We get asked frequently how to potty train a puppy. Though it is simple, for most people it is not easy. For the dog parent it will take some legwork and perseverance.
Puppy Potty Training is as easy as 1, 2, 3…
You will be sure to find all sorts of items sold as quick fixes, but are they truly quick fixes? No, not really! There seems to be an abundance of quick fixes today for every problem we face. It’s a good idea to stop and think how well quick fixes work in other areas of your life. For instance, all those diet pills or supplements available on the market today. It appears to be just what you are looking for, until you look at what the doctors have to say. In the end, the best road to losing weight and staying fit involves legwork and perseverance. The same is true for potty training your puppy or even your full grown rescue dog.
If you follow these 3 rules of thumb for a full 3 weeks, you and your puppy will be celebrating your success. You can spend a lot of money on all the fancy thing-a-ma-jigs, but in the end you will be led back to the need to perform the legwork and perseverance needed to teach your puppy ‘outside’ is the place to go.
3 Steps to Potty Train your Puppy
- Management – prevention of mistakes is what it takes. When your puppy is given the opportunity to piddle on the carpet, there is no way for you to prevent the reward for this behavior of peeing on the carpet. A full bladder is uncomfortable, as soon as you go, you get immediate ‘relief’ and so does your puppy. The reward has already taken place, no matter how quickly you scurry over to interrupt.
Set yourself up with a puppy playpen or use baby gates to keep puppy in a completely puppy proofed space. When you are unable to supervise your puppy 100%, this will be a safe place for your puppy to hang out and play. Only give your puppy free time in other areas of the house when your puppy is empty (has recently performed bathroom duties outside.) If you take your puppy out to go to the bathroom and your puppy does not go, put them back in their safe place for another 20-30 minutes and then try again. Only empty puppies get free time. The supervised free time and play with you also acts as an excellent long lasting reward right after your puppy has pottied outside.
- Rewards – The most magnificent party occurs every single time your puppy potties or poos outside. This will require you to go out with your puppy each and every time. Immediately after your puppy has finished, you run over to them laughing and praising them for a job well done. Chicken or whatever else is your pups favorite rains from the skies. This is not one tiny morsel of yums, it’s a smorgasboard! Think about it, after some repetition, who would ever want to go potty indoors again, no potty party EVER happens there.
- Interrupt and Redirect – Mistakes happen to all of us. If you catch your puppy just about to squat, interrupt and swiftly redirect to the outdoors. If your puppy has an accident that you find later, chalk it up to the learning curve…for you! 😉 Try to tighten up on that management and you will achieve your goals. After you have achieved 3 weeks of all potty duties occurring outside, you may now loosen up on your management. You and puppy have earned more free time for a job well done.
Don’t look at housetraining your puppy as a chore, look at it as spending quality time with your new puppy. Potty training your puppy can be great fun when both of you get to laugh, run, play and have parties for each and every success. Enjoy your puppy; they grow up so darn fast.
If you would like assistance with setting your home up for success with your new puppy, we offer in home puppy training consultations in the Minneapolis, Minnetonka & Edina, MN area. We will counsel and help you get your home set up for success, right from the start for raising a puppy.
Until next time, Have Fun & Enjoy Your Dog!
Jody Karow – CTC
Dog Life Coach & Founder of Go Anywhere Dog™
P.S. Don’t forget to check out our dog training eCourse for raising and training a Go Anywhere Dog™!
P.P.S. Don’t miss our local services in Minneapolis, MN metro area providing Puppy Classes in South Minneapolis for raising a Go Anywhere Dog™.
