn’t wait for you to get home, so he went in the hallway. That’s on you, not on Star.
Clean up the mess (spray with an odor eliminator) and continue your training schedule with Star. And keep following your instincts about the best way to train and correct him.
Readers, how would you respond to the boyfriend’s advice? Tell us at ask@pawscorner.com.
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