How to Properly Train Your Puppy Dog
Learn to Potty Train your Puppy in 10 Minutes
By Bill Petros 10 min read
Potty Training - How To
Introduction
Training Methods
It is near impossible to take a puppy for a walk, and until they have all their injections, you do not want to risk it either. Fortunately, potty training can begin indoors, and there are two main methods - crate training and paper training.
Crate Training
The use of animal crates is a popular and effective way to train your puppy. The crate should be of the same legal size you would use if you were traveling or going to the vet. This means enough space for the dog to move and lie down but not enough space to appoint a corner for urination.
Timing is everything with crate training, and you need to understand the signs of when your pet wants to go. Scratching at the cage and intense whining is often a sign, but they may do this from the start. Look out for your puppy beginning to squat.
The main failures of using a crate are the owners. You need to be firm, but you also want to avoid your puppy using the crate. When your pet does want to go, get him or her out to your garden or onto a puppy pad quickly.
Key Points: -
• Use a crate large enough for the puppy to turn and lie down in.
• Look for signs of needing to go to the toilet.
• Be quick about getting the puppy to their potty zone
Paper and Puppy Pad Training
Paper and puppy pads are less effective because you are telling your pet that they can use your home as a toilet.
Your options may be limited in hot summers as the ground temperatures outside can burn their paws. You also want to prevent your puppy from getting cold if you are having a harsh winter.
No matter how good the pads are, it is still going to smell. Paper is more environmentally friendly than pads, but you will find that you are changing them at a frantic rate.
If you do not change the paper or pads, your pet will find somewhere else in your home to go. You may also find that you need to lay a large patch if you want to be sure that your puppy does not miss it.
Paper and pads will allow some urine to make its way through to your floor. Your puppy will smell this no matter how much you bleach and disinfect the area, and each time they will go back to the same spot.
Key Points: -
• Avoid pads or paper unless the weather makes outdoor trips difficult.
• Change the pads often.
• Make sure you clean the floor well between changing the pads.
Schedule
A month-old puppy will struggle to make it through an hour without urinating, and the same can go for defecating. This makes potty training at this age difficult and exhausting, but it gets more difficult as they get older.As a rough guide, you can guess how long your puppy can hold their faculties by applying one hour to each month of their age. A 2-month-old puppy should be able to hold on for two hours, though 10 hours is about the limit for any animal, including a human. Puppies need a lot of attention and exercise.
Your routine means taking them out: -
• after eating or drinking,
• before bed,
• after sleeping or naps, time spent in the crate,
• after they chew bones or play with toys.
Watch for signals that your puppy is about to go - each breed is different. Any form of mild excitement can be enough to trigger the need for a pee. This schedule sounds intense, as you are bound to taking out the puppy at least a dozen times a day. It is easier if you have a partner or older children that can pitch in, but it is something that needs doing if you want a clean home.
Diet
Limit the food to small portions - three times a day rather than all in one meal. Puppies have small stomachs and narrow intestines; they also have digestive issues with cheap food. It is worth spending more on puppy food in the beginning to prevent mishaps.
You can tell a lot from the consistency and the smell of a stool, and how often your pet passes gas. A vet will be able to recommend the best food for the breed and the qualities and regularities of feeding times. It will make the potty training much smoother if your pet digests the food well.
Rewards:
You need to be careful with rewards since some treats can be difficult for puppies to chew and swallow. You may not need to offer treats - positive reinforcement may be enough. Praise your puppy for using the potty in the designated place. Congratulate your dog, as it will hear it in your voice when you are happy.Try to avoid getting angry if they go on your floor or miss a pad. Anger will confuse the dog, and pushing their nose towards the mess will not help. If they miss their moment - clean it up and try again later.
How Long Will It Take to Potty-Train My Puppy?
Any puppy can learn to stay clean and wait until they get outside. Potty training a puppy can take days or weeks, which is why you want to start sooner rather than later. By six months, a puppy is set in its ways, and it will take a long time to potty train them.Puppies of two to three months may take to the training in a matter of days. It takes persistence and a methodical owner to train a puppy in record time, so try not to rush it.
Puppy Potty Problems
My Puppy Has Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a common side-effect of overeating or eating rich food. It is a sign that either the portions are too big, or that you need to change the food. You want to get their diet right before you try to potty train them.
How Do I Stop My Puppy from Peeing on the Same Spot?
Trace urine or feces will bring them back. You need to make sure that you kill off the enzymes in the scent. You can use enzyme cleaner that destroys the hormones left behind on the floor.
Help, My Puppy Is Turning My Home into a Toilet!
If the crate method does not work, you can try a litter box. A litter tray will prevent the urine and stool from touching the floor, giving you a reset so that you can move on to potty training.
Thank you for reading!