Potty Training for Puppies–Essential Housebreaking Tips

We have talked about housebreaking puppies and other house training techniques for puppies elsewhere, but the desire for information on this topic seems to be inexhaustible. The inquiries keep coming. I’ll try to do my part by giving what I think is essential advice for potty training puppies in the most efficient manner.

I think it is always important to remind that the time you spend potty training your puppy is also essential for creating a strong bond between you and your pet. Of course, you want to accomplish potty training quickly and cleanly, but keep in mind that this is a very important puppy training stage.

I also want to mention that as you potty train your puppy, you are also beginning to teach it how to please you. Generally speaking, all dogs want to please their owners–and that would be you! In potty training, as with almost all dog and puppy training techniques, you want to harness the puppy’s natural desire to please and use that “momentum” to help speed you and your puppy through the housebreaking stage.

Here is my list of key ingredients to successful potty training for puppies:

• Never be angry with or scold or rebuke your puppy for eliminating inside. In fact, I advise not using scold and rebuke techniques at all during any dog training.
• Generally speaking, you can begin potty training your puppy at about 8 weeks.
• Establish a routine. This is very, very important. Establish a routine and stick to it. Predictability in puppy training is key.
• Set a feeding schedule and stick to it.
• Take your puppy outside every one to two hours and always 10 to 15 minutes after feeding.
• I strongly urge you to set your last feeding time no later than 90 minutes from bedtime.
• Always praise your puppy when it relieves itself outside.
• Always stay outside with your puppy until it “goes.” Never just put your puppy outside. Stay out with it, and be sure to praise it when it eliminates. You may even want to occasionally give a small treat.
• If you are inside, and your puppy looks restless and appears to be following or looking for a trail on the floor, take the puppy outside. When it goes, give it praise.
• If you notice your puppy starting to eliminate, make a quick, loud sound to interrupt it, and then take it outside. Rremember, no scolding or rebuking.
• If you cannot always watch your pet, place it in a confined area big enough for it to move around but not so big that it can make a separate place for going to the bathroom.
• If your puppy is at least 8 weeks old, you may also want to consider beginning crate training at this time. The crate should be large enough for the puppy to turn around in, but not so large that it can make a separate spot in a corner to go to the bathroom.
• When your puppy messes inside, be sure to clean the spot as thoroughly as possible. Yes, I know exactly how you feel about this. But, a thorough cleaning is important because it will help reduce the chance of the puppy using the same spot in the future.

Potty training puppies is not really that difficult, and I think the steps above will help you through this time with the least amount of mess and frustration.

And as always, I advise taking the time to discover all you can about reliable puppy and dog training techniques. Remember, your relationship with your puppy will evolve over time, and you need to know as much about dog behavior as possible. Take action, it’s free!

 

 

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