Puppy potty training

This is a question I get all the time. People have unrealistic high expectations that a puppy will just get it within a matter of a few days or a couple of weeks.

The truth is it doesn't matter what size or breed your puppy is, potty training can be quick or it can take a long time depending on how diligent you are in the beginning.

A common mistake made with puppies is giving them too much freedom too quickly.

Think about it this way. Would you leave a baby unsupervised in any room, let alone all the rooms of your house and expect that the baby knows what to do, doesn't get into anything it shouldn't and is completely safe?

No. The answer is no.

Same goes for a puppy. If your puppy is awake and roaming about you should be actively supervising.

Take your puppy out often. The truth is everything we learn is learned by repetition. If you show your puppy where to go over and over, it becomes a habit. Take your puppy outside to the place you would like them to potty after eating, drinking, naps, and playing.

Pups that are 8-16 weeks old, get them out every couple of hours if possible. Set an alarm on your watch to remind yourself. During this time you'll need to get your pup out at least once during the night. They have small bladders.

I repeat DO NOT use potty pads. Honestly if you want your puppy to learn how to go potty in the house, use potty pads! Seriously, how can you expect a puppy to understand the difference between a potty pad, a rug or the carpet?

Puppies learn and think in pictures. If you want your puppy to go potty outside, don't allow them to go potty inside on anything. Potty pads send a mixed message and it can prolong the potty training timeframe significantly.

This is the one as a trainer I get the most opposition to. But let's refer to the active supervision from above. What do you do with a baby when you aren't actively supervising them?

You put them in a crib or a playpen. It's not mean. It's responsible.

Puppies don't think it's mean. In fact we've become a society that constantly over stimulates our puppies and dogs. A crate becomes a safe space. It's a place your puppy can relax, sleep and stay out of trouble.

If you aren't actively watching your puppy, crate time.

That doesn't mean all day. It means intermittently.

Every time you take your puppy out of the crate, head outside and for potty time.

When potty happens, your pup gets some free time (watched though). Play time. Cuddle time. All of that.

Then start the process again.

When your puppy goes potty, name it. "Good potty", "Good shishi", whatever you want to call it.

I like to say it softly while they are doing it. Always name the action when it's happening.

Then make a big happy deal as soon as the pup is done. Good potty or some other words that work for you and reward with a treat or affection.

If you catch your puppy in the act, interrupt it. You'll definitely have the right tone. It's an automatic reaction! Get your pup outside asap and hopefully the job gets finished at that point.

If you don't catch your puppy in the act, there's not a whole lot to say or do to your puppy. They are in the moment. If you make a big deal, get mad, yell, or any other negative reaction your puppy is taking it as you are reacting to whatever the pup is doing right then in that moment. They don't connect it back to whenever they did the accident.

This is why active supervision and crate training is so important.

We all know dog urine smells and leaves stains. But what most don't know is that it leaves enzymes in the surfaces that were peed on. It's true for carpets and hard surfaces. You've got to break that enzyme up on the cleaning process or your puppy will get a whiff of it as a marked spot, and become a potty spot that they will return to.

There are lots of products on the market for pet cleaning but very few that actually break up the enzyme that dogs can continue to smell even when we humans can't. I'm not a product person, but over the last 20 years I've found one that works and has helped literally thousands of people potty train their puppy because the enzymes don't continue to reside in your home. Get it here: Planet Urine

Bonus, it cleans stains old and new, even as bad as red wine as well!

• Reward your puppy by giving compliments and treats every time potty happens outside. You can never have too many rewards for outside potty breaks.
• Take your puppy’s water bowl away after 7 PM
• Keep your dog on a leash while in the yard. If you want your dog to potty in a specific area of the yard, hand walk your dog there every time until they fall into the habit and head that way on their own.
• Actively supervise the potty break until your puppy knows what to do as a habit. Don't open the door, let your pup out in the backyard and hope it happens.

It can feel like a lot of work. It can feel frustrating. It can feel like it's way more work than you had anticipated. But I promise you, putting in the time in the beginning will save you a lot of time, damage, anxiety and downright anger in the future.

Remember when it's hard to stay motivated, stay consistent.

Join me here for help with your puppy, motivation, consistency and how to keep yourself out of anxiety and into living life well played.