Are you worried about successfully potty-training your new puppy without traumatizing either of you? Relax. Here is a simple and effective way…if you’re committed to doing your part. Until you teach him, a puppy has no idea there is anything wrong with going potty whenever and wherever he feels the need. It’s your responsibility to teach your puppy he must let you know when he needs to go. Consistent meal times, proper crate size and following a daily schedule will result in a properly potty-trained puppy – the foundation of a healthy and happy canine – human relationship.
Use this crate training method for puppies three months or older. Puppies under three months of age haven’t developed the muscle control to succeed. Dogs over two years may take longer to train, but it can be done.
Below is a sample schedule. Allow about 10 minutes each time you take your puppy outside to potty. If he doesn’t “produce” in that time, take him back inside and either crate him for another hour or have some playtime but don’t let him out of your sight.
5:30 – wake up, carry pup from crate, on leash outside to potty. Praise when he does!
5:45 – breakfast in crate
6:15- play with pup inside for a few minutes – (100% supervised!) return to crate
7:30 – last trip to potty area before work. Leave pup in crate with water and a toy
12:15 – lunch in crate, then outside to potty. Praise when he does! Puppy returns to crate
4:45 – pup out to potty area – play / walk 45 – hour
6:00 – dinner in crate
7:00 – outside to potty area – cuddle / play (supervised!) inside
10:30 – out to potty area before bed. Offer water, and then remove for the night
This schedule may seem strict but it works. The timing is geared to give your puppy time in the crate for rest between feeding and play time. When you take him out to he will need to go and he will be in the right place at the right time. When he starts to potty, mark the act with a soft but enthusiastic “good job”, reinforcing the desired behavior.
This training method boils down to four main points:
Scheduled meal times. Ask your vet to recommend a high quality kibble because digestive problems make training more challenging. Serve your puppy’s breakfast, lunch and dinner in the crate, leaving it there for 15 minutes. If he doesn’t eat take it out and save for his next meal. Keep a small dish of fresh water in his crate all day, removing at night after the last trip out to potty. Do this for the first month so his bladder won’t be over-taxed at night. After he’s trained, have fresh water available at all times.
Constant direct supervision. This means more of a commitment than “trying to keep an eye on the puppy”, which often results in finding a mess to clean up. Every accident inside makes it more difficult to condition your puppy to ask to go outside. Accidents will happen so when they do, remember it’s only fair to correct the puppy if you catch him in the act. Then, interrupt him with a loud noise, scoop him up and take him outside. Praise when he resumes his potty. Ignore accidents discovered after the fact – puppies have short memories and won’t connect the scolding with the act.
Proper size and use of the crate. Introduce puppy to crate by leaving the door open, tossing in a toy or a few pieces of kibble. Speak to him in a happy tone. If he doesn’t scamper into the crate after the toy or food, pick him up and place him in the crate. Then let him sniff around and walk out on his own. Place a piece of your clothing in the crate so he will be comforted by your scent. The crate should be only large enough for him to stand up, turn around and stretch out. A small space is needed to trigger the natural instinct of a puppy to keep his “nest” clean.
Following the daily schedule. Keep it in mind and close by at all times these first four weeks. The stronger your commitment to following the schedule, the sooner you will have a potty- trained and confident puppy who will go to the door when he needs to go out.
One final suggestion – the “potty” word or phrase. When you take your pup out and see that he is sniffing or circling in preparation to potty, softly repeat a word or phrase, which coincides with his potty. When he’s finished, praise him as usual. Start saying the trigger word or phrase a little sooner each time so he begins to know what he needs to do as soon as you let him out. I’m particularly grateful for this tool when it’s freezing outside. Any words will do, common ones are “hurry up” and “go potty”.
Sources:
Personal Experience
The Art of Training a Puppy