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It is tempting to leave a puppy to relieve himself on
his own—particularly if it is cold or raining. However,
this short cut will not pay dividends. You need to
stay with your pup and when he spends give a verbal
cue, such as “busy” or “be clean,” so that he learns
to associate the word with the action. When he
performs, praise him lavishly.
Do not make the mistake of rushing back inside
as soon as your puppy has relieved himself. From
your pup’s point of view, he will think that as soon
as he goes, he is taken out of the garden, which is
full of interesting scents and places to explore. He
may decide to employ delaying tactics next time you
take him outside in order to prolong his time in the
garden.
As soon as he has gone, play with him for a couple
of minutes, or run through a couple of easy training
exercises so he can enjoy some one-on-one time
with you before going back into the house.
If you stick to the routine outlined above, your puppy
will soon get the hang of house training, but bear in
mind that you will need to do the thinking for him—
taking him out at the specific times—until he is at
least six months old.
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Puppies