How to potty train a dog?

The number one ingredient to have a house trained dog is…vigilance. You must make housetraining your ‘thing” for anywhere from 10 days to two weeks. Keep slip-on’s by the back door, and a bathrobe or something quick to get into handy…because for this two weeks…housetraining will be your mission. :)

Your goal is…to beat the puppy to the punch…You’ll learn his signals just by doing all that vigilance…like they’ll start sniffing, and circling…you pick him up and take him out BEFORE he goes…Rules of thumb are also…For puppies, take him out immediately when he wakes up (do not let him follow you to the door…pick him up and carry out the door)…take out immediately after eating. During play a little puppy should be taken out every 20 minutes or so (aren’t you glad they sleep so much??:)

If you’re trying to train an adult, you still need to get them out immediately after they wake up…and after they eat…they can go longer during their play time.

Crate the pup/dog when you cannot watch it (when you leave, or are ultra busy)…instinct is for them to not dirty their nest…so make sure the crate is only big enough to stand up, turn around, etc…A new puppy will need to get out once during the night…but that only lasts a week or so…You don’t want the puppy having to go so bad he dirties his nest…you do NOT want to break that instictive barrier…once that’s happened it’s hard to undo.

phrannie

PS…when you get the pup outside…say “pee pee” or whatever…then love them up BIG when they go…this will get them to go on command, and save you from having hang out and wait in the future. A pup can learn this by 3 months old.