Housebreaking Your Dog - The Schedule

Housebreaking Schedules

Establish a Routine

In the beginning, start walking your dog first thing in the morning, every hour, and last thing at night. Gradually increasing time between walks as the dog becomes more reliable. Your dog will do best if he is taken outside on a regular and frequent schedule. He should have the opportunity to eliminate after waking up from a nap, playing and eating.

HINT: All dogs do best when kept to a routine schedule.

If possible, put your dog on a regular feeding schedule. Depending on their age, puppies usually need to be fed three or four times a day. Feeding your dog at the same times each day will make it more likely that he’ll eliminate at consistent times as well. This makes housetraining easier for both of you.

Daytime schedule

Establish a regular schedule of walking and feeding. This helps you to control the times he has to go out and prevent accidents in the house. First thing in the morning take the dog outside. He can then come in and play for an hour. Feed him breakfast and don't let him out again for a half hour. Then carry him back outside for a walk. Puppies usually have a bowel movement after each meal so give him time to relieve himself.

HINT: I would suggest taking a few days off around a weekend to help settle your dog in before you leave him all day to go back to work.

Now he can have another inside playtime for an hour or so. Don't give him free run of the house, use baby gates or close doors to keep him out of rooms he shouldn't go in. If you give him too much freedom too soon, he'll probably make a mistake. After playtime, take him outside again then put him into his den for a nap.

For the first month or so, you'll be feeding him three or four meals per day. Repeat the same procedure throughout the day: take him outside first thing in the morning, then one hour playtime, outside, meal, outside, playtime, outside, nap, outside, playtime, meal, and so forth. The playtimes can be lengthened as the puppy gets older and is more reliable. Eventually the puppy will be letting you know when he needs to go out, but remember, if you don't move quickly enough, he'll have an accident.

Keep your dog's yard picked up and free of old waste. If the area becomes too dirty, they'll refuse to use it and start eliminating in another area which may turn out to be inside the house.

Sample Schedule (For stay at home people)

7:00 AM elimination, play, exercise.
8:00 AM food, water, elimination, play, exercise.
11:00 AM water, elimination, play, exercise.
2:00 PM water, elimination, play, exercise.
5:00 PM food, water, elimination, play, exercise.
8:00 PM water, elimination, play, exercise.
11:00 PM elimination, play, exercise.

Sample Schedule (For working people)

Before work: Feed, Water, Walk
Midday: Feed (if puppy), water, walk
After work: Walk
Evening: Water, walk
Before bed: Walk

Remember that consistency is important. Give a schedule at least five days to sink in before making any changes to it.

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