Taking too long? Close loading screen.
May 22nd
A new puppy can bring a lot of joy to your home. But potty training probably won’t. It can be a stressful process, and drives many new dog owners crazy.
Fortunately, potty training doesn’t have to end in tears- and stains. With a structured training regimen, and plenty of patience, you can properly potty train your puppy.
Here, we’ll walk you through the easiest way to potty train your puppy.
Even the gentlest puppy is going to make a mess when you start potty training. That’s why it’s important the you come prepared with the right supplies.
Here’s a quick list of what you’ll need to puppy train your puppy:
A crate
Your puppy’s crate will be essential in the potty training process. That’s why you need to be careful when choosing one. Many dog owners buy large crates, thinking that their dog will grow into it.
But the problem with large crates is that puppies like to use them as toilets. They have enough room that they can use one area as a bathroom and still have plenty of room to lie down.
Choose a crate that gives your puppy enough room to stretch out, and not much more. Dogs don’t like to go to the bathroom where they sleep, so a smaller crate will speed up the potty training process.
Absorbent pads
You’re going to need quite a few absorbent pads to clean up your puppy’s mess. Especially in their first few days at home, puppies will get excited and go just about anywhere.
Use absorbent pads to tell your puppy where they should go to the bathroom. Eventually, your dog should only go outside. But absorbent pads are a good stop gap to prevent your puppy from destroying your home.
Stain and odor removers
It’s important to clean up any accidents as quickly as possible. Try to find a stain and odor remover that is specific to dogs.
Once you’re ready to train, create a command word that you can use to tell your puppy to go potty. Say this word when they go to the bathroom, and they will slowly begin to associate it with doing their business.
Puppies have a lot of energy, and need a consistent schedule to structure their lives. Try to set up a body schedule so that your dog is going outside at the same times every day. The best way to do this is to make sure that you’re feeding them at the same time as well.
Your puppy needs to learn that the world is not one big toilet. Try to take them to the same spot when you let them out, and make them stay in that spot until they go to the bathroom.
It can take time to potty train your puppy. But most dogs eventually will learn to go outside without too many issues.
If you’re still having issues with your puppy, reach out to your vet. Your puppy may have medical or behavioral issues that are making it difficult to potty train them.
And if you haven’t found the perfect dog just yet, head over to our puppy finder and get started.
More Puppy Insights
Find the Perfect Puppy
