For many families, even if they do not train anything else with their puppy, they will take the time to conduct puppy potty training. After all, who wants to go around cleaning up puppy "messes" from the carpet every day? Puppy potty training can be frustrating for all involved. Remember, though, that puppies are just babies and they do not know what you want until you let them know. There are several strategies to try when you are conducting puppy potty training.
Use A Crate: Using a crate will make puppy potty training that much easier. If you are unable to watch your puppy, put it in the crate. A crate is like a den, and dogs do not like to soil where they sleep. Use the same command when sending puppy into the crate, and always offer a reward while doing puppy potty training. Puppies may cry in the crate at first, but remember, giving them free reign will allow them to potty anywhere in your house. Do not leave puppy in the crate for long periods of time - allow puppy frequent trips outside for puppy potty training.
Designate A Potty Place: It will make puppy potty training easier if you take puppy out to the same place each time. While doing puppy potty training, the yard is only for going potty - take puppy to the same area each time. Only stay out about 10 minutes at a time before going back in. Playtime should only be allowed after the puppy has gone potty.
Reward Success: Remember, puppy potty training is about getting a desired behavior. When puppy receives a reward of praise or a small treat, they start associating puppy potty training as being a good thing. Happy puppies learn faster.
Use A Leash: An essential part of puppy potty training is being able to keep an eye on your puppy during the process. This can be difficult to do when you are trying to get other things done around the house. Using a leash tied to your waist can allow you to keep puppy near so he or she cannot sneak off to use the bathroom.
Practice: Like anything else, puppy potty training takes lots of practice. Take puppy outside for puppy potty training every time he or she eats or drinks, comes out of the crate, or wakes up from a nap. Take puppy out for puppy potty training as often as possible, and keep an eye out for the times that your puppy needs to potty on a regular basis.
Avoid Paper: While some puppy owners swear by using paper for puppy potty training, ultimately they are only teaching puppy to potty in the house. Instead, work on teaching puppy that outdoors is the only acceptable place to potty.
Prepare For Accidents: Puppy potty training is bound to have accidents, so instead of stressing out about them, prepare for them. Before puppy potty training begins, make sure that you have plenty of cleanup materials on hand, including paper towels or rags, odor neutralizers, and enzymatic cleaners. Keep these within easy reach for you, but out of reach for the puppy, to make puppy potty training accidents easy to clean up.
