Nothing beats the joy of bringing home a puppy! As a new dog-parent, you know you want to do your very best to help the puppy adapt to his new surroundings.
A huge part of that is helping the puppy understand not to poop or pee inside the house.
This, of course, isn’t as simple as it sounds.
You must be patient, use positive-reinforcement, and the right tricks to make it happen.
With that in mind, we’ve curated everything you need to know about potty training a puppy!
Dog toilet training depends largely on how you handle the situation.
Some pet-parents become easily frustrated and end up getting angry with their puppies.
On the other hand, some people are too laid-back and fail to establish a set routine and place for their dogs to eliminate waste.
These 5 easy steps should help you train your puppy effectively and quickly:
Small puppies can get highly overwhelmed when exposed to lots of new areas to explore.
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To begin the potty training, make sure that the puppy only has access to a few specific areas in your home.
This can help you keep an eye out for whether he needs to go to the bathroom, and also quickly establish these areas as spaces he cannot use.
Some experts believe that keeping your puppy in a cot or cordoned-off area can also help you achieve this.
However, the danger of doing so is that your puppy may feel as though he’s being punished or neglected, and this can lead to emotional and behavioral problems.
Would’t recommend doing so in all cases.
As it is the case with babies, puppies also follow a set cycle for needing to go to the bathroom.
As soon as your puppy wakes up from a nap, you should take him outside to your lawn and let him do its business there.
You should do the same thing right after the puppy has finished his meals.
Slowly, but surely, your puppy will learn to associate outside with bathroom needs, and will wait to be taken there.
Puppies learn through feedback, just like people do.
So, when your puppy poops or pees outside, praise him in a loving voice so that he knows he has done something good.
If you want, you can also reward your fur baby with a little treat.
Similarly, if your puppy has a little accident inside the house, try your best to interrupt it by clapping loudly or calling his name.
Do remember that the aim here is to startle the puppy to make him stop – you don’t want to scare your baby. Do you?
Smaller breeds like Chihuahuas and Pugs have smaller bladders.
This means that they need to go outside more frequently. So, keep an eye out for indicative behavior such as sniffing around for a spot to pee.
If you see your puppy doing this, pick him up and take him outside!
Whether you have a lawn or a courtyard, make sure that you always place the puppy in the same exact spot to use the bathroom.
The scent of older waste and memory itself will make the puppy associate that place with the bathroom.
Dog toilet training is an on-going process for the first few months, so do not get frustrated while potty training your new puppy!
Keep the following pointers in mind to ensure a positive experience for yourself and your darling pup:
There are a few signs to watch out for while potty training a puppy so that you know to take him outside. These are:
These dog toilet training tips should help you teach your puppy not to use the home as a bathroom!
As I mentioned above, dog potty training is an ongoing process and takes time. You should be patient and stay motivated. Dogs are very smart. Slowly, your puppy will understand what you are trying to teach him and follow along.
Dog potty training may take a few months, but you’ll harvest the fruits of your effort for years to come.
For more helpful tips on puppy care, check out our blog!
