Potty training can be hard. It might take lots of time, being calm, and do the same thing every time. But don’t worry though! This article is going to give you 10 tips on how to potty train your puppies fast. You can follow these tips to make sure your puppy knows what’s expected and that you both feel good about the way the training is going.
Understand How to Potty Train Your Puppies
To potty train your puppy quickly, you need to use the right method. There are two main ways: either you keep an eye on them all the time or you use a crate. The first way, you keep your puppy with you on a lead while you train them. With the second, you keep your puppy in a crate when you’re not there. You need to do the method, in the same way, all the time and use rewards to encourage your puppy to go to the right spot.
Choosing Crate Training
Crate training means putting your puppy in a crate for some time and teaching them to only go to the bathroom when they get out. If you do it right, it can work well. Make sure the crate is cozy and your puppy has water. Also, let them out of the crate to walk around and go potty.
Choosing the Right Method for Potty Training Your Puppy
When choosing the method to follow when potty training your puppy, it’s important to consider your lifestyle and your puppy’s personality. For instance, if you work long hours and are unavailable throughout the day, crate training may not be the ideal method for your puppy, as it may cause separation anxiety. Therefore, it’s essential always to pick a method that works best for both you and your puppy. Now that you know about potty training, let’s look at our ten tips for doing it quickly.
Tip 1: Create a Routine for Your Puppy
Creating and sticking to a routine is important when potty training your puppy. Dogs like having a routine because it helps them know what to expect. This can make it easier for them to know when to go potty and when it’s time to do other things like play or eat. By sticking to a routine, you can teach your puppy what to do and make it easier for them to learn when it’s time to go outside.
Regular Feeding Sessions
When it comes to potty train your puppies, how and when you feed them is important. Feed your puppy on a set schedule and give them just enough food. Keep their bowls clean and make sure they have enough fresh water. It’s important to be consistent with how much your puppy eats. This way, you can also predict when they’ll need to go potty, and it’ll be easier to take them outside at the right time.
Regular Bathroom Breaks
Taking your puppy out to go potty often can help prevent accidents in your home. Puppies have small bladders and need to go more often than adult dogs. It’s good to take them out every 30-60 minutes, after meals, and at bedtime. Make a schedule that works for both you and your puppy, and stick to it as closely as possible. This way, your puppy will learn the routine, and you’ll be able to avoid any accidents.
Tip 2: Use The Same Spot for Your Puppy To Go Potty
Designating a specific area in your yard for your puppy to go potty is also an important tip in potty training. The purpose of this area is to teach your puppy where they should go every time they need to relieve themselves and to prevent them from going anywhere else in your yard, or even inside your house.
Choose a Suitable Spot
First, you need to choose a suitable spot. Look for an area that is easily accessible for your puppy and is away from where they play or where they eat. This will reduce the chances of them going potty where they shouldn’t. It’s also a good idea to choose an area that has a natural boundary, like a fence, to help your puppy understand that it’s their designated potty area.
Prepare The Area For Your Puppy
Next, you want to prepare the area for your puppy. Lay down some newspaper or puppy pads to help absorb any mess, especially during the early stages of training. You can also use a specific type of grass or material that’s designed to make your dog more comfortable and familiar during this process. Make sure you clean up after your puppy every time they go potty, to keep the area clean and hygienic.
To encourage your puppy to use this designated area, you should take them there every time they need to go potty. Once they start consistently using this area, you can gradually start removing the newspaper or puppy pads.
Tip 3: Use a Keyword or Phrase, Like “Go Potty”
Using a consistent keyword or phrase during potty training, like “go potty,” can be a powerful tip to help your puppy understand what you want them to do. By repeatedly using the same word or phrase every time you take your puppy to the designated potty area in your yard, your puppy will start to build an association between the phrase and the behavior you want.
Essentially, the keyword or phrase becomes a trigger for your puppy to go potty in the designated spot. The cue word or phrase can be anything you choose, but it should be easy to remember and easy to say. Some other examples might be “get busy” or “do your business.”
It is important to use the same phrase each time you take your puppy outside for potty training, as well as use it in the same tone of voice to remain consistent.
Tip 4: Watch Your Puppy’s Signs
To effectively potty train your puppy, it is important to understand their behavior and watch for any signs that they may need to go outside and potty. Puppies often give off signals, even if they don’t yet understand that those signals mean they need to go outside. If you can recognize these signals, it will be easier to take your puppy outside to the designated area in time.
The most common signs that your puppy may need to go potty include whining, barking, restlessness, sniffing, circling, or trying to scratch or paw at the door. If you notice these behaviors, it’s a sign that your puppy needs to go out.
Additionally, if your puppy has been playing for a while, or after mealtime, it’s likely they may need to go out as well. It’s essential to take your puppy out regularly, especially when you’re in the early stages of potty train your puppies. Typically, every 2-3 hours is good to start with. As time goes on and your puppy improves, you can lengthen the time between potty breaks.
When you take your puppy outside, make sure to take them to the designated potty area straight away. Use your keyword or phrase and praise your puppy when they go potty. If your puppy doesn’t go, take them back inside and try again later.
Tip 5: Supervise Your Puppy:
Supervision is crucial in the potty training process. You must offer dedicated attention and redirect them when necessary. The following are some tips for supervising your puppy correctly:
Leash on When Indoors
Keeping your puppy on a leash while indoors helps you notice when they start sniffing for a spot to potty. Additionally, it reduces their chances of surprising you with an accidental release. By keeping them on a leash, you can prevent accidents and teach them the routine by associating the leash with time to potty.
