Housebreaking

Housebreaking means teaching a puppy or a dog to do its potty (pee and poop) outside the house instead of inside the house. When puppies are small, they cannot control their pee and poop like grown-up dogs do, so they need our help to learn where and when to take care of their business.

To housebreak a puppy, we need to take them outside regularly, at least every couple of hours, and especially after naps, meals, and playtime. We can use a special word or phrase, like "go potty," to encourage them to do their business outside. When they go potty outside, we give them lots of praise, pets, and treats to reinforce that going outside is a good thing.

If we catch the puppy doing its potty inside the house, we can interrupt it by saying "no" or "stop," pick them up gently, and take them outside immediately. We should never punish or scold the puppy for making mistakes, as it can make them scared or confused, and they won't learn anything from it.

It takes time, patience, and consistency to housebreak a puppy, and there will be accidents along the way. But with positive reinforcement and a routine, our furry friends will eventually learn to do their potty outside and become well-behaved members of the household.