Top 5 Potty Training Tips
We know that teaching a new puppy to consistently potty in the right place can be a difficult goal to accomplish. With so much information available online it is hard to know what will work. And what works for one puppy might not work for another. Simple aspects such as age, breed, and history create vast maturity differences over these first few months of their lives.
At Little Paws Academy we strive to make potty training a simple process. Below are our Top 5 Potty Training Tips designed to make potty training achievable for every pet parent.
SCHEDULE MEAL TIMES - Scheduled meal times will make it easier to predict when your new puppy will have to go. Try to give her meals around the same time each day so you will know exactly when she will have to potty.
REGULAR POTTY BREAKS - Take your puppy out to potty regularly. He will generally have to go potty when he wakes up in the morning or from naps, 30 minutes after meals, and before bedtime. If he is very young he might need a midnight potty break too.
PICK A FAMILIAR AREA - Bring your puppy to the same potty location each time and wait 5-10 minutes. Most puppies will keep looking for a better spot if you continue to walk and often this better spot is back at the first spot. Staying in one familiar potty spot reduces distractions, reducing the time it takes for her to potty.
USE A PUPPY SAFE ZONE - If your puppy does his business appropriately, then you can play as a reward. However, if he does not potty when you take him outside bring him inside and put him directly into his puppy safe zone without play. Be sure to take him out to potty again in 15 minutes or less to prevent any accidents.
INTERRUPT AND REDIRECT - If your puppy has an accident while you are present gently interrupt and redirect him to the correct spot. When cleaning the accident use a bio-enzyme cleaner such as Nature’s Miracle. Using a non-bio-enzyme cleaner will only mask the smell. Your puppy will still be able to smell the accident and might think that is where he is supposed to potty next time.
Teaching your puppy correct potty habits takes time, patience, consistency, and gradual adjustments over the first few months of your puppy’s life. If you want extra help making adjustments or are not quite getting the results you want please contact us to discuss our customizable training programs!
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