Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting time for your family. A new addition is always a reason to celebrate, but along with the excitement comes new responsibilities and tasks to complete. Nothing will cause that wonderful feeling of new puppy euphoria to fade faster than having to continually clean up after your puppy’s accidents on the floors in your home. That’s why potty training becomes a top priority for new pet owners.
Some people have unrealistic expectations for their furry new friend. You wouldn’t expect a child to be potty trained after a day or two, and you shouldn’t expect the same from a puppy. Training a puppy takes patience and time, but it’s not as difficult as you might think.
There are several methods for housebreaking your puppy, and a few of the more popular ones are outlined below.
Crate Training
Confining your puppy to a crate while you are away is one way to begin potty training. Place his food, water, bed, and toys inside the crate, after lining the crate with paper. At first, your puppy will likely eliminate in the crate, but soon he will learn that he doesn’t want to eliminate in the same place where he eats and sleeps.
For this method to be effective, the crate should not be too large for your puppy. If it is, he will simply eliminate at one end and “live” at the other. There are crates available with a temporary dividing wall. Use the wall when your puppy is small and being trained. As he grows or after he is fully trained, you can remove the wall to give him a larger space.
When you get home, immediately take your puppy outside. When he eliminates outdoors, reward him. It’s essential to let him out right after he’s released from the crate. If you allow him to roam and play indoors first, he’ll be more likely to have an accident inside.
The goal of crate training is to teach your puppy to “hold it” while you’re away and wait until he’s outside to do his business.
Paper Training
Another popular method of potty training is paper training. If you choose this method, you can purchase “puppy pads” or use newspaper. Puppy pads are highly absorbent and make cleanup much easier than newspaper.
First, teach your puppy that the paper is the only acceptable place for him to go. You can do this by placing him on the paper when you catch him in the act of eliminating inside. This method won’t be effective unless you catch your puppy in the act. You can also move your puppy’s solid waste onto the paper to help him associate it with an acceptable potty area.
Once your puppy starts using the paper, begin moving it closer to the door. If he misses after you move the paper, you may have moved it too far or too soon. Simply move it back to the previous spot for a few days and then try moving it again. Eventually, move the paper outside. This process can take weeks or even months, so be patient with your puppy!
Praise and Reward
If you can be home and attentive to your puppy most of the day for a few weeks, you can potty train him using the praise and reward method. This involves taking your puppy outside every 30 to 60 minutes. Always take him outside immediately after eating or drinking. Every time your puppy goes to the bathroom outside, praise him and give him treats. If he has an accident inside, say “NO” firmly, then immediately take him outside. If he eliminates outdoors, praise and reward him.
For this method to be effective, you must pay constant attention to your puppy throughout the day. If he has an indoor accident that you don’t witness, just clean it up and move on. Taking him outside is only effective if it’s done immediately.
While this method isn’t possible for everyone, it can be one of the fastest and most effective ways to potty train a puppy.
Professional Help
If all of your efforts have failed, consider attending a professional puppy training session. Many local SPCA chapters offer low-cost training to help owners housebreak their puppies.
You can also seek advice on alternate training methods from your veterinarian. The key is not to give up!
What Not To Do
Hitting or screaming at your puppy is never an effective method of potty training. All it will do is teach your dog to fear you. They won’t understand why you’re punishing them, so it won’t help achieve your ultimate goal of training your pet.
It is never acceptable to hit your pet. Rubbing your dog’s nose in the mess you found behind your couch is also ineffective. Again, the dog won’t understand why you’re doing it, so it won’t help them change their behavior.
Remember, your goal is not to inspire fear. Harsh reactions will only cause fear, not teach your puppy what to do.
Potty training doesn’t have to be a difficult chore. While it takes time, with a little patience and the right methods, you’ll have your new best friend trained in no time!
