Surviving Potty Training Your Puppy In The Winter
Is housebreaking puppies in the winter significantly more difficult than at any other time of the year? Should the onset of winter make you think twice about bringing home a new puppy? In my opinion, the answer is a solid “no!” The essentials of housebreaking a new puppy remain the same. Our (my wife and I) dogs have been received housebreaking training during the winter and did just fine. In fact, they love the winter, but you, as owner, must take certain precautions due to the nature of the season.
When it comes to housebreaking puppies in the winter, you don’t really have anything to worry about, but you do want to pay attention to a few important points.
First, never turn your puppy outside by itself. That is particularly true for a very young puppy, but regardless, never leave your puppy unaccompanied. Stay outside with your pet until it ready to come inside.
Second, puppies are much more sensitive to cold weather and harsh weather conditions. You must never leave a puppy out in cold weather for long periods of time. When housebreaking a puppy in the winter, it is important to know that they are much more susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite.
Unless there be any misunderstanding, hypothermia means a prolonged condition where the body is under heated. When this occurs beyond a certain point, the body becomes unable to heat itself and dies. In other words, your puppy’s body temperature falls too low to recover. When you see your puppy begin to show signs of discomfort, such as shivering, take it inside. Remember, if you are cold and uncomfortable, it is likely that your pet is, as well.
Frostbite is tissue damage to the skin due to cold. You will notice damaged skin turn pale or white. The most vulnerable areas will be the webbing between toes, the ears, and possibly the tail area.
Here are some pointers to help housebreak your puppy:
(1)Most puppies are ready for housebreaking around 8 weeks. (2)Set up a schedule and stick to it. (3)If you see your puppy acting as if it wants to go to the bathroom, take it outside. (4)Expect to take your puppy outside every two hours. (5)Take it outside shortly after feeding. (6)Never leave your puppy outside alone. (7)In harsh weather, keep outside time to a minimum.
If you do nothing else but follow the pointers above, you and your puppy will survive a cold winter without problem. Even better, once the weather improves, your dog will continue to use its new skills as a housebroken pet.
Discover basic puppy training techniques found here! Find free tips on housebreaking your puppy at any time of the year!
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