Puppy Potty Training Basics for First Time Dog Owners
If you are planning on owning a dog for the very first time, one of the things that may have you worried the most is their puppy potty training. It’s true that potty training can be challenging at times but if you have sufficient patience and the right attitude, it can actually be a very rewarding experience for both you and your young pup. Its all part of their house and dog obedience training.
During the first few days after bringing your new puppy home, it is quite inevitable for some potty accidents to occur. They may happen due to many different reasons — you may be allowing your pup too much freedom around the house or maybe you don’t watch him closely enough or maybe he just doesn’t understand yet what you want him to do with his puppy training.
It is an important element of puppy potty training to not let these accidents get to you. Don’t chastise the dog for simply following his natural instincts and relieving himself. Let him know that you disapprove not of the action itself but of where he chooses to do the action.
Punishing the dog severely for potty accidents is not advisable either. This will only confuse the dog more and encourage him to do his business where you won’t see him, like under the bed or behind the couch.
You Need Positive Puppy Potty Training
Instead, a more positive method of puppy potty training is recommended. Show him the places where he is allowed to do his business. Avoid hitting, yelling and rubbing the dog’s nose in the poop or urine at all costs.
The best way to go about the entire potty training process is to use encouraging words, give rewards and minimize the risk of accidents. Each time you see your puppy going potty at the right place, praise him quietly and give him a treat.
If your dog has already been properly potty trained and you suddenly notice a series of accidents inside the house, this may be a sign of illness. The best thing to do in such situations is to bring your dog to the veterinarian and have him checked for possible health problems.
Dog Behavior Problems – Urinating When Excited
If you notice that your puppy habitually urinates as he excitedly welcomes you when you come home from work, don’t be too alarmed because this is not really a serious puppy potty training problem.
It is natural for most puppies to be unable to control their urine flow when they get over excited. Just take it in stride and be happy to know that your dog is excited to see you. Most puppies do grow out of this “submissive urination” phase within a few weeks.
Puppy Potty Training – How to Teach Them When and Where To Go
Dog crates are wonderful training tools, but you must remember that is not all there is to housetraining your puppy. You also need to teach your dog where to go to the bathroom and how to let you know that it needs to go outside. Your dog also needs a command to fallow that lets him know to go potty, something that will get him to do a job quicker and where you ask him to do it.
You can teach both of these rules immediately. Take your puppy to the place where you want it to relieve itself and give him time to sniff and circle around. If you have kids keep them in the house when you are doing this task. It is important to leave the dog alone when you are potty training it. This is not a time for games; let it concentrate on what it should be doing.
While your dog is relieving itself, tell it softly (but don’t interrupt), “Go Potty! Go Potty!” (You can choose what ever words you would like to say.) After the dog has gone to the bathroom, praise him more. Let him know that he is a good boy and he did something right.
Every time your puppy needs to go to the bathroom take it to this spot, and repeat the process every time. No matter how long the process takes, you must stick with it in order to potty train your dog. For some dogs this process may take several weeks before it knows where its potty spot is.
The most important thing is to go outside with the dog. If you let the dog out by itself, you have no way of telling weather or not it has actually gone potty. The dog may come right back in the house and relieve itself in the living room; it may even sneak off into a different room and relieve itself. If you send the dog outside you will have no success with teaching the dog a command, and you cannot praise it.
Walking Your Puppy
When you take your dogs on walks and you come to a spot where it would be okay for your dog to relieve itself, tell them they can relieve themselves here as well. Remember to praise your dog after it goes to the bathroom and always pick up after it. One of the most important things in teaching a dog their potty spots is choosing wisely where they can and can not go. Don’t let your dog use the bathroom in your neighbor’s yard or in the front yard of a business.
Make sure to practice housetraining in various locations. If you take your dog only to your backyard to relieve itself, they will take this command so seriously that they will not go to the bathroom anywhere else. If you travel with your dog, they might try to go without going to the bathroom for too long which can be harmful to them.
As your dog gets into the routine of going outside you will be able to ask him if he needs to go outside. They will often respond with a bark and walk towards the door. They may also sit at the door and repeatedly bark until you acknowledge them and let them out. As your dog gets older you will be able to let him out without having to watch him.
