Congratulations on your new puppy! You recall getting a puppy when you were a child. What you may not remember is the first few weeks when your puppy seems to pee everywhere, not to mention when he becomes nervous or a change in his diet. Potty training can be frustrating for both the owner and the puppy. Patience and consistency are the most important training protocols for your puppy. Let’s examine the steps we suggest you take to successfully housebreak your puppy.
We are a big proponent of crate training your puppy. You need a crate large enough for the puppy to stand, rest, turn around, and lie down comfortably, but not so large that he or she can designate one corner as the bathroom. It’s easier for the puppy to keep the crate in an active area of your home so the he can feel like a member of the family. Make the crate a happy place for the puppy. Reward him with cookies, toys, and praise for entering his crate and possibly a ‘raw’ cow bone for longer duration stays.
What we have found is that a crate simplifies training, certainly at night but you can still housebreak your puppy without one. You can use an exercise pen which gives the puppy more room, but you will need to keep a closer eye on him if this is your choice. Too much room without constant monitoring can lead to potty breaks inside the exercise pen, which you do not want. In either event, remember that puppies need to potty frequently! When they are young, they need to go outside every ten to fifteen minutes increasing the time incrementally to an hour when alert and roughly ten to twenty minutes after eating or drinking. Also, take them out immediately after they wake up from their sleeps. When younger after naps or their nightly sleep, simply pick up the puppy, transport him outside, and allow him to explore until they take care of ‘all of their business’. Most of the time, it takes the puppy only a minute or two to eliminate. I recommend going with the puppy so you can witness a successful potty break but also to mark the behavior with a ‘marker word’ such as potty or empty as examples. Marking the behavior with a marker word will also help you when you travel with the puppy. It makes potty stops a lot easier and quicker.
The good news is, It won’t be long before the puppy associates going outside with going to potty. As the puppy matures, you can gradually prolong the time between potty breaks. That said, always keep an eye out for signs the puppy may need to go to the restroom as you teach great potty habits. One obvious sign the puppy needs a potty break is If he abandons his toy and begins sniffing around the house, there is a good possibility he needs to use the bathroom. And then it’s, quick, It’s time to take him out!
Lastly, It’s important to understand that the puppy will have accidents in the house regardless of how diligent you are. This cannot be totally avoided for most puppys. A young puppy cannot regulate his bowel movements. When this occurs, don’t yell or punish the dog; instead, calmly transport him outside. Clean up the mess and eliminate any lingering odors so that the dog does not begin to associate that area with elimination.
Again, perseverance and consistency are needed to successfully potty train your puppy. You can do it!!