As a new or inexperienced pup owner, it is difficult to find resources on how to potty train your new pup. Most of the articles online are either too dense or without simple, actionable advice. So, in this article, we will show you how you can make potty training your pupper easier. Firstly, letâs understand this behavior from your puppyâs perspective.
Adult dogs are difficult to train because most of their habits have already formed. Therefore, it is advised to train your puppy in the early stages. In puppies, the activity of defecation is needs-based, as opposed to opportunity-based for humans. So this activity has clear indicators like wandering and sniffing, some more sniffing, spinning, kicking, and digging. It may also take up a lot more time than you expected. So, house training requires lots of patience, commitment, and consistency. However, potty training does not need any special skills. The following tips will help you potty-train your puppy in any environment with ease:
Maintain a schedule: It is important that you establish a routine for the toilet as well as meal breaks. Dogs usually feel the urge to poop/pee after meals, playtime, and naps. So prepare a routine toilet break around those timings. This helps them to know when to play, when to eat and when to pee, and will also help them to establish proper habits. Both meal and potty schedules should be followed regularly.
It is also found that the frequency of toilet breaks depends upon the size of the dog, for instance, a puppy will naturally learn to control their bladder one hour for every month of age. So if your puppy is two months old, it can hold its bladder for about two hours.
As Kate Delano Condax, author of "101 Training Tips for Your Dog: Learn the Experts Way to a Happy Well-Behaved Petâ says, the essence of your dogâs happiness is an expectation. They should learn what to expect and you should always be faithful to follow through and meet that expectation.
Supervise: It is important to turn them into picky poopers. Decide a place indoor/outdoor, and pay close attention to the environment. While it is advised to take a dog outdoor for avoiding accidents, they can also be trained to defecate in a specific area indoors. It is also important to watch your dog for signs and rhythm. Many dogs get excited while playing and may feel the need to pee, some may hold it.
Just like human babies, canine toilet habits are mostly idiosyncratic. For bigger sized dogs training is comparatively easier and you can actually teach your dog to poop on command! Give attention to his bowel movements, some dogs like to relieve themselves first thing in the morning others do it later during the day.
Repeat the time, command and the place for a couple days till your dog makes a connection between the command and the action of going to the toilet. Make sure there are no disturbances created while your dog is pooping. Patience is the key to a smooth potty training exercise.
Rewards for best behavior: Treats and positive affirmation creates the perfect learning environment for your pup. Praise and give attention to your puppy right after they excrete on your chosen poop spot, and they will continue to follow their training. Be effusive in your praise- clap, cheer, give treats, show love like it's the best accomplishment.
Punishing them for accidents might lead to unwanted behavioral changes. Mistakes and accidents can happen when the puppy is developing new habits, interrupt your puppy when you catch them in the act, make a startling noise (make sure not to scare them) and rush them to their bathroom spot and don't forget to praise them if they poop in the right place.
Thatâs it! By following these simple steps, your pup should be potty-trained without any difficulties! If youâre interested in becoming a new dog owner and want to know which breeds to pick, check out our article on the subject here.
Link to Resources:
Click here to download a potty-training schedule
Hereâs a video on basic puppy training
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/early-puppy-training-foundation/
