|
Now that you've adopted the cutest puppy in the whole wide world, it's time to potty train your new pet.
The time to train your puppy is NOW. The sooner you train your puppy, the better. Rules and boundaries need to be set immediately, otherwise the puppy will set his own rules and trample all over yours.
There are a variety of ways to potty train a pet, and you certainly will be helped along if you choose to ask your veterinarian for advice. You might also choose to hire a trainer, to read a few books, or to search the internet for words such as potty, potty training, train, trainer, training, veterinarian, do your business, dogs, puppies, etc.
The following method to potty train a puppy is certainly not guaranteed to be fullproof, as there is never any guarantee that a puppy will learn instantly and forever what he is taught.
But a few simple suggestions will help you along the way.
One method that is used on a regular basis is what is called "crate training".
For this type of training, it is suggested that you buy a puppy crate from your nearby PetSmart or other pet store. Someone in the store will help you to select the right crate for your puppy provided you have the puppy with you or can describe the puppy's size.
The crate should not be too much larger than the puppy. The puppy should be able to walk around in a circle in the crate, to feel comfortable and lie down, but not to do too much else.
Because the crate will belong to the puppy, and because the puppy will sleep in it, the puppy will quickly learn not to use his sleeping environment as a bathroom. Although he might have a few mishaps in the beginning, he will find out pretty soon that there is a better alternative.
The puppy should sleep in his crate at night at least until he is trained, although some people choose to crate their dogs on an ongoing basis.
If you and your family are out during the day, make sure to put the puppy in his crate.
In the morning or when you return during the day, take the puppy outside to do his business. Reinforce your puppy when he uses his outdoor bathroom with very positive verbal reinforcement.
For example, you might say, "Good Jake. Good boy. Good potty". If you repeat these words over time in a positive way, the puppy will learn that doing "potty" outside makes him a "good boy".
In reverse, if the puppy goes to the bathroom in your house, take him over to the mess and reprimand him verbally. DO NOT EVER hit your dog. Hitting a dog is cruel, abusive, and entirely unnecessary in training your pet. In fact, it can cause the dog to become aggressive, not to mention traumatized.
You will want to gently move the puppy's face downward to look at the mess and say, "Bad boy. Bad boy." Then bring the puppy immediately outdoors and do not bring him back in until he goes outside. Again, remember that positive reinforcement when he goes to the bathroom outside is crucial.
Remember, of course, to scoop the poop if you are intstructed to do so in your neighborhood.
You might find that the puppy takes an inordinately long time to go the bathroom. Be patient! It is worse to bring the dog inside and teach him he can use your carpet as a bathroom than it is to patiently wait for him to go outdoors and to praise him accordingly.
You might meet with certain challenges. For instance, a sick puppy might not have control over when and where he goes. You can crate him if he is throwing up or has diarrhea - and call your veterinarian for help and to set up an appointment if necessary.
Other challenges might occur, and this is when you need to examine all your alternatives. Ask a professional pet trainer for advice, try obedience school, check out books at your local library, search the internet, and ask your friends how they trained their new dogs.
Happy dog training!
| 
