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.
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.
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.
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™.
I've been on a mission to decode how the dogs we love see the world and what really gets them motivated so that we can transform the way we train them. Now I want to teach this to you! Join me in revolutionizing dog training. A fresh new approach for the 21st Century urban or suburban lifestyle. I’ve enjoyed my work as training and behavior consultant for Safe Hands Rescue and resident dog expert for PetChatz. I founded a state of the art dog daycare, serving over 2,000 dogs and their guardians. I now continue to consult with dog daycares nationwide on how to enrich environments for the dogs in their care while using effective rewards and motivators to improve behavior. I’m also a very proud graduate and a certified trainer through the Academy for Dog Trainers, the world’s best dog behavior and training program taught by Jean Donaldson. I've wholeheartedly dedicated my life to helping people and dogs live amazing lives together. Passion, Education & Experience. Join me, I'd love to teach you what I've learned.
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