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Last Updated on June 30, 2023 by Thee Puppypreneur
HOW TO POTTY TRAIN A PUPPY OR HOW TO POTTY TRAIN A DOG
So, you want to learn how to potty train a puppy? Or maybe your potty training a dog you just got that’s older? Whatever your reason is let me tell you that I personally have really great success with potty training. From ponies, pigs, ducks and dogs, yes they have all been potty trained by yours truly.
If you just got your puppy, then you should learn how to house train a puppy immediately. You will want to decide if you are going to want them to potty outside or on a wee wee (pee) pad in a designated spot.
POTTY TRAINING A PUPPY WITH A CRATE
First and foremost, I always use the crate training method. With crates like these
which are great as they allow for easy cleaning because the pans slide out at the bottom and the breathability is good also.
Plastic crates I have found dogs chew on and can eat the plastic or the odor accumulates inside the crate and if there is an accident you have to crawl into the crate or there is just poor ventilation all around.
You want to make sure the crate you choose is not too big so here’s the issue. You have a Labrador puppy but you buy a crate for when you expect them to be 70-80 pounds but right now they are 10 pounds and the size of a soccer ball. This is a no, no.
Why? Well, the puppy has too much space in the crate so if it wants to go potty on one side of the large crate then it can get away from the urine by laying on the other side. Generally speaking, dogs don’t like to lay where they urinate unless there is some sort of psychological issue. So yes you may have to buy multiple crates.
WHERE DO YOU WANT YOUR PUPPY TO POTTY?
Next, choosing a wee wee pad or other area to go potty.
pad like these you will run through quite a bit but cheaper is not always better as I have learned that larger dogs will potty more and therefore the thickness is very invaluable, especially if you can’t take them outside and have to set this up inside the house like on the carpet or tile.
Another option is
and these are washable but you are going to need more then 2.
If you have dogs that you don’t want drooling or having accidents on the furniture but you still let them all over the furniture and the bed then these
are great for the bed and furniture. I have another one that is softer like plush velvet material and is only one sided but I actually found the lighter colored ones to be better as you can see if there is drool or urine and identify the wet spot immediately instead of letting it marinate for a week over and over before you discover they have peed on the darker one because you couldn’t see it but could smell it.
STEPS ON HOW TO POTTY TRAIN A PUPPY
The crate is meant to be their safe space and is meant to be kept clean. Your puppy should get used to being in the crate until its potty trained. Meaning you put it in the crate for an hour or 3. Let it out and take it to your designated area and say, “go potty.”
In fact, this should be done always after you feed your puppy then take it to its pee spot and repeat the magic words. Then after it goes potty you say “good potty” And then you can commence to play with your puppy and then put it back in the crate, until another couple hours go by.
You don’t necessarily have to do it every single hour and you can do it every 2-3 hours until a routine and consistency is established. You want to repeat, repeat, repeat and have your puppy associate the magic words “go potty” with a command. Make sure you say “go potty” until they go potty.
You want to make sure that the first thing you do in the morning is take your puppy potty. And especially before bed I would say no food or water after 6 or 8 pm but make sure you take them potty at around 8, 9 or 10 p.m. whenever you are about to go to bed so there are no accidents.
I know people that walk their dogs around waiting and waiting for them to just go potty. I can’t tell you how when its freezing cold outside and you’re shivering and want to go to bed how handy the command “go potty” is and how immediate your puppy will perform it if given correctly and consistently. I also use the command for “go poop”.
With consistency and repetition your puppy should pick up rather quickly and you can play and spend time with them without fear of having accidents in the house.
If you feel overwhelmed potty training and things still aren’t working out the way you would like then contact a trainer or behavior specialist to assess the issue by checking out this directory. Certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant Directory – CCPDT
Check out our other articles for more information such as;
HOW TO PUPPY PROOF YOUR HOUSE, HELPFUL THINGS YOU NEVER THOUGHT OF
