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.
One For The Road – Dog Potty Training While Traveling
Dog potty training can easily be done when both you and your dog are home most of the time. But if you have to travel frequently and have to take your dog along with you, it can be so much more of a challenge. Even if you are on the road most of the time, it is still best to start potty training lessons when you are at home. At the very least, you should teach your dogs the basic potty commands and give him rewards for doing it right. This way, when he hears the same command in a strange place, he won’t be too uncomfortable or nervous.
Dog Potty Training
Save The Toilet Paper
Some dogs only like to do their business in familiar territory, which is why they have a difficult time going potty while on the road. Here’s a good way of overcoming this problem. When your dog pees at home, press a paper towel over the urine and store it in a zip-locked bag that you can take along during road trips.
Now, when you are on the road and your dog needs to go potty, take out the paper towel with the urine and lay it on the ground. Let the dog sniff on it until he is comfortable enough to do his business. Just before he does go potty, remove the paper towel and put it back in the bag for future use.
This is a great potty training method you can use on the road but if you don’t want to keep handling the soiled paper towel over and over again, an alternative would be to pour some water into the bag with the paper towel. Instead of taking out the towel each time the dog needs to go potty on the road, just let some urine-water mixture drip onto the ground. The scent will be just as noticeable and just as familiar to your dog. Reseal the bag and use the remaining solution for future stops.
Once your dog has gotten used to relieving himself in unfamiliar places with the help of his own urine scent, the next step in your on the road potty training lessons is to teach him to do the same thing on his own. Walk your dog in unfamiliar places like parks and highway stops and encourage him to relieve himself. Don’t forget to praise him when he does in order to encourage him further.
At first, some dogs would find it hard to eliminate in areas where there are already existing scents of other dogs but if you talk to him calmly and keep encouraging him, he will be able to go potty whenever and wherever you tell him to do so.
