Help potty training a puppy
I have a 5-month-old puppy and I’m really overwhelmed with potty training. I feel like I’m taking her outside every hour to try and avoid accidents and half of the time we just end up staring at each other while she whimpers. I just have no idea if I’m doing this right or not. I’ve watched videos and stuff about rewards and reinforcement but it just feels like nothing is really sticking? Any advice?
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Expert Comments
If you are giving them all the chances in the world to go outside and you’re limiting the chances of any accidents in the home by doing things like restricting their space and minimizing how long they spend unsupervised, you’re setting your dog up for success. Just give it time and keep doing what you’re doing. Your dog will eventually catch on to what they’re supposed to be doing.
The key to potty training is to allow your dog to experience the habit of holding their bladder inside, and doing things like crating them or putting them in a small pen will allow them to practice being inside without accidents. The only thing is your dog isn’t as smart as you, so it will take a bit longer than you’d think for your dog to understand the whole process. Just keep at it!
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The key to potty training is to allow your dog to experience the habit of holding their bladder inside, and doing things like crating them or putting them in a small pen will allow them to practice being inside without accidents. The only thing is your dog isn’t as smart as you, so it will take a bit longer than you’d think for your dog to understand the whole process. Just keep at it!
Reader Comments
When my gf and I were potty training our puppy, we put up a whiteboard where we'd document what times the puppy successfully used the restroom and what times she had an accident. This allowed us to recognize patterns and shift things around to minimize accidents.
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When the puppy is having an accident, don't give them any reaction. I know some people will advise you to go "no!" but this can accidentally teach the puppy not to pee in front of YOU, and so it'll end up peeing in hidden spots around the house. I also found it helpful to positively reinforce good behavior. When my puppy used the bathroom outside I would praise him and give him treats.
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