Do you have a new pet? Nothing is more exciting than adding a fur baby to your family. Unfortunately, as cute as a new pet is, it is also a lot of work. New pets need to be trained, especially when it comes to potty time. If you have a new animal, here are some basic tips you can use for housebreaking your pet.
Have a Potty Area
One of the most important things you can do to housebreak your pet has a designated potty area. If you have a dog, this area might be a specific part of your yard. If it’s a cat or a rabbit, you’ll want to have the litter box in the specific potty area in the house. No matter what kind of pet you’re getting, know ahead of time where you want them to do their business.
Be Consistent
Consistency is also key to housebreaking your pet. Every time your pet needs to go to the bathroom, make sure you take them to the same area. Use your voice to encourage them and praise them for doing the right thing. If you have a dog, you can set a schedule for when they go outside. The more consistent you are, the quicker your pet will pick up this new habit. They’ll be housebroken before you know it!
Give Treats
Don’t forget to give your new pet treats when they do the right thing! Encouraging your pet and giving it praise is sure to help with the housebreaking process. Each time your pet gets a treat, they’ll want to do the same thing again to earn another treat. When they do something wrong, you’ll need to withhold the treat so that they know not to repeat the negative behavior.
Clean Any Accidents
If your pet has an accident, you’ll want to clean it up right away. Not only can accidents smell and stain your carpet, they can also leave behind a scent that your pet can smell. Even after the mess is cleaned up, your pet might smell this and think that this is a good potty area. To help prevent this, clean any accidents right away and use a special product to help remove the scent. Once you’ve removed anything that could tempt your pet to have an accident again, you’re more likely to be successful in your housebreaking endeavors.