The Basics of Puppy Potty Training
Puppy Potty Training
One of the most important subjects you will need to understand when getting a new puppy is puppy potty training. This is rarely easy, because puppies do not have the control over their bladders and bowels that adult dogs do. It can take months before a puppy is considered housebroken or potty trained. Some small breeds of dog take even longer before they have enough control to go at designated times.
You need to remember at all times that puppies have no control over their bathroom habits when they are babies, so yelling at them will only confuse them. The important thing is to make sure the puppy is taken to the designated bathroom area on a regular basis and praised when they go where they are supposed to go. One method of training a puppy to use the bathroom at certain times is crate training.
When choosing a crate, make sure it is big enough for the puppy to comfortably stand and move around in but not too roomy. This is because it is a dog’s natural instinct not to go to the bathroom near their sleeping or feeding areas. When you’re not home, make sure the puppy is in the crate, and if you can come home for lunch to let the puppy out to go to the bathroom, you should. When you are home, your puppy should be kept on a leash close to you so you can take it outdoors when it needs to go. At first, this might be as often as every two hours.
Schedules work wonders when potty training your puppy. Write down when your puppy eats and when it goes to the bathroom. There are certain times when you should try to take your puppy out, such as after meal times, naps and play times. After awhile you and your puppy will develop a bathroom schedule to make things easier, and your puppy will be able to go for longer durations without using the bathroom.
When going through puppy potty training, expect accidents and be ready for them. Pet stores and the pet care aisle of department stores and supermarkets should have a carpet cleaning product made especially for cleaning up puppy waste. Regular carpet cleaners may not remove all traces, and any leftover scent may entice your puppy to return to the same spot. If your puppy has an accident, clean the area right away with one of these specialty pet waste carpet cleaner solutions, which usually come in a handy spray bottle.