| Potty training is the single most important thing you | | | | Repeat this process several times. Then put the door |
| will do when you bring home a new puppy. Here is a | | | | back on the crate and again lure your puppy into the |
| step by step guide on how to accomplish this quickly | | | | crate. Give him the treat, praise him, then close the |
| and effectively. | | | | door and wait five seconds. Open the door and invite |
| After a puppy eats, drinks, plays, sleeps, or chews, | | | | your dog to come out. This is very important. Your |
| he must soon go "potty."o Up to 6 months of age, | | | | dog must wait until he is invited out. A slight touch to |
| more than 12 times per day.o From 6 - 12 months of | | | | his chest and the word "wait" should do it. Repeat |
| age, more than 7 times per day. | | | | this process. Start with very short increments of |
| Take your dog out to relieve him or herself as many | | | | time, and increase the length of time in the crate |
| times a day as you can. The more he goes outside, | | | | gradually. |
| the more it will become ingrained that outside is the | | | | Once again, never force your dog into the crate, or |
| proper place to do his business. | | | | he will view it as punishment. We want him to have |
| Always use a leash when you take your dog out to | | | | positive experiences going in and out of the crate. |
| potty. If you are using a crate, which I strongly | | | | Put a toy and an old t-shirt or towel with your scent |
| suggest, remove your puppy from the crate, pick | | | | on it in the crate. This will also convey to your puppy |
| him up, clip on his leash and carry him outside. Place | | | | that the crate is a good place to be. You will find |
| him in the grass in your designated area and keep | | | | that in a short time your dog will go in his crate |
| repeating "go potty" over and over. | | | | voluntarily when you are not even paying attention |
| There should be no excess talking or playing. This is | | | | to him. Never leave the dog in the crate for |
| not play time or walk time. This is potty time. Just | | | | excessive periods of time:o no more than 2-3 hours if |
| stand in one place and let your puppy have as much | | | | puppy is under four months of ageo 4-5 hours from |
| of your 6 foot leash as he wants. But that's all. Keep | | | | 4-6 months of ageo 6-7 hours if the puppy is 6-9 |
| repeating his name and "go potty". | | | | months of age |
| When the mission is accomplished, reward your dog | | | | These estimates vary by breed, size of dog, and |
| with a treat (ALWAYS HAVE TREATS HANDY) and | | | | accomplishments thus far. |
| a "good boy" or "good girl." Immediately bring dog | | | | If you work all day and are going to leave your |
| back in the house. | | | | puppy alone for several hours before they are potty |
| If he did not eliminate within five minutes or so, | | | | trained, crating him may not be an option since that's |
| return him to his crate and try again in about 15 | | | | just too many hours to be confined to a crate. |
| minutes. If he did go potty, (both kinds), go back | | | | Instead, consider a small area such as a bathroom, |
| inside and keep your pup with you as you prepare | | | | laundry room, or blocking off a small portion of any |
| for your day. Keep him on his leash indoors at all | | | | room you choose to limit your puppy's space. |
| times. It is helpful to keep a leash on your dog in the | | | | I recommend an adjustable pen sold at most pet |
| house when potty training. It's easier to find them | | | | stores. The heavy duty plastic type works best. Each |
| when they are hiding behind a chair or couch, | | | | section is about two feet wide and there are usually |
| although your puppy should NEVER be unsupervised | | | | 8 sections. This allows you to increase the size of |
| during potty training. | | | | the pen as your dog grows. Adjust the size of the |
| In the beginning stages of housebreaking, always pick | | | | pen so there is room for his blanket or bed at one |
| him up and carry him outside. Do not allow him to | | | | end and a potty pad at the other, with very little |
| walk, because he might squat and have an accident | | | | room in between. |
| on the way. | | | | The goal is to ensure that your dog hits the pad |
| Regulate feeding times and amount of food. I | | | | when he relieves himself. If successful, gradually |
| recommend feeding two times per day for pups | | | | increase the size of the pen. Eventually, you can give |
| under 1 year old. Read the portion amount on the | | | | your dog more freedom by allowing him a larger and |
| bag. Divide the daily portion in half and feed once in | | | | larger area, being sure to leave the potty pad |
| the morning and once in the evening before 7 p.m. | | | | accessible. Try to position the pad in front of the |
| Leave your dog's food on the floor no more than 10 | | | | door you most often use to take your dog outside. |
| minutes. If your dog does not finish his food, pick up | | | | Give your dog a chew toy to occupy his time when |
| the bowl, and do not feed again until the next | | | | confined to his pen. |
