The best way to potty train a puppy and help him learn good bathroom habits, is to use a crate. Dogs don’t like using the bathroom near where they sleep or spend much time, so take advantage of this natural preference of dogs and teach them at a very young age to use the bathroom outside or in a desired area.
Dog training is an activity that needs to be done frequently. Therefore when trying to potty train your new puppy you need to be repetitive. When trying to get your puppy to eliminate you need to be saying the command word that you have picked out. This will help the puppy learn what is expected of him.
Most people use the words “Go Potty” when trying to potty train their new puppy. Also when you are asking your puppy to Go Potty you need to say it with an upbeat tone and great enthusiasm. Puppies do respond to the tone of your voice.
Be aware that you are not going to have a perfectly trained puppy overnight. Teaching your puppy new behaviours can be a lengthy process that will involve success and setbacks. Training a puppy requires that you have a lot of patience.
Potty training your puppy is a bit different than other training you will be doing with your puppy.
We mentioned at the beginning of the article that the best way to potty train a puppy was to use a crate. So how do you use a crate?
First you need to buy the right size crate. If you have a large breed puppy buy a crate that he can use when he is full grown. For now you can block off part of the crate to an appropriate size for a puppy.
The first thing you need to realize is that the crate is not to be used for punishment purposes. The crate is a very effective tool if used properly to help potty train your puppy.
Now you need to introduce your puppy to the crate. Maybe put one of his favourite toys in the crate and see if he will go in and play with the toy. If he does go in leave the door open and just let him get used to the crate.
After he has become used to the crate the next time you put him in you will be closing the door. He may not like it and start acting up but you need to ignore him. Only let him out when he has calmed down.
Since you usually do not bring a puppy home until they are at least 8 weeks old, then your puppy should, at 8 weeks, be able to hold it for about 2 to 3 hours. This means you will be getting up at night to let them out to go pee.
Do not leave a water dish in their crate or they will need to eliminate even more. When it is time for your puppy to go out to relieve himself you need to put a leash on him and take them out. If he is small enough to carry that would be a great idea since he may try to eliminate while you are trying to get him outside.
Once outside encourage your puppy to relieve himself. If he goes praise! praise! praise! This is very important as puppies will respond to the tone of your voice. If your puppy does not go after 5 minutes return him to the crate. Wait about 10 to 15 minutes and take him out again. Keep doing this until he goes and you praise him.
After he has had a successful mission give him so out time but keep a very close eye on him. Young puppies sleep a lot so if you play with him it will tire him out. When he is getting tired it is time to go back in the crate.
In order to help with the potty training it is a good idea to keep notes as to what time he ate or drank. When was the last time he relieved himself. You need to establish a routine. Nothing a dog likes any better than a routine.
Since your puppy is still growing he needs exercise but it needs to be moderate. Instead of taking him out for a long walk it would be better to take him out on a couple of much shorter walks. He needs to build up to this – after all he is still a baby.
Daily exercise also shows your puppy that he is a member of the family, as well as letting him know you are a strong leader. Exercise encourages his confidence and provides you with wonderful bonding opportunities. For more help and information on the best way to potty train a puppy check out Secrets To Dog Training Review!
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Thanks for the tips on potty training a dog! it seems like it would be the same amount of work as training a human toddler….But you really have to think of the puppy as a baby who needs the praise and the upbeat tone of voice to understand. it might be some work at the beginning but then it is done and does not need to be redone.
Your right Emily. It may seem like a lot of work but it is so worth it. Nothing better than a trained furry friend!
Thanks for posting this. Even though it takes a little while for puppies to learn something new, I’m always amazed at just how quickly they can be trained. I remember when I first got my Shih Tzu puppy at 8 weeks old, for 2 weeks I was following her around the house cleaning up after her, then all of a sudden it just clicked with her and she started going outside. Dogs are worth every second you spend with them. You can’t get a better friend.
You are so right. You can almost see the puppy have that light bulb moment when they catch on as to what you are teaching them.
Hello Maureen,
I love this post! How to train a dog to use the bathroom. Seriously, it sounds like fun but difficult I think. It is great when you can finally have a dog that knows how to use the potty/bathroom. I enjoyed reading your post and I have learned one or two things as well. Thanks.
Having a dog that is housebroken is indeed a joy. Going out and not having to worry as to what you may find when you come home definitely is nice.
Thank you so much for sharing this article! It makes me wish this was available years ago when I had gotten a black lab puppy over a decade ago. I could’ve probably avoided the issues I had later on when I had to move he grew up. Still though this is extremely useful in the future whenever I get another puppy and I will definitely be sure to have a crate this time. Again, thank you for sharing!
Yes crates are a very useful tool that a puppy owner can use. Many people think they can be cruel but just the opposite is true. When a puppy is raised with a crate they often will use it on their own when they get older. It is their safe zone. Thanks for your comments Brian.
What great information. My daughter did not use the crate right away, and her puppy never got used to it so it is a great idea to get a puppy started with one right away. Many dogs do not get trained properly and their owners get very upset over their sleep, potty, eating routines. If they used your method, they’d have one less thing to worry about when it came to their pet’s happiness.
Hi Jean thanks for your comments. Starting your puppy out right away with the crate is crucial. It makes it so much easier for them to get used to it. It is a great training tool and so much more. If your dog every needs to stay overnight at the vets he won’t have the luxury of a couch to lay on he will most likely been in some form of a crate. If he is used to one it will be much less stressful for their vet visit and that will help him heal quicker.