Potty Training Dogs

Potty Training Dogs

It a well known fact that what living things consume in the form of food and water comes out the other end at some point. Potty training dogs is the ability to get your dog to get rid of the wee and the poo when and where appropriate.

When the dog is a puppy, not only does he not have the muscle control of his bowels and bladder to be able to decide when to empty them, but he also doesn’t understand the language that you as his owner will be using to try and teach him the rights and wrongs of the whole potty training dogs situation.

Let’s not forget that very soon after they are born, puppies instinctively know how to eat, scratch, drink, play, sleep, fight, wee and poo. We, as people are the ones who want them to live in our homes and play by our rules. No dog is a mind reader, and as such it is our duty, as owner and pack leader to communicate with him how we want things done in a humane way that makes it crystal clear and leaves no room for questions and leadership challenges.

Potty Training Dogs - 4 Keys to Success

The topic of potty training dogs covers 4 areas, and these are:
·Confinement
·Training
·Timing
·Praise

For the best chances of success in the minimal time, all these factors need to work alongside each other.

Potty Training Dogs - Confinement

When puppies are new born, their mother licks them to stimulate them to excrete, and then she cleans it up. As the puppies grow, they have an inbuilt desire to want to sleep somewhere not covered in wee and poo. Given the choice they will keep their bed area clean. Making use of this fact, some form of confinement will help develop the control needed for successful dog potty training.

The best way to get off to a good start is by using a crate. The crate shouldn’t be too big or the puppy will be tempted to use one end as a toilet and the other end for sleeping. If your puppy is going to grow to a big size, and you don’t want to be buying several crates, it is possible to get a partition so you can move it as the puppy grows, but still have the potty training size required.

Don’t worry about having nice squashy bedding in there at this stage.

Potty Training Dogs - Training and Praise

Many dog trainers always use a leash or a lead when potty training dogs. Making use of a leash ensures that you can keep the dog close to you and gives you control over where your dog will eliminate. Young dogs are easily distracted and can mentally stray from the job in hand. A little nudge on the leash can refocus their mind easily enough. It is also a good idea to pick a suitable area of the garden as the potty corner, behind the shed for example. With your puppy on a leash, it is then very easy to take him there every time to do his duty. Before long, he will go there of his own accord.

It’s also a good idea to pick some words that you will use during your dog potty training efforts. You really can use anything, just remember that you’re going to be using it a lot, so pick something that rolls off the tongue. I use ‘go potty’ for wees and ‘do poop’ for poop. It’s not rocket science!

Teach your puppy the word ‘Outside’. Every time you take him outside, use it lots, in a bright and cheery manner. Eventually, just saying outside will have him running for the door.

It’s best to use a slip type lead for ease and speed of putting it on. If your puppy is still a bit young to be lead trained, you can still slip it over her head and carry your puppy outside, using the cheery ‘outside’. Once you are outside, put puppy down and change the emphasis to the ‘go potty’ or’ go poop’ command, whichever you have chosen. Let your puppy have a sniff around and move around a bit, but keep within the general area. Use a little nudge on the lead if she gets distracted and repeat the ‘go potty’ command. Make sure you say the command in a friendly and encouraging tone, you don’t want to sound firm or angry, nor do you want to be pleading for her to do it.

When she performs, use words in a happy tone. Good, Yay, etc. Only use verbal praise as anything physical can disturb the motion in progress. Dogs will usually wee first then poo, but you will quickly learn her routine and encourage her appropriately for the next thing coming.

Potty Training Dogs - Timing

Your puppy will earn herself freedom time by learning the elimination rules. When she’s just done her business is the best time for her to be out of the crate., but will still need to be closely supervised. The key here is to be ultra observant and anticipate what’s going to happen by reading the body language before it actually happens. All puppies and dogs will have their own little signs that they need to go potty. These may include circling, sniffing, stopping an activity abruptly or running out of the room for example.

Also, any time there is a change in circumstances; such as after a walk, sleep, eating etc, the puppy needs to go outside.

As a guideline, the age of the dog in months, is an approximation of the time in hours that the puppy can cope with between potty breaks.

I.E. a puppy of 2 months can go 2 hours, 3 months-3 hours up to about 6-8 months when things should be pretty well sorted.

Potty Training Dogs - Accidents

When potty training dogs, there will always be accidents. If you should catch him at it, a loud hand clap to distract him and a firm, low voice to communicate your displeasure. You don’t want to terrify him, but you do want him to know you’re not a happy floor mopper. Quickly scoot him outside with your friendly and encouraging ‘outside’ voice. If and when he continues what he started, heap on lots of praise.

There is no point whatsoever in punishing your puppy when he has weed or pooped in the wrong place at the wrong time. It will teach him to only wee or poop when you’re not around, and that will cause more problems. Think of an accident as an opportunity to show your displeasure, with the low and firm voice, and scoot him outside where your dog can then get praise for finishing off correctly.

Just as with people, the lessons are well and truly learned once we have made a few of the mistakes, and then get shown how to do it properly. In that regard, potty training dogs is no different.

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