Pet Gates
Pet gates are tools you can use to keep your pet in a certain area. This is helpful for keeping your puppy safe and preventing them from causing trouble. You can put the gate near a bathroom, so your pet can easily go there when they need to. If you put the gate by a door, make sure the room your pet is in has enough support to keep them from getting out without you noticing.
Tip 6: Reward Your Puppy for Going Potty In The Right Place
Positive reinforcement is the key when rewarding your puppy for good behavior. Rewarding your puppy for going potty in the right place helps them associate the act with positivity, reducing the likelihood of repeated accidents. The following are ways to reward your puppy.
Treats
Giving your puppy treats every time they go potty outside will help them learn that it’s a good thing to do. As time goes on, they will expect to get treats whenever they do something good outside.
Affection and Praise
When you show your puppy love and give them lots of praise for doing something good, it helps them feel good about themselves. This positive reinforcement makes it more likely that your puppy will keep doing good things and less likely they will have accidents.
Tip 7: Eliminate Mistakes When Potty Train Your Puppies
Eliminating mistakes the right way is essential in conditioning your puppy not to repeat them. Each time your puppy makes a mistake, the following steps should be taken.
Supervise at All Times
Ensure to keep a close watch on your puppy’s behavior to avoid accidental errors. If you catch them in time, you can redirect them to the right area.
Clean Up The Mess
It’s important to clean up the mess. If you don’t, the smell can tell the puppy that it’s okay to go potty in the same spot again. So use a pet stain and odor remover that works on different kinds of floors like carpets or hardwood.
Tip 8: Deal With Accidents The Right Way
As you work to potty train your puppy, it’s normal to experience accidents. However, it’s important to handle these accidents the right way to avoid confusing your puppy or creating anxious potty behavior down the road. Here’s how to handle accidents the right way during potty train your puppies:
Stay Calm and Focused
Accidents can be frustrating, but it’s important to stay calm when they happen. Outbursts or punishment can create negative associations with going potty, and your puppy may start to feel anxious and afraid instead of relaxed when it’s time to go.
It’s normal for puppies to have accidents, although it can be annoying. When they happen, it’s important to stay calm. If you punish your puppy, they might start to feel scared about going potty and won’t feel comfortable doing it.
Interrupt The Behavior
If you catch your puppy in the act of going potty somewhere other than the designated spot, gently interrupt them with a “no” or a gentle distraction, and guide them to the designated area. Avoid using force or physical punishment.
Reward Going in The Right Spot
When your puppy does go potty in the designated area outdoors, praise and reward them immediately. Positive reinforcement is a critical part of potty training and will help them learn that going to the right spot leads to rewards and praise.
Avoid punishment
Don’t punish your puppy for potty accidents until you know how to punish them correctly. Punishing only creates fear and anxiety and can lead to more accidents. Instead, focus on positive reinforcement with rewards when they go to the right spot.
Tip 9: Use Appropriate Punishment for Your Puppy
While positive reinforcement works best, there are times when punishment is necessary. It’s essential to use the right methods to punish and not scold and provoke your puppy. Below are some effective punishment methods.
Noisy Disruptive Methods
If your puppy is doing something they shouldn’t be, making a loud noise like clapping or shaking a can fill with coins can get their attention and help them stop. Then you can guide them towards something more fun or calming to do instead.
Stopping Playtime
To distract them from the fun activities of running around and playing, stop playing with them, especially when they are being unruly or refusing to follow instructions. The idea is to quietly and calmly take them back to their potty spot and help them.
Tip 10: Common Problems and Solutions for Potty Train Puppies
Common potty training problems and solutions include potty training regression, refusing to go outside, or refusing to come back inside. When these problems arise, the following solutions work well.
Regression
Regression is a common issue that usually happens when your puppy is introduced to a new environment or routine. The best approach is to go back to basics and start from the beginning to re-establish training and routines.
Refusing to Go Outside
Refusing to go outside is quite a common problem with new puppies. Some puppies are scared of going outside during the dark, hot weather, cold, or windy conditions. The best approach to deal with this problem is to make going outside fun and positive by giving them treats, toys, and other exciting outdoor activities for your puppy to choose from.
Bonus Tip: Consistency
When you’re potty train your puppies, it’s important to be consistent. This means sticking to a regular routine for potty breaks, repeating good behavior so your puppy knows what to do, and giving the same rewards each time. Once your puppy gets used to this routine, they will learn how to behave correctly to get a reward and what to avoid doing to prevent punishment.
Regular Toilet Breaks
Taking your puppy outside a lot so they can go potty helps them learn that it’s something they should only do outside. This makes them think of going outside as the right place to go potty.
Conclusion
Potty training your puppy is an essential process that can be easy if done correctly. For the best results, it’s essential to be patient, consistent, and positive. Remember to set a schedule for your puppy, supervise them, understand the method, reward them, and eliminate mistakes correctly. Regular toilet breaks, consistency, and appropriate methods in case of mistakes or punishments will make the process go smoothly. Be patient, and keep working on reinforcing the required behavior in your puppy for a happy home.
Read More about Training Your Puppy:
- How To Stop Your Puppy From Biting: Ultimate Guide
- How To Train A Puppy To Walk On The Leash: Complete Guide
- Benefits of Crate Training Puppy You Should Know
