How to Potty Train a Puppy
This article will give you specific tips and guidelines on how to potty train a puppy. It doesn’t matter if you plan on training your puppy to go in a litter box or go outside, these procedures will work.
The first step is to get in the habit of confining your puppy to a small space when you can’t be with him. Place him in a crate or confine him to a small gated space. The space should have a surface that is easily washable for when accidents happen.
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Another tip on how to potty train a puppy is to keep his area clean and ensure there is no remaining smell of urine or feces. If your puppy can smell it, he’ll think that’s where he needs to go when he has to pee. Keep a cleaning solution handy for quick cleanups.
To keep his stools more solid, he should be fed only dry food. While he is in the potty training phase, you may want to put up his food at least 3 hours before bedtime and his water bowl 2 hours before bedtime.
Puppies need schedules! Your puppy needs to be fed at the same time every day and be put down for bed at the same time. How to potty train a puppy is easy, but keeping to a schedule makes it even easier on your puppy and on you.
Along with a schedule comes consistency! If you want to know how to potty train a puppy correctly, he needs to learn what you expect of him. Your puppy needs to be brought outside as soon as he finishes eating, when he wakes up from a nap, and at night if you hear him yipping.
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When you are outside with your puppy, he has to learn he doesn’t play until he does his business. Don’t distract him by playing with him when you go outside. Let him do his thing “before” playtime starts. This way, he’ll quickly learn what the priorities are.
A short playtime after he does his business will also give your puppy extra time to pee again if he feels the need. Many puppies do not go all at one time, but in short spurts. When you are learning how to potty train a puppy, this one is easy to forget.
Praise him with words and tone every time he does his business. Petting and small rewards like a short playtime or treat will go a long way in reinforcing good behavior. In the same vein, let him know by words and tone when you are not happy with him. There’s shouldn’t be any yelling or hitting, instead, let the disappointment come through in your tone and your puppy will know the difference.
These guidelines should go a long way in how to potty train a puppy easily. Keep to a schedule, be consistent, and give your puppy lots of praise and attention. That’s really all there is to it.
