Getting a new puppy can be a ton of fun for the whole family. They bring with them big, puppy dog eyes, clumsy feet, and a whole lot of puppy cuddles. But, with all that cuteness comes the inevitable pain of puppy house training. Constantly cleaning up the mess that your puppy makes when it’s house training can put a damper on your new puppy excitement, but luckily there are ways that you can make that learning quicker and easier for your pup so that you can get back to what you really want to be doing: snuggling.

One of the leading reasons for people to surrender a dog to an animal shelter is because of ongoing house soiling issues[1]. When bringing home a new puppy it is crucial to begin the house training immediately and to be consistent with it. Putting work in during the first few months after the puppy comes home will ensure that your pup is potty trained for the entirety of its life. It is much easier to house train a puppy than it is to retrain an older dog that is in the habit of soiling the house. So, put in the work now and then enjoy a pee-free home later.

How to House Train Your Puppy

Mary Burch, Ph.D., director of the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen and S.T.A.R. program recommends following these basic tips in order to lead your puppy to success[2]:

1. Control the Diet

Controlling your dog’s diet will allow you to predict the times of the day that they may need to go to the bathroom. That means removing your dog’s food bowl when it seems to have finished the meal, even if there is food left in the bowl. If you allow your dog access to the food all day long, they will then nibble all day long, and you won’t be able to anticipate when they will need a bathroom break.

2. Consistent Schedule

Keep your puppy on a consistent schedule daily. That goes for feeding, walks, nap time, etc. If your dog is on a consistent schedule it will get into the routine of going to the bathroom at certain times of the day. Consistency is one of the most important aspects of training a puppy.

While each puppy is different, there are a few times that most puppies generally need to go to the bathroom, including early in the morning, late at night, after playing, after waking up from a nap, and around 20 minutes after eating and drinking.

3. Provide Regular Exercise

Exercise helps with mobility. Your puppy may be too young to go out for long hikes, but you can ensure that they get enough exercise by throwing a ball around, or playing with a toy. If your puppy is quite young and has not had his vaccinations yet, you can still supply your pup with ample exercise within the household.

4. Reinforce your puppy for “going outside�

Positive reinforcement works wonders to motivate a young puppy to potty outside. Puppies are just begging for love and praise, and we can use that desire in our house training plan. When taking your puppy outside, bring a few tasty treats in your pocket. After your pup has gone to the bathroom, offer the treat, verbal praise, and lots of pats to show your puppy that they’ve done the right thing. When your puppy sees that wonderful things can happen after they go to the bathroom outside they will be more likely to do it in the future in the hopes the good thing will happen again.

Don’t ever yell at your dog for having an accident in the house, particularly if it happened while you were away. A puppy’s mind will not be able to connect the accident they had 3 hours ago with your angry tone now. Instead, calmly clean up the mess and commit to being more diligent next time.

If you see that your dog is about to go to the bathroom inside, pick him up immediately and carry him outside. When it comes to training, prevention is the key to success.

How to Prevent Accidents From Happening In the First Place

Monitoring your dog is crucial at all times when you first bring a puppy home. This is not only true for house training, but also for a number of other behavior-preventing tactics. If you don’t keep an eye on your puppy it can easily sneak off into a corner of the house and pee, and probably get into a lot of other trouble, like chewing or falling down the stairs.

Close the doors inside the house or put up baby gates to prevent your puppy from leaving your sight. When you’re away or otherwise unable to keep an eye on your puppy, consider confining them in a crate, or in an exercise pen. Find out how to crate train your puppy here:

Dogs feel very comfortable in a crate, considering it as a type of ‘den’ for them. Fill the crate with something soft to lie on, and a few toys to chew, and your dog will be very happy to occupy itself while you’re away. A dog should never be kept in a crate for longer than 4 hours at a time. Puppies can generally hold their bladder for their age in months, plus one. So, a 4-month-old puppy will be able to hold it’s bladder for approximately 5 hours.  

How Long Does Puppy House Training Take?

Each dog is completely individual in its adaption to house training. Some puppies can tackle it in a few weeks, and others a few months. It depends on a number of factors, including age, learning history, and your methods and consistency. Puppies who have come from a reputable breeder will typically grasp the concept quicker, whereas dogs that have come from a less than ideal situation, like a puppy mill or a pet shop, might have a harder time. Having patience with your puppy will be the key to success.

How to Clean Up Dog Pee the Right Way

If your puppy does happen to soil inside the house it’s important that you clean it up completely. Your puppy’s urine is made up of a combination of ammonia, bacteria, hormones, nitrogen and uric acid. The uric acid is what creates the lingering smell, and it is also what will attract your dog back to the same spot in the future, which is why it’s important to remove it all completely.

There are a number of amazing odor eliminating pet products, but if you’d rather avoid harsh chemicals then follow these steps to easily remove dog urine from your floor:

Bringing a new puppy into the home is not always easy. There is a lot of work involved in order to raise your puppy into a well behaved and well-adjusted dog. There is a multitude of puppy care information available, and it can sometimes be overwhelming, especially for new owners, but with a little patience and a whole lot of love, your puppy will grow into the kind of dog you’ll be pleased to show off to your friends.

SOURCES:

[1] Mo D. Salman, JM Hutchinson, Rebecca Ruch-Gallie, Lori R. Kogan, John C. New, Jr., Phillip H. Kass, Jennifer M. Scarlett.(2000. April). Behavioral Reasons for Relinquishment of Dogs and Cats to 12 Shelters. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/45251733_Behavioral_Reasons_for_Relinquishment_of_Dogs_and_Cats_to_12_Shelters

[2] Mara Bovsun. (2015, November 2). How to Potty Train a Puppy: A Comprehensive Guide for Success. Retrieved from http://www.akc.org/content/dog-training/articles/how-to-potty-train-a-puppy/

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