Having a puppy that urinates everywhere is not fun at all. It’s messy and annoying, and it can be very expensive when it comes to furniture and rugs.
When you bring your puppy home for the first time, it is similar to bringing home a baby. Your daily life will change forever. You have a new creature that depends 100% on you. The sooner you can recognize and accept these changes, the faster and more successful this transition will be for you and your family.
Remember that all puppies learn at their own pace. Potty training is not a race and there is no set time limit. Instead of focusing on how long it will take, try to focus on avoiding mistakes and establishing good habits. Reinforcement is key with dogs.
Dogs aren’t born knowing they’re supposed to potty outside. This is a behavior that their owners must teach them. We must clearly show them the right and wrong place to “do their business”, with kindness and without hitting.
Before you begin, you’ll want to decide where your puppy will go to the bathroom. Will it be in the backyard, in the side yard, in the front yard?
Once you have chosen the location, you now need to work out your puppy’s potty schedule.
1. Take your puppy out as soon as he wakes up in the morning. This will be most effective if you wake up at the same time each morning.
2. Put your puppy on a leash (this will help get him to the right area) and take him out every 60 minutes.
3. Walk directly to the bathroom area. Continue walking and circling the area and command your puppy to relieve himself. You will want to be consistent with your command word or phrase.
4. Here are some you can think of or create your own: hurry up, do your thing, do the bathroom, finish up, go rest. Whichever prayer you choose; make sure all dog handlers in the home use the same phrase.
5. Once your pup starts moving, keep repeating your command phrase or word. Immediately after they are finished, praise him and reward him with a small treat. Let your pup know how happy you are with him/her and that she did a great job. When you’re done, be sure to put him back in his cage or pen area.