Ohhhh the joy of potty training! One of the most essential things you could ever teach your puppy and oftentimes one of the most frustrating as well. Some puppies potty train easily while others just can’t seem to get the hang of the idea. Here are a few tips and tricks for potty training those “problem” puppies so you can put away the cleaning supplies and enjoy time with your pup!
Intake= Output
The most frustrating part of potty training is definitely those “unforeseen” accidents. For a chronic piddler, it is important that you monitor them very closely. Every time your puppy drinks, a potty break is going to be necessary in a few minutes. Remember, your puppy’s bladder just isn’t equipped yet to hold it for long periods of time. Most likely, your puppy still doesn’t know ahead of time to warn you that an accident is going to occur. We have all seen a puppy happily walking along and suddenly they squat to pee out of nowhere. Puppy bladders don’t come with warning signs. When they have to go, they have to go.
Keep your puppy within your line of sight at all times. Follow up every drink or snack with a potty break and reward positive behavior with a treat and lots of love.
Monitor at ALL Times
Most people feel that letting their puppy outside to potty is enough and then get frustrated when they come back in and have accidents in the house. The truth is, you need to go outside with your puppy EVERY time.
Puppies get easily distracted in the great outdoors. They may get to playing with a leaf in the backyard or find themselves busy following an interesting scent. Sometimes, they get so caught up that they forget they have to use the restroom while other times they just sit and wait by the backdoor to come back inside to be with you. When they hear your voice calling at the backdoor, they get so excited to see you again that they come romping up without having done their business!
Like we said earlier, watch your puppy’s intake and plan on when bathroom breaks may be needed. Always go outside with your puppy and give him/her plenty of time to get the job done. Playtime should only come after potty time, the fun should be the reward. And remember, rushing a puppy will only leave you with messes to clean up later!
Proper Sanitation Procedures
If your puppy has an accident inside (which lets face it, it will happen) the most important thing you can do is clean the area thoroughly! If you watch your puppy closely as they meander around the yard, they will typically sniff around until they find a spot where they have previously used the restroom before they do their business. If there is a spot on your floor that smells familiar to them, they will be more likely to associate that as a good place to relieve themselves!
We love Nature’s Miracle products for cleaning up those unexpected messes around the house. Their advanced stain and odor eliminator products truly work, and will not only help keep your house smelling fresh but will also keep your pup from thinking your plush carpet is a great place to pee (although we highly recommend keeping puppies away from carpeted areas for the first few months of potty training!).
Eyes on the Prize
Several months have gone by and your puppy seems to have a good understanding of potty training when suddenly: potty accidents begin to reoccur!
Puppies, no matter how well trained, have to be monitored. Never take your eye off the prize! Keep in mind that the weather outside, the amount of time your puppy has been in a crate, the excitement level in your house and much more can all lead to the re-occurrence of potty mishaps.
Potty training isn’t always the easiest, but it doesn’t have to be a monumental challenge for your family! Keep a close eye on your pup, allow plenty of time for potty breaks and reward good behavior with lots of love. With plenty of repetition and consistency, your puppy will pick up on the process sooner than you think!
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