Potty Training a Puppy: The Basics You Need to Know

by: RosanaHart
Are you potty training a puppy? The method is not hard to understand, but your patience will be needed! There are just four steps. The puppy needs to be with you. You need to take him to his pottying location at certain times. You need to clean up any accidents in a matter-of-fact way. Repeat these steps a lot and pretty soon, you'll be living with a potty trained puppy!

I'll discuss these four points:

1. Keeping your puppy with you as much of the time as possible gives you the best chance of catching him just before he starts to pee or poop. Even if you catch him in the act, it helps the potty training -- just say NO and take him to where you want him to do his stuff.

One way to keep your puppy with you is to attach his leash to a belt around your waist. That way, whatever you are doing around the house, you know right where your new best friend is. This method is excellent for bonding between you. Very young puppies really want to be right with you all the time anyway.

However you do it, stay close to your puppy. Crate training is also very useful for the times you can't be together. That is beyond the scope of this article but I discuss it at length on my website.

2. When you are potty training a puppy, you are helping him to understand that when he feels an urge to urinate or defecate, he should go to his specially designated place for these activities. How will he learn this? By your taking him there:

*** Every single time he wakes up, whether first thing in the morning or after a nap.

*** Every time he has a meal.

This means a lot of trips for you and the puppy over the course of a day. Also take him out shortly before you go to bed at night.

His pottying spot may be in your yard, or you may be walking him on leash. If you live in a place where it is hard to go outside fast, or if you have physical limitations that make it hard, then paper training is best.

3. When you wipe up any messes that he creates, don't grumble. The dog will not understand that he has done anything to displease you. People sometimes say that the puppy "looks guilty" but really his expression is more one of unhappiness because he can tell you are unhappy. Puppies take a lot less time to potty train than humans, so just be patient!

4. Repetition is a very important part of the potty training process, as dogs learn that way. So keep on doing each step, as often as you can.

There's lots more to say about potty training a puppy, but these tips will get you well on your way to a successfully trained dog!

About the Author
Want to know more about potty training a puppy? Visit Rosana Hart's dog training website, where she explains this method more fully.