How much do we love thee, puppies? Oh, let us count the ways. Puppy breath, silky fur, endless kisses, oh my! The one thing that every puppy owner dreads, however, is accidents. And those of us in the veterinary community will tell you, the only certainties in life are death, taxes, and puppy accidents. It comes with the territory!
We want everyone to know that when adopting or buying puppies because the last thing we want to see is those puppies being rehomed out of frustration due to accidents. As veterinarians, there are two things we’d love all puppy and potential puppy owners to keep in mind in regards to puppy care. You need to be available for frequent walks and it’s ideal if you’re around enough during those initial months to keep your puppy within sight much of the time. These two things are going to have a positive impact on the happiness of both you and your wee pup. There are also plenty of other things you can do to set your pup up for success when it comes to housetraining, and we share five of the best tips below.
1. Take Control of Their Diets
You might not think of a puppy’s diet when it comes to accidents but it plays a crucial role in being able to housetrain. Feed puppies twice a day and allow them to free feed for a half hour. And what you also might not realize is that you don’t have to limit how much they eat, per se, but you do need to limit the time they have to eat it. If the puppy eats it all in five minutes and wants more, give them more. If they look at the food and make a face and walk away, the clock is ticking. The food will be picked up after a half-hour. They will quickly learn that the food will be there for a limited amount of time and potty schedules can be established.
Some vets will recommend three feedings. Whatever you choose, just make sure it agrees with your pup. And while we say that you don’t have to necessarily limit the food, diarrhea could indicate that your pup is eating too much or the food type is bothering them. You’ll need to gradually adjust this, as diarrhea obviously only adds to the challenges of housetraining.
2. Craft a Schedule That Works For You and Your Pup
Not only does the feeding need to be on a schedule that’s intertwined with eliminating, but your puppy should also get used to going out shortly after playing and napping. Of course, if your puppy is sniffing around in between these times, hurry outside! Being a puppy parent means frequent walks so make sure you’re aware of that before making the commitment. And another tip would be to avoid feeding the pup an hour before bedtime and/or being confined to a crate.
As a general rule, keep in mind that you’ll have to take your puppy for a walk after the following activities:
- First thing in the morning
- Last thing at night
- After eating
- After drinking
- After napping
- After chewing on a dog treat, bone, or toy
- After spending time in a crate
Again, we realize this is quite the commitment, but the puppy snuggles and lifetime of love you’ll get from doggos make it well worth it, especially if you put the time in now to set them on a good path. Plus, all these walks are good exercise for you both!
3. Use Positive Reinforcement
When a puppy has an accident, don't stick their noses in it or spank them. No one would argue the fact that you do not haul off and smack an infant for soiling their diaper, and the same principle applies with puppies. Take them to the spot and say, “No!” in a firm voice. Pick up the feces or urine-soaked paper towel. Take the puppy and the mess outside and place it on the ground and act as if the puppy had just relieved themselves on the grass. Make a big deal and give them a favorite treat. For better or worse, most pups are food motivated, so this is the key to success! Any time they go outside, reward them immediately. Don’t wait until you get inside.
If you walk in on your puppy in the middle of having an accident, resist the urge to yell. We know it’s not easy! What you don’t want to do is frighten them but you do want to make some sort of noise, such as a clap or a stomp on the floor. Help your puppy to finish going outside if it’s possible. Cleaning up any accidents thoroughly and removing any odors from carpeting or bedding as best you can is crucial, as remaining smells can impede their progress.
4. All Hail the Crate For Potty Training
First and foremost, if you’re one of those people who has a negative association with this, you need to get over the guilt of enlisting crates for training with dogs. They make dogs’ lives easier and more manageable. Much like a human toddler, a puppy needs its nap time in a safe and quiet place to decompress and recharge. The point of crate training is most dogs will not soil an area that they have to sleep in. If they cannot hold it and soil their cage, it will ruin that concept and make potty training that much more difficult.
When the puppy is old enough to crate train, you can keep adjusting the size of the crate (at least most crates allow for this) to accommodate them. Maintain a strict schedule and let your pup out on time every time, even if they are not asking to go out. You are training the bladder since your pup does not necessarily know he needs to go out at first.
5. Schedule, Schedule, Schedule
The most important factor in the success and speed of potty training is schedule. Pick a schedule that works with your schedule and stick to it...religiously. That means up at the same time, feed at the same time, let out on the clock, even on the weekends! It only takes one time of being off schedule to set you back all the way to the beginning. Repetition and consistency create habit. And in this case you are training the bladder to hold it.
Some Common Puppy Potty Training Mistakes
You are inevitably going to experience setbacks, plateaus, and perhaps even regression while trying to potty train your pup. Don’t give up!
Some common potty training mistakes we hear about as veterinarians are as follows:
- Assuming a small dog has the same bladder as a big dog—not so, of course, so bear in mind your bitty chihuahua will have to go out more than when you raised a Mastiff pup.
- Letting the schedule go here and there which means soiling in the crate—you must be diligent about the schedule as you raise your pup, as these tiny mistakes can add up.
- Not cleaning up pee spots thoroughly enough, causing the dog to “go” there again—stock up on enzymatic cleaners to eradicate the smell and, hence, the draw to that spot.
- Allowing the run of the whole house because the dog appeared to be trained—again, don’t celebrate prematurely. Instead, stick with the schedule to avoid setbacks.
When it comes down to it, the key to housetraining puppies is schedule, repetition, consistency and patience. It does take some time. However, if it’s been a few months and your pup is showing little to no progress, call your veterinarian for an examination. Go forth and train—you’ve got this!