3 Proven Methods For House Training A Blue Heeler Puppy 

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Is house training your Blue Heeler puppy harder than you expected, and you keep finding wet puddles around the house?

Then you probably need some great puppy training tips to enjoy a pee-free house.

Fortunately, we’ve got your back with three great Australian cattle dog potty training methods.

Just keep on reading.

3 Proven Methods For House Training A Blue Heeler Puppy

Australian Cattle Dog, aka Blue Heeler, is an affectionate, protective, and devoted dog that thrives when there’s a job to do.

They make excellent companions as long as you can meet their energy needs and don’t mind having a shadow follow you around the house.

Since Blue Heelers are bad yard dogs, house training your puppy should be among your priorities.

You don’t want your Australian Cattle dog to get used to eliminating inside, or you’ll have twice as hard time breaking the habit.

Fortunately, house training isn’t that complicated when you know the basics. And that’s why we’re here.

Things To Consider Before House Training a Blue Heeler Puppy

Successful house training also requires knowing when and where to start training your Blue Heeler.

Picking the wrong potty spot or the wrong time might delay the process or allow your puppy to form bad habits.

So, let’s see the most important things to consider before you start house training your Blue Heeler puppy.

When Should You Start House Training a Blue Heeler?

Most experts recommend that you start house training your Blue Heeler puppy once they’re at least 12 weeks old.

Younger puppies don’t have enough bladder and bowel control and won’t wait when they have to go.

So, if your Blue Heeler puppy is around 12 weeks old, you can start house training immediately.

Don’t postpone because your puppy will become comfortable eliminating inside the house.

Where Should You House Train Your Blue Heeler Puppy?

It’s better to start your Australian Cattle dog potty training outside.

Inside potty training might slow down the process and confuse your puppy.

Moreover, your dog will have to learn to eliminate outside sooner or later.

As for the potty location, pick an easy to clean spot, which is close enough to reach in emergencies.

Avoid places where other dogs go because your Blue Heeler should associate the area with their own smell.

What Do You Need For House Training Your Blue Heeler?

House training your Blue Heeler puppy doesn’t require many training tools, but you do need a couple of things:

• high-value training treats for rewarding your puppy
• a leash for taking your puppy outside to their potty spot
• a suitable Blue Heeler crate
• a cue word, for example, “Go potty,” a clicker, or a dog training app to mark the behavior.
• potty training sprays

3 Methods For House Training a Blue Heeler Puppy

When it comes to house training Blue Heelers, the most important things are persistence and consistency.

You’ll need to take the puppy out first thing in the morning, after meals, naps, and play, and before bed.

See this video for information:

Moreover, get your puppy on a regular feeding and watering schedule so that you can predict when they will have to go.

Otherwise, you might not be able to prevent incidents in the house.

#1 The Every Hour Method

The easiest way to potty train an Australian Cattle dog is to lead the puppy to their potty stop as frequently as possible and use a lot of positive reinforcement:

• Every hour or so, take the puppy outside to the designated potty spot.
• When you see that your Blue Heeler is about to pee/poop, say your cue word.
• Praise/reward when your puppy does its business. It’s vital that you reward your puppy immediately after and not when you’re already in the house.
• If the puppy doesn’t go in 5-10 minutes, go back to the house and try again later.
• Watch for signs that your puppy has to go (sniffing, circling, wailing), and take the puppy outside.
• Repeat.

Establishing such a potty training schedule might seem time-consuming, but it gives fast results.

It teaches your Blue Heeler that they get rewarded for going outside, not inside, and prevents accidents in the house.

#2 The Crate Method

Allowing your Blue Heeler puppy a free reign of the house while you’re not around is a huge mistake.

Your puppy is likely to have accidents in the house if you aren’t there to take the puppy outside.

The more you allow your Blue Heeler puppy to eliminate inside, the harder it will be to establish the notion that the house is off-limits. That’s why you need a crate.

Many owners think that crating a puppy is cruel, but they’re wrong.

Crates are supposed to be a safe place where your puppy can have some me-time and hide during stressful times.

Crate training also teaches your puppy that they can hold their bladder and don’t have to eliminate the moment they feel the urge to do so.

The trick is that the crate shouldn’t be too large, or your puppy will sleep in one part and eliminate in the other.

It should be big enough for your puppy to turn around and sleep comfortably.

Once you’ve introduced the crate:

• Put your Blue Heeler puppy in the crate when you aren’t around to supervise them.
• Take the puppy to their potty spot when you let them out of the crate, even if you’ve crated them for a couple of minutes.
• Say your cue word the moment you notice that your puppy is about to relieve themselves.
• Praise and reward your puppy as soon as they do their business.
• If the puppy doesn’t do their business, you might go for a short walk or get back inside and try 10-15 minutes later.
• Repeat.

Since you’re house training your Blue Heeler puppy, you shouldn’t put beddings or water inside the crate, unless you’re going to be gone for long.

It can encourage your puppy to pee and poop inside.

#3 The Spray Method

Sometimes it can be hard to get your Blue Heeler puppy to relieve themselves at the designated potty spot.

Then you might use a potty training spray to encourage your puppy to do their business in a specific area:

• Use the potty training spray on the spot you’ve chosen.
• Get your puppy to the area and wait. If your puppy doesn’t go in 10 minutes, go back inside and try again in 15-30 minutes. Watch for signs of a full bladder.
• Remember to praise and reward your puppy when they do their business outside in the right place.
• Repeat.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

It’s easy to get frustrated with your Blue Heeler puppy when you discover yet again a wet puddle in the house. However, it’s essential to avoid these common Blue Heeler house training mistakes, or you might hit a brick:

• Don’t reprimand your Blue Heeler if you find any “accidents.” Dogs don’t connect the punishment with the “crime,” and all you’ll do is make your puppy fearful.
• If you catch your puppy in the act, say a firm “No!” or clap your hands. Then take your dog outside.
• Clean any accidents thoroughly to remove the smell. Otherwise, it will attract your puppy and increase the likelihood of accidents in the house.
• Don’t feed or water your Blue Heeler puppy two hours before bed. Increase the bathroom breaks if your puppy keeps soiling the crate at night.
• Have realistic expectations. Young puppies can’t hold their bladder for long, and they will have an accident if you’re not there to let them out.

You can also watch this video for more information:

Are Blue Heelers Hard To Train?

So, how hard is it to potty train a Blue Heeler, and how long will it take? You might be wondering about that after reading about all these house training methods.

They seem like a lot of work, right?

Since Australian Cattle dogs are a herding breed, they’re smart, eager to please, and obedient.

That means that they aren’t the worst dogs to housebreak and quickly figure out what you want from them.

However, a lot depends on your puppy’s upbringing.

Puppies with established bad bathroom habits or those coming from dirty homes/puppy mills will be harder to housebreak since they’re used to soiling their living quarters.

The good news is that all dogs can be trained, as long as you’re devoted to the task and don’t give up.

Remember that it’s all right to ask for professional help and that you can involve the whole family in the house training schedule.

In the best-case scenario, potty training your Blue Heeler might take a few days to a few weeks.

Be patient, persistent, and don’t leave your puppy opportunities to eliminate in the house.

What do you think about these three house training methods for a Blue Heeler puppy? Was your Blue Heeler hard to train, and how did you do it? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

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