A puppy is so disarmingly cute. You just want to pick up a puppy, play with it and hug it. But the whole experience is ruined the moment they pee or poop in places where they shouldn’t. This is where the grueling journey of potty training your puppy begins. Teaching your dog to do his business in one particular area is not an easy task. It requires a lot of patience and dedication on your part because potty training a dog is much harder than teaching it tricks. But it is doable. Here’s what you can do to make the whole thing easier.
One of the first things you should remember is that starting them early will lead to better results at a shorter time compared training an adult dog. You should start potty training your dog when he is about five months old.
A puppy is naturally inquisitive and will want to go around the house and explore its many enticing nooks and crannies. But if he does this, he’ll also pee or poop wherever the urge strikes him. This could mean soiled carpets, sofas and floors. In order to avoid any kind of accidents, the recommendation of dog trainers is to crate the puppy for the time being. Crating does not mean putting the puppy inside an a box and then closing it. Crating means giving the dog a small area that can be his own space. You can line a crate with newspapers to make cleanups simpler. You can also cordon off a small area in the house that can serve as his crate.
You should show the potty area to your pet dog. The best time to introduce him to the potty area is a few minutes after he drinks or eats because this is usually the time they unload their waste. Bring your puppy about five to ten minutes after you’ve fed them. To make him stay put in the area, play with him. And when he finally poops or pees, praise him to reinforce the behavior. Remove him from the potty area after he’s done his business.
The best way to reinforce the correct behavior is by making your dog follow a schedule. When your dog is six months old, start giving him his food and water on the same time everyday. Two feeding times a day will be sufficient for your dog, schedule on in the morning and the other one at night. Follow this schedule diligently and also add in a ten to fifteen minute walk after each meal. Put a leash on your puppy and walk him outside. You can then bring him to the potty area and wait for him to relieve himself. Don’t go back inside until after he has done his business. In a matter of a few weeks, your puppy will be used to the schedule and he will know when it is potty time.
Photo from buzzle.com