If you’re the proud owner of a dog, it has probably happened to you. You see that adorable puppy face and you just know that the tiny little canine looking at you through her cage needs to be a member of your family. You bring that pup home, and are soon aware that potty training will need to be an important item on your agenda for the immediate future.

Are you prepared for the significant amount of time, patience and consistency that you will need to employ? Of course you are!

What Not to Do

There are two schools of thought when it comes to puppy potty training: one that works and one that doesn’t. Before we discuss the proper methods of potty training puppies that are tried and true, let’s discuss what doesn’t work in this process.

How many of you visualize potty training as chasing your pup about the house with a rolled up newspaper and rubbing her nose in her mess or her pee to show her the mistake? Guess what? This method of house training puppies will never work, and will often damage your relationship with your new dog – often forever. The pup just will not learn this way.

The reason that punishment does not work is because your puppy does not understand. If you rub her nose in a mess that she made even a few moments ago, the only thing your actions will achieve is alarm and terrorize your puppy. She will not grasp that you are unhappy about the fact that she had an accident inside.

On the other hand, if you can actually catch your puppy in the act, you can pick her up saying a firm “no!” and take her outside to her designated area. Follow this with lots of praise and this action will be an effective part of your house training, since it is one that your pup will comprehend.

What to Do

Now that we have looked at what doesn’t work, let’s look at what does.

Crate training is probably the most effective means of house training puppies. When your pup is placed in her crate, she is in a safe, protected place where she cannot do damage. She will also likely not do make a mess in her crate. You see, dogs are born with an instinct not to go to the bathroom in the same place that they sleep.

This will help teach your puppy that when she feels the need to eliminate, she can hold it until she is in the appropriate place. Just make sure that your little fur ball goes out right before she gets put in her crate for be, and as soon as she is let out.

Also don’t keep her in the crate too long at any one time.

Make sure to always take her out right after she eats her food, as well as immediately after play time is over.

Puppies are anxious to please – all they require are clear instructions and lots of positive reinforcement to know what’s expected of them.

Tags: house breaking, house training, potty training, puppy, Puppy Training