How to Potty train your puppy...
POTTY TRAINING
Key Points
- Crates are an important puppy housetraining tool that can make your life easier.
- Puppy pads and paper training offer a temporary solution to housetraining.
- Consistency, attention, understanding, and patience are all key in housetraining.
- Controlling your dog’s diet
- Keeping a consistent schedule; this pertains to trips outside, feeding and exercise
- Providing regular exercise—it helps with motility
- Reinforcing your puppy for “going” outside
- PRAISE / REWARD
Crates Rank High as a Potty-Training Tool
Many people who are new to dog’s cringe at the idea of confining their puppies in a crate, but the reluctance to use this tool generally evaporates after a few days of living with a new pet. Dog crates make life easier. It is a good idea to get your dog accustomed to one for many reasons, such as vet visits, travel, convalescence, and safety.
Create a Housetraining Schedule for Your Puppy
It is vital to housetraining success. Puppies have tiny bladders, and water runs right through them. The same is true for solid matter. You must make sure you are giving your puppy ample opportunity to do the right thing.
***Monitor daily events and your puppy’s habits when setting up a schedule. With young puppies, you should expect to take the puppy out:
- First thing in the morning
- Last thing at night
- After playing indoors
- After spending time in a crate
- Upon waking up from a nap
- After chewing a toy or bone
- After eating
- After drinking
Observation and Supervision
You must watch your puppy carefully for individual signals and rhythms. Some puppies may be able to hold it longer than others. Some will have to go out every time they play or get excited. Some will stop in the middle of a play session, pee, and play on.
Praise
Praise your puppy for doing the right thing! Make him/her think that they are a little canine Einstein every time they perform this simple, natural act. Be effusive in your praise—cheer, clap, throw cookies. Let them know that no other accomplishment, ever—not going to the moon, not splitting the atom, not inventing coffee—has been as important as this pee. Reward your pup with one of his favorite treats. Make sure they are nice and small, easy for your puppy to digest.
