Best Way to Potty Train a Puppy
- 1). Set your puppy out for success. Puppies have small bladders and haven't learned how to "hold it." Make sure that you take your puppy outside frequently to give it the opportunity to go potty in the proper area. When you go out, use a verbal cue like "Let's go potty!" or something else simple that your puppy can learn to associate with the need to go outside. Once you're out there, don't rush. Stand around and wait for a while. Don't pet or play with your puppy, which might distract it. Instead, simply wait quietly to see if it shows any signs of going potty.
- 2). Whenever your puppy does its "business" in the right area, praise it profusely. Positive reinforcement is much more effective than punishment. Soon your puppy will associate your happy, enthusiastic reaction with going potty in the right place. Because it wants to please you, it will soon learn that this is a good way to earn praise.
- 3). When you are not home, keep the puppy crated or confined to a restricted area. This lessens the chance of an accident, since dogs don't like to soil their sleeping area. If an accident does happen, it is confined to a smaller area rather than a carpet or other inconvenient spot.
- 4). Feed your puppy on a regular schedule. By sticking to designated feeding times and removing any uneaten food after the puppy has had sufficient time to eat, you help get it onto a regular elimination schedule. Soon you'll learn to recognize your puppy's schedule so you can take it outside at appropriate times.
- 5). Be aware of the different between a real accident and an incident of "submissive urination." Many puppies, particularly those with a submissive nature, will "leak" when they are nervous or excited. They are not able to control this, so don't get upset and make a big deal out of it or punish the puppy. Most pups will outgrow this problem by the time they are six months old.
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