Dealing with Accidents
Chances are pretty good that, on at least one occasion, your pup will potty inside accidentally because he didn't know how to get out on his own, or he didn't know how to tell you he needed to get out.
When this happens, do not hit the puppy with a newspaper or rub the puppy's nose in it. These old-fashioned approaches eventually went out of favor because they failed to produce the desired results. These actions only put your relationship with your boxer at risk. After all, he's dependent upon you for everything; how secure can he feel if he is constantly being punished for something he can't help?
What should you do if your pup has an accident in the house? First, wipe up the urine or feces off the floor with a paper towel, placing it in a plastic bag that goes out with the trash. Then liberally douse the area with enzymatic cleaner and let the cleaner sit according to the manufacturer's instructions. Wipe up the cleaner with another paper towel, and rinse the area with a wet cloth rag or something else that you can launder completely.
It seems excessive to some people to get out with their puppies every hour on the hour plus after every nap, meal, and play session. But if you can do it, housetraining will go very smoothly. After all, you are spending a great deal of time training your puppy and hence bonding with him. He will want to please you all the more for that reason. It is also the best time to train a pup to potty in a certain place on the yard, and you can reinforce the action positively every time you go out with your pup.
The point of this cleaning is to eliminate every trace of smell. Dog's noses have about 10,000 more scent receptors than we do. If even the tiniest little bit of scent remains, the pup, who is hardwired to potty when he smells urine or feces, will potty there again — he can't help it. If he continues to potty there, it means you're not cleaning up well enough, and you need to get that puppy out more often!
Though punishment is pointless, you can give your pup some kind of negative verbal reinforcement, such as “Not in the house,” “Ick,” or “Phooey.” This lets him know that while the accident is not his fault, messes do not belong in the house. Boxer puppies are smart. They can understand the tone of your voice and will try that much harder to hold it or to let you know when they need to go out.
