Are you tired of playing “find the 💩”? Discover the secret to successful potty training and say goodbye to messy surprises! 🐾

Potty training is an essential part of raising a happy, healthy dog. It can be a challenging task, but with patience and consistency, you’ll have your pup doing their business in the right place in no time.  We’ll cover everything you need to know about potty training and discuss common mistakes that unintentionally can set your dog back. So let’s dive in and make potty training like a nice walk in the park! 🌳

POTTY TRAINING TECHNIQUES AND TIPS 🐶

Selecting the Proper Crate

Crate training plans a very important role not only in potty training, but also overall obedience, confidence and safety for your dog. It is important to choose the proper crate for your dog. Trying to accomplish potty training without a crate makes overall house training much more difficult and typically takes longer. Crates should be a dog’s safe space and a home base of sorts – somewhere he can be trusted unsupervised.

Pick a crate big enough for your dog to lie down, stand up and spin around in a circle. Do not put a small puppy inside a large crate as they most likely will use one side for sleeping and the other side as a bathroom. As your dog grows, you can always sell the old crate and replace with a newer one. Depending on the model, there could be an option for a adjustable divider to portion off sections and adjust as your puppy grows.

To read more about how to properly crate train your dog, read this very informative article.

Potty Training: Establishing a Routine

Take your puppy or dog outside approximately 30 minutes after eating or drinking as a general guideline. If your puppy played a lot or had a lot of excitement, taking them outside again for a potty break is a good idea to see if they use the bathroom. The more proactive you are about scheduling breaks will help your dog understand to go potty outside versus inside.

The more consistent you are, the more consistent your dog will be. It’s like going to the gym – the more effort you put in on a consistent basis, the more you will see lasting results.

Establish a Keyword or Phrase

Using a keyword phrase during potty training is very important. From the very first day you welcome home your new dog or puppy, implement a keyword or phrase. The most common phrase is “go potty,” but you can use anything you’d like as long as it’s consistent so your dog understands what is being asked. If your dog is sniffing outside and you believe they need to use the bathroom, repeat the keyword until they go potty. Then….

Praise Your Dog

As soon as your dog uses the restroom, immediate mark the behavior with verbal and or physical praise. You can also use treats to mark the behavior.  If/when an accident happens inside the house, do not become upset with your dog, but do not give them any form of praise or treats. Your dog will start to associate the keyword and rewards with going to the restroom outside.

The Good Ole Bell on a String Technique

Using a bell on a string for potty training can be a very effective method. To use this trick, tie a bell to the end of a string and hang it from the doorknob at approximately your pup’s chest level. Every time you take your pup outside, ring the bell with his paw. Praise him immediately and open the door.

Doing this every time you go out teaches the dog that ringing the bell equals the door opening. Over a period of time, your pup will learn: “If I have to go outside to the restroom, I ring bell and the door opens.” An unintended consequence of this technique could be teaching your dog to ring the bell anytime they want to go outside, potty or no potty!

Complete Supervision

If you are not paying full attention to your puppy, accidents will happen. That is not the pups fault, but the owners. Your pup should be completely supervised at all times. If you cannot directly supervise your puppy, the pup should be in the crate. Until your puppy is completely housebroken, he or she should never be alone for safety and training reasons.

If your dog goes potty while supervising them, immediately give a verbal, “No.” Pick your dog up and take outside to the area where you want the potty training to occur. There should never, ever be any physical punishment involved with potty training as this will only diminish any bond between you and your pup as well as create fear and anxiety.

Conclusion

Potty training might seem like a daunting task, but with the right approach, consistency, and a patience, your pup will be on their way to becoming a potty training pro. Remember to stay vigilant, use positive reinforcement, and celebrate your dog’s progress along the way. Before you know it, you’ll have a well-trained, happy dog that knows exactly where to go when nature calls. Happy potty training! 🎉🐕

Off Leash K9 Training Central Coast is here to help you and your dog achieve successful socialization. Our expert trainers understand the importance of socialization and are dedicated to providing a supportive, positive environment for your dog to develop essential social skills.

Off Leash K9 Training Central Coast offers comprehensive training programs for your dog’s needs, ensuring they become a confident, well-rounded companion. Our experienced trainers will guide you and your dog through the process, providing support and expert advice every step of the way.

Check out our Off Leash K9 Training YouTube channel to see some of the incredible transformations our trainers have helped dogs and owners achieve.  We have also been voted “Best Dog Trainers” three years in a row!

Contact Off Leash K9 Training Central Coast today at (831) 275-7505 or customerservice@olk9ca.com to learn more about our training programs and how we can help you and your furry friend build a stronger bond through socialization. You can also book your free phone consult online by clicking this link.