Tips for Housetraining Your Puppy

Adding a new furry friend to the family is an exciting event. There’s something so special about cuddling a new puppy and watching their mischievous personalities as they play. However, having a new puppy isn’t all easy. This is the season when you realize quickly that housetraining your puppy is going to be very important. Naturally, as you begin the process, there are sure to be some accidents along the way. However, if you stay consistent, in just a few weeks your puppy could be housetrained.

 

Here are a few things you will need for housetraining your puppy:

• Crate or baby gates
• Plastic doggie bags
• Pet stain carpet cleaner
• Collar and leash
• Puppy treats

 

Limit Their Space

First of all, a puppy that you have not yet housetrained should not be free to roam the house. Having lots of space will give them the freedom to eliminate anywhere and will ultimately get them confused about where it’s okay to go. If they have accidents in multiple places throughout the house, they’ll be encouraged to go there again (because of the scent they left in that spot).

 

It’s best to start your puppy in a small gated off area or a crate with their bed. Obviously, give them enough room to comfortably stand up, lie down, and turn around. Puppies don’t like sleeping in soiled beds so a few accidents in their little spot will help train them to learn to control their bowels and bladders.

 

Another way to keep them in a smaller space is to tether them on a shorter leash to a piece of furniture. Make sure that you can supervise them there.

 

Wait to give your puppy large amounts of space and freedom (even outdoors) until they’re reliably potty trained.

 

Designate the Spot

Find a spot outside where you consistently take your puppy to do its business. This will help your puppy understand what needs to happen when you go to that spot. Letting them go potty just anywhere could cause confusion about where it’s okay to go (including inside the house).

 

Establish Routine

Consistency is going to be your friend when it comes to housetraining your puppy. Establish a routine for them so they learn to expect what’s coming. Take your puppy out on a leash for a potty break when you wake up, after meal times, play times, and nap times. Try to stick with the same times every day. Make sure you’re keeping your puppy’s play and feeding times on a schedule as well. Scheduled feedings can also help regulate when they need to go and make those times more consistent.

Keep Puppy Potty Breaks Frequent

Until your puppy learns the difference between needing to go and simply going potty wherever they happen to be, you’ll want to make sure you take them out frequently throughout the day. Remember that puppies need to go fairly often. Besides taking them out after feedings and naps, try to take them out at least every 2 hours.

 

Use a Bathroom Command

Choosing a word or phrase to use consistently when it’s time for your puppy’s potty break can be helpful in the training process. Every time you take your puppy out, use that command. It can be as simple as “let’s go outside,” or “potty time.”

 

Limit Water Before Bedtime

Allowing your puppy to drink a lot of water before bedtime is more than likely going to wake you up at night or create the opportunity for an accident. Ensure that you and your puppy have a better night of sleep by taking away the water bowl a couple hours before bedtime.

 

Give Praise Where It’s Due

Encourage your puppy’s success! Each time your puppy goes in its spot, give a doggie treat. Puppies begin to make connections between what they just did and the reward they received.

 

Not only are treats a great reward but a cheerful, “good job” and a good scratch behind the ears is great, too! Make sure that you are rewarding them outside so that you don’t confuse the connection between going potty and the reward is very clear.

 

Avoid Punishing

You’ve probably heard of punishing techniques people have tried to use to train their puppies. However, this could end up being more harmful than helpful to the process. Punishing in ways like forcing them to smell the waste or yelling at them could cause fear for your puppy, keeping them from going in front of you, even in their spot.

 

Instead, choose a word phrase that you can use consistently like a firm but simple, “no,” or “no, potty outside.” To help them understand, immediately take them outside to their spot, even if they already finished going.

 

Look Out for Signs That Your Puppy Needs to Go

There are usually a few telltale signs that will give you a clue that your puppy needs to go. These in include restlessness, sniffing around, squatting, circling, barking, or scratching at the door. If your puppy starts to do these things, that should be a cue that it’s time to go out.

 

If you catch your puppy in the act, distract them to keep them from continuing and take them out as quickly as possible to finish going in the designated spot.

 

Keep a Puppy Potty Diary

If you have multiple people in on the puppy training process, or even if you just need reminders, keep a potty diary to keep track of when you took your puppy out and when the potty breaks were successful. This will also help you get a better idea of times when your puppy actually goes.

 

Extend Grace

Remember that just like with potty training children, your puppy is most likely going to have a few accidents in the housetraining process. Be patient and extend grace. A few accidents don’t mean your puppy is not making any progress. Keep rewarding when they do go outside and continue training with consistency. Soon enough, your puppy will be housetrained.

 

For more helpful articles on pet care, be sure to visit our blog. If you have additional questions on housetraining your puppy or about your pet’s care, please feel free to contact us at Royal Vista Vets.

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