Make House Breaking Your Dog a Breeze with these Supplies
By Janice Jones |Last Updated 12-10-2021
House breaking your dog is probably the first task you will
have when you get your new pet, whether he is a puppy or an adult. There are some must have supplies that will
help make the job easier. Here is our
list of the ten most essential supplies to make your house training work a
little easier.
Just in case you're wondering, the products listed below can be purchased from Amazon at a lower cost than would be if you went to your local pet supply store.
Crate

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A crate is a real problem solver for puppies just learning
how to manage their pottying. Crates can
be as simple or as elaborate as you care to go and can double as your dog’s bed
and safe haven. The one featured on the left can double as a piece of furniture!
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Crate pad blanket, dog bed or cover

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You can use a blanket or towel, but why not make your dog really comfortable. To complete the crate, a soft, thick pad, pillow, or doggie
bed should line the crate making it a super comfortable place for your dog to
rest or sleep.
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X-pen, Infant Gates

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When house breaking your dog, your puppy will need to be
confined until they are relatively consistent with pottying in the appropriate area. A small room or part of a room works well for
a young puppy. X-pens provide plenty of
room for the puppy to play or nap and still keep them safely confined.
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Stain & Odor Eliminator

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Puppies and even older dogs will make mistakes, and the best
way to treat them is with an enzyme cleaner that neutralizes both the stain and
the odor. There are many brands on the
market, and I have not found one that is far superior to the others—most work
reasonably well and are a real must when house breaking your dog.
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Treats

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Most dogs crave our attention, cuddling and petting, but if
you really want to get their attention, a tasty tidbit of something extra delicious
will work wonders. You can purchase
treats or make them yourself. The key is
finding an assortment of treats that your puppy loves. The treats on the left are my dog's favorite!
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Collar, Harness, Leash


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Unless you have a fenced in yard, the only really safe way
to take your dog outdoors for pottying is on a leash. Small dogs do better with harnesses, but
collars are needed to hold tags. Leashes
come in different sizes and colors and an assortment of materials. Retractable leashes work well if you are only
taking your dog outdoors for pottying.
If you plan on purchasing only one, we recommend a 6 foot nylon leash
that can be used for a variety of purposes.
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Potty Pads Indoor Potty

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If you prefer to house train your dog to potty indoors, you
will need disposable or washable potty pads or a type of indoor potty system
such as those that use artificial turf.
You can also purchase holders if using disposable pads so that the pads
stay in one place and don’t accidentally become a play toy for a frisky pup.
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Optional: Bells

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I have heard people swear by these. This system comes with a DVD that shows you
how to house train using the bells. The
idea behind this method is that you train your dog to ring the bell when they
need to go outdoors.
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Adult Dog House Breaking Aids to use when House Breaking Your Dog
For adult dogs with incontinence or territorial marking
issues, we highly recommend these products
Belly
bands for the guys: disposable or
washable


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You can use washable bands that work very well with a
feminine hygiene product. The bands can
be as colorful as you like, and all my guys who like to mark will wear them
with no problems. Most bands I have
tried last a long time, but the Velcro that holds them in place will wear out after
a number of washings. Be sure to measure your dog's waist before ordering
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Diapers for the gals: disposable or washable
If you have girls that mark their territory (and girls will
do that!), are in heat or have problems with incontinence, diapers are a life
saver.
You can purchase washable diapers
that use disposable liners or go for the disposable variety that requires no
laundry.
When using either a diaper for
the gals or belly bands for the guys, we recommend that you keep a supply of
wipes handy for use when changing them out.
Clean Up Aids
Dog Poop Bags

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If you are out and about with your favorite small dog, cleaning up after him is a must. You can save and recycle your old plastic bags or buy a fresh supply in any color of the rainbow. We thought we should add these here even if they are not exactly an aid for house breaking your dog.
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Pooper Scoopers

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Perhaps it's not you favorite weekend chore, but it's gotta get done either by you or you can hire a service to do it for you. Best to have the right tools for the job and a scoop with a rake is necessary if you are removing feces from grassy areas.
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What Doesn't Work when House Breaking Your Dog
Sprays, drops, stakes, cute little articles infused animal
urine

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These products are supposed to encourage the dog to sniff
and urinate. Most people find the odor offensive,
and we think it is a waste of money. If
you want to train your dog to go in one area, then you have to take them to
that area. A sample of their own urine is
FREE, and you can collect it with paper towels and then rub it on the surface where
you want them to go. This is just as
effective as buying an awful smelling product that doesn’t work any better than
the stuff your dog will gladly give you for free.
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