Have you acquired a new puppy and need assistance getting him/her potty trained? Wonderful! We adore puppies and would love to help you successfully put your new addition on the right track in his/her new home. We are 100% committed to this small task with the help of crate training or confining your puppy to a smaller area (playpen over a hard surface floor) within your home while you are at work or traveling. According to several dog behaviorists, well established breeders, and dog trainers, keeping a consistent schedule when following the general rule of thumb of taking puppies outside to go potty after playing, eating, drinking water, and long periods of sleep based on his/her age will help your puppy successfully become house trained.
Teaching your puppy proper potty training not only helps him/her strengthen their bladder muscles using confinement with an appropriate sized crate or small playpen, it will also keep them on a consistent routine. We highly suggest using a crate with an adjustable divider that can be increased in size as your puppy grows. This will allow just enough space within the crate to stand, turn around, and comfortably lie down. No dog likes to do his/her potty business where they sleep, and using this method will encourage your puppy to strengthen those little bladder muscles.
Crates/kennels are not only designed for potty training, but a great option for your growing puppy’s sleeping quarters. This creates a very secure and tranquil environment for your dog, as a den would be for a wolf in the wild. We NEVER suggest using a crate as a means of punishment. We ONLY use positive reinforcement force free training techniques, and by using a crate this will create a calm and warm place for your dog to relax when he/she is tired after a long day of enrichment activities. However, we do not suggest using puppy pads, newspapers or fake grass inside the home as it only teaches your puppy that it’s acceptable to eliminate inside the house and can easily translate your puppy to potty on the carpet or rug. He/she may also use chew them up which can potentially become a choking hazard.
Helpful cue words and phrases when walking to the door such as “let’s go outside” and when you’re outside telling them to “go potty” at the designated outdoor potty spot will encourage the desired behavior. After your puppy has successfully pooped and peed outside, always immediately praise your puppy such as “good puppy!” and “yes!” followed with a small treat if you choose soon after they do their business. These phrases bridge the behavior with the desired result, so be consistent! We discourage interrupting puppies when they are in the middle of doing their potty business outside as it may deflect their attention away from the behavior we’re trying to enforce, so always wait until they’ve completed their business when you want to praise them. You will be amazed how quickly your puppy will catch on to this positive training technique!
When you should take your puppy outside to a designated potty area ideally will be based on his/her age when letting him/her out of a properly fitted crate:
| Age of Puppy | ||
| 8 | weeks (2 months) every 2 – 3 hours | |
| 1 | 2 | weeks (3 months) every 3 – 4 hours |
| 1 | 6 | weeks (4 months) every 4 – 5 hours |
| 2 | 0 | weeks (5 months) every 5 – 6 hours |
| 2 | 4 | weeks (6 months) every 6 – 7 hours |
| 2 | 8 | weeks (7 months) success! |
A healthy adult dog at a year old or older should be able to hold it during the night for 12 hours. We do recommend taking your adult dog out to potty though at least 3 times a day (morning/midday/evening) to keep their house training on track . Forcing a dog to hold it longer than 12 hours even during the day may either cause potential urinary tract infections (UTIs) or revert back to eliminating in the house. It’s always best to give your dog a midday potty break to avoid this. Remember a consistent routine is what every dog needs.
Make sure to always take your puppy outside to the designated potty area every 20-30 minutes after playing, eating, drinking, and waking up from sleeping. This consistent practice will reinforce your puppy’s training that going outside is the only place your puppy should do any elimination. Please never scold your puppy if he/she has an accident in the house. Scolding puppies may have a reverse effect on their training, and can cause them to have accidents in hidden places to avoid being reprimanded. Puppies are just like babies and do not understand what they’ve done wrong. Always immediately pick up the puppy and take him/her outside whether you’re catching the puppy in the act of or afterwards. Make sure to use those cue phrases mentioned above as well!
After your puppy has had both rounds of vaccinations we can then move onto leashed walks in your neighborhood. Not only are leashed walks a great way to acclimate your growing pup by exposing him/her to new and exciting scents, sights, and sounds, it will give your puppy both mental and physical stimulation that is completely different from what they’ve been accustomed to in their own home. For you as a pet parent, this builds a confident dog, and a greater bonding experience between you and your pup when you want to take him/her out on a walk. However it’s best to wait until your puppy is fully vaccinated before going on walks to avoid any possibility of your puppy contracting potentially deadly viruses such as Parvo or Distemper. Please speak to your trusted veterinarian for more information.
If you’d like to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation with us for your pet care needs, please submit your request by going to our link below. We’d love to meet with you and your furry friends!
Fur Paws Sake Pet Sitting Services is a member of Pet Sitters Associates (PSA), To learn more about PSA, visit www.petsitllc.com.
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