Potty Training is Hard, unless you know these 6 tips & tricks.
So…you got a new puppy. Or a new rescue dog.
And now the fun begins - well, mostly fun. Except that your new pooch seems to think your most expensive rugs are the perfect doggy toilet station.
Potty training can be elusive for many dogs and owners, but it doesn’t have to be.
With the simple tips below, you CAN housebreak even those “tough” breeds to potty train (I’m looking at YOU, Italian Greyhounds, Beagles, and Bichons!).
If you follow our potty training program, you should be able to have a reliably potty trained dog in no time.
Supervision. This is THE most critical part of potty training - whether you’re working with a puppy, or an adult dog. If your dog is able to sneak off and make a mess, it will.
You MUST watch the dog or pup like a hawk, and catch them before they have an accident. Taking them out often and praising & rewarding them for ‘going’ where they should will speed up the process.
Finding a mess and punishing the dog after-the-fact does no good - and is YOUR fault for not watching closely enough.
Routines. Routines, routines, routines, routines. Did I mention routines?
It’s pretty simple, really - your new pup will need to relieve itself:
~ after it eats
~ after it wakes up
~ after vigorous play.
If you set a schedule for feeding, napping, and play times, you’ll know when your pup is most likely to need to be taken out, and you can avoid accidents in the house.
SHORT trips outside to ‘do your business’. One of the most common mistakes owners make is staying outside for long periods of time, waiting for the dog to relieve itself.
If your dog figures out that when she ‘holds it,’ she gets more playtime outside, she’ll start holding it longer and longer!
Instead, take the puppy or dog outside for SHORT periods of time (3 to 5 minutes maximum), and stand in the one area you want the dog to ‘go’. Do not wander around aimlessly, or follow the dog from tree to tree. Just plant yourself in the one spot, and allow the dog 6’ to 8’ of leash. The dog can circle you in the area, but you’re not leaving the area for 3 to 5 minutes.
Pro tip: Being near the place your dog last relieved himself, or where other dogs ‘go’ often is good - those smells will entice your dog to ‘go’ again.
If your dog does his business right away, BIG praise and maybe even a reward. Better yet, NOW you can take that walk, play fetch, or allow the dog some free time outside in their yard.
But if your 3 to 5 minutes is up, and your pup hasn’t done its business? Go back inside…and now you REALLY need to supervise, supervise, supervise. Watch for sniffing and circling behavior - if you see these, take the dog back out, and repeat step 3.
While this may mean a bunch of trips in and out for a few days, your hard work will pay off, and you will have a dog who sees relieving itself as the first order of business when you go outside together.
Keep a “Potty Journal” so you know when and where the accidents are most likely to happen. If you can find a pattern, you can work to fix the problem!
Health Checks. If you’ve tried everything above - consistent supervision, setting routines, and multiple, short trips outside - and you’re not getting anywhere, don’t assume your dog is untrainable or stubborn.
Get your dog checked by your veterinarian to rule out any physical issues that could be slowing down the process. Urinary tract infections, and other issues can be common in dogs, so a clean bill of health is a must!
Patience & Consistency over time. The average puppy takes about 4 to 6 months to be FULLY potty trained. So, don’t be fooled by those couple of accident-free weeks that will make you lazy! Keep up the supervision, routines, and journaling for at least 4 to 6 months before you begin to give your pup a bit more leeway.
Need a bit more help with your new puppy? Check out our Puppy Training 101 Classes and learn the secrets of raising and training your new puppy with the same methods the professional dog trainers at Front Range K9 Academy use with our own dogs!
About the author: Jennifer Hime is the Owner & Training Director of Front Range K9 Academy in Wheat Ridge, CO. She and her trainers have been training dogs professionally since 1990.
