One of the first things new dog owners teach their puppy is go outside to go potty.
Potty training a new puppy is not something that is going to happen overnight. It requires consistency, patience, and positive reinforcements. Know that accidents are all part of the process. But if you are consistent, you will see results that much faster.
Most puppies will take between 4 to 6 months to be fully potty trained. Some puppies may take a little longer. But if you follow these steps for potty training a new puppy, you will be off to a good star
When to begin potty training:
For most owners, potty training will begin the day that they bring their new puppy home. But most puppies are not ready to be potty trained until about 12 weeks of age when they have enough control of their bladder and bowel movements.
Most puppies will take between 4 to 6 months to be fully potty trained. Some puppies may take a little longer. If you adopt a puppy that is older than 12 weeks, potty training may take a little longer if he has developed any bad habits such as eliminating in his cage. If this is the case, it will just take a lot of patience and encouragement as you reshape your puppy’s behavior.
Stick to a Schedule:
When developing a schedule for your puppy, keep your puppy’s age and mealtimes in mind. Younger puppies will need to be taken out the first thing in the morning and then once every 30 minutes to an hour.
Keep your puppy on a regular feeding schedule and take away his food in-between meals. Puppies usually need to be fed three or four times a day. Feeding at the same time each day will help keep him on a schedule for restroom breaks.
Plan potty breaks around your puppy’s activities
- When your puppy first wakes up in the morning or from a nap.
- After eating and drinking: After a meal wait between 5 to 30 minutes to take your puppy outside. The younger the puppy the sooner you will need to take them out after a meal.
- During and after playtime: Playtime will stimulate the digestive tract and may give your puppy the urge to have a potty break. If your puppy shows any sign of needing to go potty take them out immediately.
- After spending time in a crate.
- Right before your puppy goes to bed for the night.
Take your puppy to the same spot each time to do his business. His scent will prompt him to go. And stay with him outside so that you can offer encouragement and praise.
Limit Opportunities to roam your house:
It is natural for your puppy to want to explore, but it’s important during potty training to limit the opportunities to roam your house. When a puppy is allowed to roam the house, it leads to easy opportunities for accidents.
During potty training, you are going to want to keep you pup within someone’s eyesight 100 percent of the time. That way you can watch for cues that your puppy needs to go outside to potty. Some cue includes whining, circling, sniffing, barking, scratching at the door. By responding to these cues, you will reinforce desired behavior.
When using a crate, you want to make sure that the crate is just large enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around and lay down. Puppies instinctually want to avoid soiling where they sleep. If the crate is too big, the puppy may use one corner to sleep and one corner for a bathroom.
Praise:
It is important to offer praise and reward immediately after eliminating. This will reinforce going potty outside. You want to connect the reward go outside, therefore give the treat outside.
When you take your puppy outside to do his business, stand quietly and wait until they are ready, and they start to potty. When they start to potty, give them a voice command or signal such as “potty.” This will train your puppy that when you give the command it is time to go potty. When he done, then praise by saying “good boy/girl” and giving him a treat.
You want to make sure to do this every time you take your puppy outside so that they will understand that doing their business in the proper spot will bring lots of love and treats.
Accidents:
Accidents are going to happen. It is a normal part of potty training your puppy. How consistent you are and how you respond will determine how quickly your puppy will learn.
If you catch your puppy in the act of potting in the house, make a loud noise (clapping your hand, saying “uh-oh”). You want to interrupt the behavior but not frighten your puppy. Immediately pick up your puppy and take them outside to finish. When they finish up outside, praise them.
Do not punish your puppy for eliminating in the house. If you find a soiled area, it is too late to administer a correction. Don’t rub your puppy’s nose in it and scold them or any other type of punishment. This will only make them afraid of you and afraid to eliminate in your presence.
Make sure to clean up and sanitize the soiled area thoroughly using an enzymatic cleaner found in most pet stores. This will get rid of the odor which can attract your puppy back to the spot to eliminate again.
Supervision and confinement will help minimize the number of accidents. If you are not consistent and allow you puppy to eliminate frequently in the house, they will get confused about where they are supposed to go potty. This will prolong the potty-training process.
Do’s and Don’ts of Potty Training:
Keep the following do’s and don’ts in mind while house training your puppy.
- DO create a schedule.
- DO stay consistent.
- DO go outside with your puppy every time.
- DO praise your puppy EVERY time they go potty outdoors.
- If you catch your puppy in the act, DO clap loudly so that he knows that he is doing something unacceptable.
- DO clean up accidents with enzymatic cleaner to clean up the odor.
- DON’T punish your puppy for having an accident.
- DON’T Leave food out for the puppy between meals.
- DON’T leave your puppy unattended.
By scheduling meals, walks, playtime, and other activities in a daily routine, you and your pup will be on your way to success in potty training. It will not happen overnight, so remember to be patient.
Good Luck