Most new dog owners don’t look forward to the task of house training a puppy. It can be pretty confusing when you hear different advice from almost everyone you talk to.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be a terrible experience. With the right information, potty training a puppy can be quicker and easier than you might have expected. Here a six tips that will help make housebreaking your new puppy a lot easier.
Tip #1: Feed Your Puppy At The Same Times Each Day
Some dog owners like the idea of free feeding their dogs. This means they leave a bowl of food out all day, letting their dog eat whenever he’s hungry. While free feeding is convenient for you as a dog owner, it can create a problem when you’re housebreaking a new dog. It’s much easier to potty train a dog if you follow a schedule and feed him at the same time each day.
Dogs are like us. After eating, they usually need to go potty. With a consistent meal schedule, you’ll have a lot more control over when he needs to go potty. This means a lot fewer accidents for your new puppy.
Tip #2: Help Your Puppy Succeed By Following A Potty Schedule
Although you’ll be taking your puppy outside right after eating, you will also need to take him outside as often as possible during the day. If your schedule means you can only take him out 3 or 4 times a day, be sure you do it at the same times each day.
Having a schedule helps you remember to take him out during the day. And this routine gives your new puppy a sense of security. Without a schedule, puppies tend to become anxious. Anxiety will cause digestive problems in your puppy, and that will make house training harder on both of you.
Tip #3: Choose A “Potty Time” Command
Pick a verbal command to use whenever you want your dog to go potty. Be sure it’s something you’ll be comfortable saying in front of anyone. Some ideas are: “get busy” “go tinkle” “potty” or “go potty.”
Once you choose a command, start saying it every time you want your new dog to go potty. In the beginning, don’t say it unless you are standing right where you want him to go. As he grows, you can open the door and give the command. He’ll run outside all on his own and go potty right where you want him to.
Tip #4: Never Scold Your Dog for Having An Accident
Almost every puppy has an accident while house training – some more than others. When this happens, always remain calm. Don’t scold him – and whatever you do, never rub his nose in it. This is not just outdated advice it’s also completely ineffective.
The truth is, making him feel bad about his mistake isn’t going to make training faster or easier. Your dog can’t help himself. If he’s had an accident, it’s probably because you didn’t stick to a schedule or weren’t paying attention to him. The best way to achieve success is to teach him that when he goes potty in the right place, good things happen. That brings us to Tip #5
Tip #5: Always Praise and Reward Your Puppy When He’s Successful
It’s just as important to reward your puppy when he goes potty correctly as it is when he does a “sit” any other command.
Puppies respond well to a combination of sincere praise and a little reward. This can be a show of affection, a special treat, or a short play session. The most important thing isn’t what reward you choose – the important thing is that he gets his reward immediately when he goes potty. This way he will connect going potty in the right place with getting praised and rewarded.
To start, be sure to praise him verbally while he’s actually going potty. Use a friendly, happy voice and say “Good boy! Good potty!” As soon as he’s finished, immediately give him the reward. You can toss his favorite ball for a game of fetch, or if you’re on a walk, bounce it and let him catch it. You could also give him a treat or belly rub.
Again, be sure to reward him immediately. Praise combined with affection, treats or play will make your puppy happy – and he’ll soon associate going potty at the right time and place with happiness and joy.
Tip #6: Crate Training Your Puppy Means Less Accidents
It’s beyond the scope of this article to explain crate training in detail, but there are some great reasons to consider it – especially when potty training your new puppy
When you crate train your puppy, you’re able to kennel him when you can’t watch him yourself. Dogs are den animals, and they don’t like to soil their dens. This means your puppy will “naturally” wait until you’ve taken him out of his crate before he goes potty.
Your job is to be sure you don’t leave him in the crate for too long and to immediately take him out to go potty when you let him out. The best part is that he’ll usually have to go — and, with your help, he’ll always be going when and where you want him to go!
No matter what, your dog is going to love you unconditionally. Training him properly will make him a happy, confident dog that’s fun to have around. Following these tips will help you get through potty training with flying colors!
Filed under Dog Training, House Training, Puppy Training
