How to Potty Train a Puppy

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Potty training should be one of the first things you do when you get your puppy. This will help avoid any messes the puppy might make and the cleaning up that follows them.

In potty training, it is important that you make it clear on where you want the puppy to eliminate.

Puppies will usually show some signs when they need to potty.

In order to effectively potty train your puppy, you should be able to identify these signals. These signs include:

- Going round in circles

- Restlessness

- Sniffing

Any time the puppy shows these signs it is a sign that they want to go potty. Here are some few steps that will make potty training easier

1. Decide where the potty area will be

You can lay some papers on part of the floor in your house and designate that as the potty area. You can choose to take your dog outside to a specific spot or you may buy a potty pad which you can place inside a crate. When you choose a place, always take the puppy there, this will serve to help the puppy know the routine.

2. Restrict the puppy

If you cannot watch the puppy, do not let him run around. Keep the puppy in a place where you can watch him. The place should not be so big since the puppy will just potty in one place and go sleep some distance away. It should also not be so small that the puppy cannot move around. 

3. Accidents happen

When they do, do not punish the puppy instead clean up the mess and ensure that the area is free from odour. Do not punish the puppy for this, instead take the puppy to the potty area and let him have a sniff.

Ensure that you clean up any soiled places well. Dogs have a very strong sense of smell, and puppies are no different. If the puppy smells his urine he will return to the same place.    

4. Accompany the puppy

Before the puppy can go by himself, you should always take the puppy to potty. If you are going outside, avoid distracting the puppy until he eliminates.

This step is important to ensure that the puppy has eliminated and does so in the right place. It will also give you a chance to shower your puppy with praise for doing the right thing.    

5. Routine

When potty training, you should establish a schedule that best suits your dog. Puppies need to eliminate after meals, when they wake up from sleep and after play. This means that if you feed the puppy more times you need to take him to potty more.

Puppies will normally eliminate about thirty minutes after feeding, thus take your puppy to the potty area during this time. Make it a habit to take your puppy to the potty area when you wake up in the morning and after the puppy has had his meals. Do not let the dog out of your sight until he has eliminated.   

Consistency will make the routine be embedded in the dog’s memory. Never forget to praise a puppy that goes to potty correctly.

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How to Potty Train a Puppy | Puppy Potty Training Tips :

1. How to Prevent Inappropriate Urination and Defecation
   
   Believe it or not, as much as 20% of all dog behaviour problems are indicated as elimination issues. That's a lot of people having trouble with their dog's urination and defecation habits. As the dog's owner, changing these behaviours should be at the top of your list.
2. How To Toilet Train A Dog: Keep Your House Dog Litter Free
   
   Despite the joys of owning a pet dog, there are certain downsides which usually discourage prospective pet owners from taking care of a pet dog.
3. Don’t Let Your Puppy Get Used to Making Messes
   
   It is not always easy to prevent your puppy from making a mess. Most of the time, your puppy will make a mess when left unsupervised or when your attention shifts to something else.
4. Doggie Dynamics: Potty Training Your Pooch
   
   A dog that has not been potty trained has to be constantly under supervision - since every moment the dog disappears from your sight, you have no idea what you will find the next time you seat on the chair or look at your welcome home rag.
5. Setting a Schedule for Your Dog’s Elimination
   
   When setting up a schedule, you need to consider your own routine since you will be the one to let the dog out or take him out for a walk. The schedule is also determined by the dog’s feeding times.
6. Potty Training for Small Dogs
   
   When you first start potty training, it is advised that you stay with the dog until he/she has had a chance to eliminate. Once you are sure the dog has eliminated, you can then let him to run around the house.
7. Positive Reinforcement for Puppy Potty Training
   
   In puppy potty training, positive reinforcement is usually in the form of verbal praise when the puppy eliminates in the correct area.

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