Potty Training Puppies Successfully
There is no other chore quite like potty training puppies.
As fun as it is to have a house full of playful pups, it can be a nightmare if they are constantly making messes.
This is one of the most important things to train your puppy, and no two puppies take to the training in exactly the same way.
Above all, you need to be patient when you're house-breaking a pup.
Puppies are just like human babies, in that they need time to figure out exactly how you want them to behave.
Puppies also don't have the bladder control that adult dogs do, so that makes the chore more difficult for you.
Sometimes they don't have the "warning" that it's time to go, like adult dogs do.
Teach your puppy patiently, to arrive at the time when he will reliably let you know when he needs to go outside.
Here are some helpful guidelines to use when potty training puppies is your job one.
You can use these ideas whether you want to train your dog to go potty outside, or to use a litter box like as cat, which seems to be all the rage with the toy breeds these days.
If you want to train your pup to go potty outdoors, train him that way from the start.
If you paper-train him first, you are still going to have to train him to go outside eventually.
You might as well do that to start with.
Crate your puppy or confine him in a small area whenever you can't watch him.
Be sure that other family members do the same thing, so the dog gets consistent messages.
If your puppy has adult teeth, feed him dry food.
This will help to make his stools more solid.
Keep your pup in a room with linoleum if you don't crate him, so his accidents will be easier to clean up.
Make sure your pup has a feeding schedule.
This will help him get used to the schedule of your house, and then going potty will fit into that schedule that he already knows.
Pups need a lot of water, particularly if they are on dry dog food.
But for the purposes of potty training puppies, feed your pup four or more hours before bedtime, and withhold water for the last couple of hours before bedtime.
Take your pup outside the first thing in the morning, and after every meal.
Make sure he also gets a chance to go potty right before bedtime, too, and after every nap he takes.
If he's rustling around or asking for attention during the night, take him outside then, too.
Put him on a leash and walk him directly to the area you want him to use.
He should be able to go to the bathroom with you on the other end of the leash.
This way, if you're away from home, he'll already be comfortable making "pit stops" on-leash.
Don't play outside with your pup until he "does his business".
Then he can play.
If he doesn't GO potty, put him in his crate for a bit, and then try again until he does.
Praise him profusely when he does go potty.
And give him another few minutes in case he has to go a bit more.
If your pup is in the house and looks like he's sniffing out a potty spot, pick him up and carry him outdoors to his spot.
Teach him patiently and work with him until you both succeed.
As fun as it is to have a house full of playful pups, it can be a nightmare if they are constantly making messes.
This is one of the most important things to train your puppy, and no two puppies take to the training in exactly the same way.
Above all, you need to be patient when you're house-breaking a pup.
Puppies are just like human babies, in that they need time to figure out exactly how you want them to behave.
Puppies also don't have the bladder control that adult dogs do, so that makes the chore more difficult for you.
Sometimes they don't have the "warning" that it's time to go, like adult dogs do.
Teach your puppy patiently, to arrive at the time when he will reliably let you know when he needs to go outside.
Here are some helpful guidelines to use when potty training puppies is your job one.
You can use these ideas whether you want to train your dog to go potty outside, or to use a litter box like as cat, which seems to be all the rage with the toy breeds these days.
If you want to train your pup to go potty outdoors, train him that way from the start.
If you paper-train him first, you are still going to have to train him to go outside eventually.
You might as well do that to start with.
Crate your puppy or confine him in a small area whenever you can't watch him.
Be sure that other family members do the same thing, so the dog gets consistent messages.
If your puppy has adult teeth, feed him dry food.
This will help to make his stools more solid.
Keep your pup in a room with linoleum if you don't crate him, so his accidents will be easier to clean up.
Make sure your pup has a feeding schedule.
This will help him get used to the schedule of your house, and then going potty will fit into that schedule that he already knows.
Pups need a lot of water, particularly if they are on dry dog food.
But for the purposes of potty training puppies, feed your pup four or more hours before bedtime, and withhold water for the last couple of hours before bedtime.
Take your pup outside the first thing in the morning, and after every meal.
Make sure he also gets a chance to go potty right before bedtime, too, and after every nap he takes.
If he's rustling around or asking for attention during the night, take him outside then, too.
Put him on a leash and walk him directly to the area you want him to use.
He should be able to go to the bathroom with you on the other end of the leash.
This way, if you're away from home, he'll already be comfortable making "pit stops" on-leash.
Don't play outside with your pup until he "does his business".
Then he can play.
If he doesn't GO potty, put him in his crate for a bit, and then try again until he does.
Praise him profusely when he does go potty.
And give him another few minutes in case he has to go a bit more.
If your pup is in the house and looks like he's sniffing out a potty spot, pick him up and carry him outdoors to his spot.
Teach him patiently and work with him until you both succeed.
