Potty Training Your Puppy

Welcoming a new puppy into your home is an exciting time. Though your first days together are filled with puppy cuddles and getting to know each other, it’s also the best time to introduce potty training to your new furry friend.

In this article, we’ll dive into the topic of potty training, and offer you some tips to help you and your pup be successful. 

The best time to begin potty training your puppy is from the moment they enter your home. Just like with other forms of canine training, it’s best to implement guidelines and rules for your furry friend from the moment they enter your life. By doing this, they can easily learn what’s acceptable and what’s not and helps to set a standard going forward.

Though dogs can be potty trained at any age, the time that puppies are most receptive to the idea of potty training is when they are between 8 weeks to 16 weeks of age. Though you can begin the potty-training process at 8 weeks of age, you should not expect your dog to master the craft until they are at least 12 weeks old.

Now that you’re ready to begin the potty training process with your new puppy, it’s time to dive into the most successful training methods. Potty training is a huge task for our puppies to pick up on, so it’s up to us to make it as clear and understandable as possible.

First, it’s important to make sure that you keep your puppy on a set feeding schedule. By feeding them at the same time each day, they can begin to develop a regular potty routine. This will not only offer your puppy some structure but will also give you an idea of when your dog needs to go outside to use the bathroom. 

The next way to ensure success in your dog’s potty training is by making sure to take them outside frequently. It’s important to take them outside first thing in the morning when they wake up, after each meal, after each nap, and right before they go to sleep at night.

The idea of this method is to help prevent accidents in your home by giving them plenty of opportunities to go outside and help to limit any dire need to use the bathroom in your home. Frequent trips outside will also help to solidify that outside is the proper place to go.  It’s also ideal to take them to the same spot outside when they are learning, as this helps to establish a bathroom routine.

Perhaps the most important part of potty training your puppy is making sure to celebrate their wins. Be sure to praise your puppy each time they use the bathroom outside, and make it clear that they are doing something right. This will help to teach your puppy that this behavior is desired, and will make them want to continue the behavior in the future.

For our puppies to become properly potty trained, we have to help them succeed. Some of the best ways to help your furry friend grasp the concept of potty training include:

• Crate training your puppy or confining them to a small area when you are away from home. This will help to limit accidents in your home, and can deter your puppy from using the bathroom in their “safe place.”
• Taking them outside as often as possible, or anytime they look like they may need to go potty. By taking them outside as often as possible, you can limit any potential accidents in your home.
• Give them time to succeed. Some dogs take longer than others to grasp the concept of potty training, so it’s important to be as patient as possible.
• Though accidents in your home can be frustrating, it’s important to refrain from punishing your puppy for their accidents. Accidents will happen throughout the process, so it’s important to go into this venture knowing that. Our puppies will succeed easier in a positive environment that is free of any harsh punishment.
• Be sure to clean up adequately after each accident. Puppies are more likely to go inside your home if there is a scent left behind from a previous accident.

Like we mentioned above, it’s extremely important to clean up well after each accident in your home. Dogs are drawn to areas that have a scent of a previous accident, making it essential to try your best to eliminate any lingering odors.

One of our favorite methods of proper cleanup is with theAll-Natural Mess Cleaner. This cleaner is 100% chemical-free, making it a safe cleaner to use within your home. This cleaner is perfume-free, dye-free, uses an all-natural microbial treatment, and truly takes cleaning up a notch. The advanced microbes fight stains and odors with ease and work better than standard enzyme cleaners on the market.

Though potty training can be frustrating, it’s made so much easier when following a positive potty training method. Be sure to review the tips we’ve listed above, and you will have a potty trained pup in no time!

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