How To House Train A New Puppy
If you’ve asked yourself questions like:
- What is the easiest way to potty train a puppy
- How do you stop a puppy from peeing and pooping in the house
- How long does it take to potty train a puppy
- How can I house train a new puppy?
You’ve come to the right place.
In this quick guide, I’ll walk you through the best way to house train a new puppy. From the dreaded first accident to the right way to teach your new puppy to hold it.
Whether you’re researching before buying a puppy (good idea) or you’ve got a little pup running around peeing everywhere right now, this guide on puppy house training will help you minimize accidents, and take the stress out of the unknown.
What You Should Have To House Train A New Puppy
As you may expect, a puppy needs some special products. I’ll assume you have the basics – like food and water bowl, leash, etc and just cover what you’ll need for house training your new pal.
- Unless you’ve got a lot of time – a puppy that is older than 3 months
- Younger puppies have bladders that are too small to hold their pee for long – so someone has to be around to let them out
- An enzyme-based odor removing spray
- the enzymes in this cleaner will break down the hormones in your dog’s urine – stopping him from peeing there again and again
- An adjustable crate with divider panel
- If you work full time and you’ve got a young puppy, you’ll need to come home to let him out, ask a friend, or download an app like Rover to make sure he gets out
Behaviors To Watch For
Barking, scratching, whining, and any other behavior that makes it appear that your dog is restless is a strong indication that he needs to go.
Your dog may circle, sniff, or scratch at doors if he wants to go outside. Let him out, or be ready to break out the purple stuff.
Step by Step Easy Puppy House Training
- Get that crate I mentioned earlier set up
- the crate should be sized so that your puppy can turn around, but not use a corner to eliminate and get away from it – he won’t want to go if he can’t get away from his waste
- thankfully for your wallet, the crate listed here comes with a divider panel – buy a crate sized to fit your breeds adult size and use the divider to fit him as he grows
- see here for an in-depth crate training guide
- Feed your puppy on a regular schedule
- this way you’ll know what times he needs to go
- What’s the first thing you do when you wake up? And the last?
- Your dog wants to pee first thing in the morning too. During the night as well.
- Leave him in the crate near your bed so you can hear when he needs to go out
- Take your puppy to the same area to eliminate every time – he will associate it (and outside) with eliminating
- Always praise your pup with a treat and a walk after he goes
- My dog used to run out the door, pee, and run back to get his treat
- I’m pretty sure he faked peeing so he could get a treat. That labrador stomach will get you!
- Repeat! Your dog will get it soon enough. You just need to be on top of it.
Some Puppy Potty Training Tips
- Never punish your puppy for having an accident. Your puppy doesn’t understand why you’re angry – just that he’s scared of you. If you want to house train a new puppy, you need to patient.
- Never rub your puppy’s nose in the accident. Would you do that to your own baby? Neither of them understands.
- Startling your puppy if you catch him eliminating inside is the only form of “negative” attention you should give him
- a sharp clap or a loud “HEY” will get the job done
- gently bring the dog outside after and let him finish his business – don’t forget his treat!
- Positive reinforcement is how dogs learn – and how they’re potty trained
- If your dog keeps eliminating in the house right after you’ve taken him outside, it’s a sign that your dog is an explorer!
- You’ll have to let him sniff around and find the perfect spot to go. You wouldn’t pee just anywhere, would you?