| scheduled time. Leaving food and water out all day is | | | | Constant supervision is critical when puppy is not in |
| setting your dog up to fail. Allowing constant access | | | | his pen or crate. Always keep your puppy on a leash |
| to food makes it more difficult to predict when your | | | | inside the house so he does not wander off and |
| dog will have to relieve himself. | | | | potty without being noticed. This also helps the |
| Observe your dog for signs that he needs to go | | | | puppy become accustomed to wearing the leash so |
| outside. Tracking, sniffing, and circling are signs that a | | | | he does not fear or dread it. |
| trip outside might be in order. Learn to recognize the | | | | If your puppy starts to squat, pick him up quickly |
| signs, and get your dog outside BEFORE he has an | | | | saying "no," immediately carry him outside, set him in |
| accident in the house. | | | | the grass with the leash on, and say "go potty." Give |
| Feed your dog a high quality dog food. The cheaper | | | | him time to re-focus and squat again. Say "potty" and |
| brands are loaded with fillers, and chemicals that are | | | | "good boy" or "good girl." |
| hard to digest, which can lead to inconsistent stools | | | | When the puppy is finished, give a treat and praise |
| and lack of ability to hold it until he gets outside. Even | | | | him. Bring the puppy directly back in the house. Allow |
| the well known national brands contain ingredients | | | | 30-45 minutes of supervised free time out of the |
| which dogs cannot digest, such as corn, chicken | | | | crate or pen. Then return the puppy to his crate or |
| by-products, (heads, feet feathers, beaks,) wheat, | | | | pen for approximately 1 - 1 1/2 hours, and repeat the |
| sorghum, and other things I won't feed my dogs. | | | | process. If you need to leave the house, always |
| Don't feed "people food" to your dog as a steady | | | | return the puppy to the crate or pen. |
| diet. You can use it as an occasional training treat. A | | | | If your puppy completes his urination or defecation in |
| dog's digestive system functions very differently | | | | the house and you do not catch him in the act, do |
| than ours, and the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes | | | | not bother disciplining him. It is too late at this point. |
| that your dog needs will not be supplied. | | | | After just a few seconds, he will not know why you |
| Do not change dog food all at once. If you do | | | | are scolding him. There should be no yelling, no |
| change foods, do it gradually, mixing 75% old with | | | | rubbing his nose in it, and no hitting. You will confuse |
| 25% new for a week, 50% of each for a week, | | | | him and make matters worse. Just clean it up and |
| then 75% new with 25% old for a week, and finally | | | | move on. |
| 100% new. | | | | Be sure to clean with the correct products to |
| Be aware, and keep track of, when your dog | | | | remove any scent that your dog may be tempted to |
| relieves himself (i.e., after meals, playtime, or | | | | return to. Several are sold in pet stores. Be sure that |
| awakening from a nap), so you can develop the | | | | you do not clean with anything containing ammonia, |
| pattern and time line that your puppy follows. All | | | | as the smell of ammonia will attract the puppy back |
| dogs will differ somewhat in their potty habits. | | | | to that spot for a repeat performance. |
| I recommend the use of a crate when potty training. | | | | Teething may cause your puppy to make mistakes in |
| When your puppy is going to be left alone all day, | | | | the house. The discomfort in his mouth may trigger |
| then a small penned area is recommended. Use the | | | | irregular urination. Be patient during this time-it will |
| crate day and night, and especially when everyone is | | | | pass. |
| asleep. | | | | Before you go to bed at night, take the time to play |
| Crate training should be done in short increments and | | | | with your puppy to burn off some energy. Take him |
| gradually increased. Don't force your dog into the | | | | out one last time to potty, and then put him in the |
| crate or he will view it as punishment. Don't ever use | | | | crate or pen for the night. You may want to keep |
| a crate as punishment. Dogs love their crates, and | | | | the crate in the bedroom with you so that the puppy |
| they become their own personal "den." They feel | | | | can see and hear you and feels like he is still part of |
| safe and secure there. The crate should be viewed | | | | the pack. First thing each morning, remove him from |
| by your dog as a good place to be. | | | | the crate or pen, pick up the puppy, and carry him |
| To get your puppy used to his crate, remove the | | | | outside. The first few weeks, the puppy may wake |
| wire door. Use a treat to lure him into the crate. | | | | you very early (4 or 5 a.m.). As they grow, they will |
| When he goes into the crate voluntarily, give him the | | | | sleep longer and be able to hold themselves for |
| treat and say "good boy". Then allow him to leave | | | | longer periods of time. |
| the crate in his own time. | | | | Most of all, be patient and consistent! |