Potty Training Basics

Potty training can be a head ache for many new pet parents. Often, we expect our puppies to master this in just a few weeks, when in reality it can take months for our new dogs to understand exactly what we want from them.

To your dog, the whole world is a bathroom, except for the place your puppy sleeps. We have to show them, in a way they understand, that there are places we'd prefer them to not go. The best way to start this process is with a crate or kennel. When choosing a crate, pick one that will fit your dog as an adult. I prefer ones like this. The divider allows you to make the crate an appropriate size for your puppy, but it gives you the flexibility to make the cage bigger as your dog grows. As you can see in the picture, the puppy needs very little space. Your dog should be able to sit up, and turn around, but thats about it. This seems very tight to us, but its the perfect den for your dog. I also like to add a few towels, or blankets for the puppy to snuggle up in. Be sure to use something easy to wash, and that you wont mind if it gets torn up. Because this is your dogs space, it will be very hard to convince them to not chew up what you put in them if they decide they want it in tiny pieces.
Your dog can spend time in this crate when you can't supervise them. This way, you eliminate the chance that they will "do something wrong" and you know they are safe. Keep in mind that your dog can only hold their bladder as for as many hours as they are months old. If they are left in their crate longer, then they will probably go to the bathroom in it. If this happens, then the crate becomes pretty useless. Once your dog feels like they can go potty in there, then there is nothing stopping them. If you have to leave your puppy for more than a few hours, set them up in a safe place that will be easy to clean up any messes. You can use puppy pads to help minimize the mess. This does create a bit of inconsistency in your puppies world, so it is best if you can get home every few hours to take him/her out side.

Set your puppy up on a very strict schedule. I recommend taking them outside once an hour for the first few weeks, to give them lots of opportunity to "do it right". When your puppy goes potty out side, reward them with a special treat (something soft and really tasty) and praise them. Let them play a little bit before putting them back in their crate (if you have to leave again) or before taking them inside, so they can enjoy running and stretching their legs.
If your puppy has an accident, remember that they don't yet understand your rules. If you catch them in the act, don't yell or punish your puppy. Just make a loud noise to startle them and then take them outside to finish, and reward them for going outside. If you don't catch your puppy, just clean things up. Yelling or punishing your puppy wont help, it will actually make things worse. If you yell at your puppy while they are going, they will think you don't want them to go to the bathroom at all, and will most likely try to hide when they have to go. This makes it harder to learn their signals to take them out.

Invest in a good quality cleaner with natural enzymes. The enzymes in the cleaner eat the proteins that your dogs urine leaves behind. It is these proteins that your dog can smell, which tells them "this is a good place to potty". Many common household carpet cleaners have ammonia in them, which is also a component of urine, and will only make the smell stronger to your dog.

If your puppy is having trouble mastering this, go back to the beginning, start with a schedule, and be sure to clean your carpets really well with enzymes.