4 Steps To Potty Training Puppies

by Kelsey Ozmund

Everyone gets excited about getting a puppy. However very few people think about some of the responsibilities that also come with a puppy. One of the most important issues is potty training puppies. One of the main reasons dogs end up in shelters is because of messing in the house. This isn’t the dog’s fault - its the owner’s. This is one of the reasons its so important to potty train your puppy and get it right the first time. And here are some tips to help.

* Puppies need to go out immediately after eating, sleeping and playing without exception. These are the time your puppy will most likely need to relieve himself. If you take your puppy out and he doesn’t do his business right away, take him back inside for 15 minutes. Make sure you keep an eye on him so he doesn’t have an accident! Then take him back outside. Keep doing this until he goes.

* Make a schedule for when you need to take your puppy out and stick to it. If you need to write it down, go ahead. Make sure everyone involved in training your puppy knows the schedule and sticks to it. Consistency is very important when potty training puppies.

* Set aside an area for your puppy to use for his business. You then need to take him to the same place every time so your puppy learns where his potty area is. Also, your puppy will be able to smell where he went previously and be more inclined to use that area again. This will also help speed up the training.

* Come up with a command you want to use to tell your puppy what you want him to do. You’re going to use this command for the rest of your dog’s life, so make sure its something you won’t be embarrassed to use in front of others! “Go potty” is a good one. Use this immediately when your dog starts to relieve himself and keep saying it until he’s done. He’ll soon associate the command with going to the bathroom.

* Praise your puppy for a job well done! Positive reinforcement is very important when potty training puppies. As soon as he finishes, tell him what a good dog he is. You can also reward him with a small treat.

* Your puppy will make mistakes while he’s learning. Never yell at him and never, ever rub his nose in it. Your puppy won’t understand why you are doing that. The only thing this does is cause your puppy to not trust you. In addition, some dogs will start to eat their own feces. Yuck.

These are just a few suggestions to help you get starting potty training puppies. The 2 most important things are consistency and praising your puppy when he’s done well. There are several other things you need to learn, so definitely start studying before getting your puppy. Successfully house training puppies is not hard at all if you know what you’re doing!

About the Author:

This article covers just a few things you need to understand before you start training your puppy. To learn more, visit this site about puppy house training.

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