Tips on Pitbull Housebreaking

Housebreaking builds on your young pit bull pup's natural instinct not to foul the communal sleeping area. To carry it out successfully, you need patience, persistence, and understanding of your puppy's needs.

An 8-week-old pit bull puppy urinates approximately every two hours during the day. It empties its bowels three to six times a day, depending on the sort of diet it is receiving-an easily digestible diet, low in bulk, is best.

Housebreaking should start as early as possible. Place the puppy on a sheet of newspaper when it seems ready to go and be lavish with praise when it succeeds.

• Let your pit bull puppy sleep in its crate until it goes all night without needing to relieve itself.
• Never punish it when it has an accident indoors--it will only make it anxious.
• Always praise or reward your puppy when it relieves outdoors.
• Use a phrase such as as "there you go" when it is preparing to perform. This will encourage it to perform on command--useful when you are in a hurry or traveling with your puppy.
• Do not carry your puppy outside. Go with it, but let it make its own way to the door.
• Learn to recognize the signs that your puppy wants to go outside. Many puppies will circle and sniff around.