PUPPY HOUSE TRAINING TIPS

Door Buddy Blog - Potty training a puppy

There’s nothing more exciting than welcoming a new pup into the home! That soft fur mixed with those adorable eyes, what could be better? That is until you remember that puppies come with lots of little accidents in your home. If your doggo is not a puppy and a little older, this blog post on how to potty train an older dog is what you need. If not, keep reading!

House training your puppy, and obedience training in general, is significant for the well-being of both your puppy and your sanity. The sad news behind puppy training is that when it’s failed to be done correctly, it can lead to the number one reason behind surrendering dogs to animal shelters. Of course, keeping our pups happy and safe is our number one priority as fur-parents. Starting early puppy training can prevent any issues from happening when it comes to toilet time and keep them right where they belong: at home.

THE IM-PAW-TANCE OF EARLY PUPPY TRAINING

The trick to house training your puppy is to start early. Establishing proper toilet habits when the puppy is young can last a lifetime. It can also be tough to break these lessons once they are set. In most cases, correct house training cannot begin until the puppy is six months old. Puppies younger than this generally lack the bowel and bladder control that is needed for proper house puppy training.

When you’re ready to start puppy training, you should look at the following factors.

Puppies younger than six months should be confined to a small, puppy-proofed room when the owner cannot supervise them.
The entire floor of the room should be covered with newspapers or similar absorbent materials, and the paper changed every time your doggo does his business. As the puppy gets older, the amount of paper used can be reduced as the puppy begins to establish a preferred toilet area.

Making your puppy comfortable with a designated toilet area will come in handy for older puppy house training tips!

PUPPY HOUSE TRAINING TIPS - THE DOS

When it comes to puppy house training tips, here are some things you should do:

Allow East Access to the Toilet Area

In our list of puppy house training tips, this one is the most important! To get your pup comfortable with creating a toilet routine, you should always provide the puppy with constant, unrestricted access to the established toilet area.

When you are at home, take the puppy to the toilet area every 45 minutes. When you are not at home or cannot supervise the puppy, you must be sure the puppy cannot make a mistake. This means confining the puppy to a small area that has been thoroughly puppy-proofed.

Puppy Proof the Toilet Area

Puppy proofing a room is very similar to baby proofing a room since puppies chew on everything. If you’re looking to confine your little doggo to an area, it’s best to utilize some form of dog proofing, such as a pet gate or Door Buddy. This will prevent your dog from exiting the room while still giving you the freedom to come and go as you please. Doing so can be a helpful aid in getting your pooch comfortable with the area.

Differentiate the Toilet Area From Your Home

Puppy training with the hopes of promoting outdoor bathroom time is always a good idea. It is probably the most ideal for all pet owners too. For this to work, your puppy should never be encouraged to eliminate on anything that resembles the hardwood flooring, tile, or carpet he may encounter in a home.

When they do go to the bathroom in the right places, praising and rewarding your puppy is a must! Every time he goes outside or on his puppy sheet, help him associate toileting with positive behavior through treats and praises.

Keep a Feeding Schedule

Always keep a set schedule when feeding your puppy and provide constant access to fresh, clean drinking water. A consistent feeding schedule equals a regular toilet schedule that should give you an idea of when your pup needs your supervision.

Try Crate Training

Using a crate can be a big help in helping a puppy develop self-control. The concept behind crate training is that the puppy will not want to toilet in his bed area. That is, of course, if you can resist those puppy cuddles in bed!

Be Patient

And finally, it is essential to be patient when house training your puppy. House training can take as long as several months, but it is much easier to house train right the first time than to retrain a problem dog down the line.

WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN HOUSE TRAINING YOUR PUPPY

Now that we've covered the dos, it's time to take a look at what not to do when housetraining your puppy:

Never reprimand or punish your puppy for mistakes. Punishing the little thing will only cause fear and confusion.
Do not leave food out for the puppy all night long. Keep to a set feeding schedule to make your dog’s toilet schedule as consistent as possible.
Do not give your pup the freedom to roam the halls until they’re properly house trained.

House training your puppy is not always the easiest thing to do, and some dogs tend to be much easier to house train than others. It is important, however, to be patient, consistent, and loving as you train your new pal. Remember: a rushed, frightened, or intimidated dog will not be able to learn the musts of early puppy training. With these puppy house training tips, you’ll find that puppy training is easier than you ever expected!

While your pup is still young, it's also a great time to start training it about the cats and their litter boxes. Find our top tips to help with how to keep the dog out of the litter box here.

We hope you're feeling a little more confident about learning how to potty train an older dog. Armed with these steps and our top tips, we've no doubt that you and your best bud will have this whole thing mastered in no time!