How To Potty Train A Puppy 15 Steps With Pictures

Only show your pet the areas where they are allowed to be. Initially do not let your new pet roam and explore on their own, especially, if you don’t want them to do their business there. For example, if the upstairs area or bedrooms are off limits, close them off and do not allow your puppy to explore there.

Although most dogs are highly intelligent, they don’t think like humans do. It is often a problem when we expect them to understand simple command words or tell you that they need to pee or poop. For this reason, you must be willing to understand how they communicate with you and study the clues they give and get from you.

Some of the signs to look for include whining, circling, sniffing, barking, or any sudden behavior change. When you see any of these signs, immediately lead the dog outside.

You want to startle but not to scare the dog. The intent here is to get their immediate attention and know that you disapprove marking or pooping indoors. You also want to be consistent, using the same word and/or noise each time. You may not get the same result if the dog is defecating, because most puppies will not be able to stop this. But, you should still do the same thing as part of the teaching process. Never punish your puppy for accidents. The dog does not know it is doing anything wrong. Do not force your puppy to smell or keep reminding them of their actions. They will not remember and could possibly become scared of you. [3] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source When you use punishment to stop them from going indoors it can confuse your dog and even make it worse. Your dog could only understand that you get mad when you see them potty and will hide from you when they need to go, most likely in places that are hard to reach for you.

Your puppy will remember the smell of urine and start to associate the area as its “bathroom. " Pick an area that is easy to get to quickly. You will be visiting this area frequently during the training process. Until your puppy has had its third set of vaccines, you should avoid areas where other dogs go or have recently gone, such as parks. It’s a good idea to discuss this with your veterinarian. When taking your dog outside, it’s a good idea to keep it on a leash so you can teach it to go in a specific location. You can also more easily keep an eye on the dog, so you’ll know when it is done.

The dog will begin to recognize the command and understand what you want it to do. This will help the dog to learn when and where it should be urinating or defecating. Use that command only when you want them to go. This will avoid confusion

Being consistent with this will give them an emotional incentive to do their business in the correct place.

Going out for a walk and relieving themselves should be an awarding experience every dog should enjoy. Do not interrupt your dog if they are doing their business where you want them to go. Allow them to relax, loosen up and relieve themselves. You can also give your puppy a small treat afterward to help encourage it. [4] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source For some dogs, though, this can also be a distraction.

Use an enzymatic cleaner, not one that contains ammonia. This will help to get rid of the odor and the dog’s attraction to the area. [6] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source Urine has a strong smell of ammonia that attracts dogs to smell and mark with their own. For the latter, some training pads are sprayed with ammonia to encourage a puppy to go there. You can also use white vinegar to counteract the smell of ammonia.

If your dog is confined to a smaller area, you will be able to observe it constantly to determine if it needs to go outside. The area should be large enough for the puppy to play in, but small enough that you can see it at all times. A small room or sectioned off area of a room is ideal. Be sure to pick an area that has fast, easy access to the outdoors. A room with a door leading straight outside is best. Picking an area that is easy to clean is also a good idea. There will be accidents in the early stages of training.

With your dog on a leash, you can move from room to room and keep your puppy with you. This way, there will never be a time you can’t see it. Having the dog already on a leash also means that you can more quickly take it outside when necessary.

The crate should be just large enough for the dog to stand up, lie down and turn around. If the crate is too large, the dog may use one area as a bathroom and another area for sleeping. [12] X Research source Limit the amount of time that the dog spends in the crate to less than four hours at any one time. [13] X Research source

Take your puppy outside first thing in the morning and after every meal. Take your dog outside anytime you come home or take them out of the crate. Let your puppy out after playing or drinking water, after napping, and just before bedtime. [14] X Research source With very young puppies, and in the early stages of training, you can also try taking the dog out every 20 minutes or so, when possible. This may help to avoid accidents and also give you more chances to praise your dog for going in the right place. [15] X Research source Regular walks can also help to encourage the dog to go.

Taking your pup out after every meal will help to reinforce the idea of where they are supposed to go while minimizing the mess.