How Can I Get My Dog To Be Potty Trained?
The very first thing that you are going to have to teach your puppy when you bring them home is that it is not ok to use the house as their toilet. You have to take the time and have the patience to teach them the potty rules and etiquette. First and forth most, you have to let the dog know that you are in control, you will set the rules and that it is their job to follow them. Now that you have showed your dog that you are the leader of your little family, it is time to pick the spot that you will assign your puppy to use as their restroom area. When choosing the spot remember that your dog is going to grow and make sure you are picking an area that is not just for your convenience now, (you don’t want a full grown dog using the grass right beyond your door to relieve themselves).
Once you have found the perfect spot, it is very important that you make the time to take your puppy to this spot at least once every hour. Make extra trips within that hour every time your puppy awakes from a nap or they have gotten a drink or ate some food. It is also important that you watch your puppy carefully the first week or so, if you notice that your puppy has wondered off and they are sniffing around there is a good chance that they are looking for a place to relieve themselves.
A lot of new owners have more luck when they take the time to sit down and make a bathroom schedule, not only do they know what is expected of the puppy at these times, but writing it down also shows them that they are committed to doing it. When the scheduled hourly time comes around take your puppy to the selected spot and tell them it is “potty time”. Try to remember to say “Potty Time” every time that you sit them down on their spot. Hearing the verbal key from you will just be one more cue to training them quicker.
As much as you would like to be able to, you cannot be with your puppy every minute of every day. In the real world, this is not even an option, between work and chores there will be a few hours out of everyday that the puppy will be alone. A puppy crate (or dog bed) is a great option for when your puppy is home without you. Not only will making sure your puppy is in the crate when you are out keep them safe but the crate is great tool to aid in potty training also. By using the crate at night and making sure your puppy is sleeping in it, you will cut the number of puppy accidents in half. The puppy will soon learn that the crate is for sleeping, and will not use it for a bathroom due to their natural instincts not to dirty where they sleep. When the puppy refuses to pee in their crate this will teach them to control their bladder. Remember that you will need a large dog bed as your puppy grows.
Try to be patient and live by the motto that accidents do occur, realize that most accidents that happen during the training process are the owners fault. If you slack, off at your job than you should not expect the puppy to stick to theirs. If you follow the schedule and remember to use the crate when you go out and during the night, you should have no problem at all potty training your puppy. If an accident does occur, do not overreact. If you yell and scream at your puppy, they will associate the bathroom with a bad thing. You want your puppy to respond positively to potty time.
