How to Paper Train a 6 Week Old Puppy

By Darcy Logan

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

Newspaper Dog bed Leash Collar Optional items: Baby gate Playpen or dog pen Double-ended snap

Set up Your Puppy Area

Step 1:
Set up an area for your puppy that is large enough to hold a dog bed, food and water bowls, and provide some play area for it. Bathrooms and laundry rooms are traditionally used for this area. If you these areas don't work, consider purchasing an old playpen. These are the perfect size for most puppies. Place the food and water near the bed.
Step 2:
Make sure the area is large enough that your puppy has a sleep and play area, but it shouldn't be too large that it is a huge chore to clean. In the beginning, your puppy will most likely shred the newspaper and make a bit of a mess. However, if you keep your puppy in too small of an area, it can cause them to become used to sleeping in the same area that they go to the bathroom--something you want to avoid.
Step 3:
Avoid using crates for paper training. While some will advise using a large crate, it can confuse your puppy and lead to the nasty habit of defecating in the crate at inopportune times.
Step 4:
Cover the entire floor of the area with several layers of newspaper.
Step 5:
Keep the puppy in this area at night and when you cannot supervise it.
Step 6:
Eventually, your puppy will naturally choose an area of the cage to defecate. Once this occurs, usually after a week or two, you should start removing some of the newspapers. Try removing about 5 to 10 percent of the newspaper every 3 to 4 days. It is better to go slow.

Training Your Puppy Outside of the Area

Step 1:
Watch your puppy continuously whenever it is not confined to its area. Consider purchasing a double-ended snap and attaching the puppy's leash to the belt loop of your pants.
Step 2:
Place a few newspapers on the floor within ten feet of where you are playing with your puppy.
Step 3:
Whenever your puppy shows signs of needing to go to the bathroom, immediately take your puppy to the papers. Signs include sniffing the ground intently, circling and squatting. Place your puppy on the papers and say, "Go potty," or something similar.
Step 4:
Praise your puppy whenever it goes to the bathroom on the papers.
Step 5:
Take your puppy to the papers every 30 minutes when you have it out. Give it the opportunity to use the papers if needed.
Step 6:
If your puppy starts to go to the bathroom on the floor, say "no" and move it to the papers. Then, praise it for using the newspapers. This may sound contradictory, but you are teaching the puppy what is "good" and what is "bad." Do not use any physical punishments on a puppy this young.
Step 7:
Clean up any "puppy accidents" that occurred when you were not watching your puppy, but do not scold him or her for it. "Rubbing a dog's nose" in the accident might appear to work, but the puppy has no idea what he did. You are scolding the puppy for the urine on the floor, not for the puppy peeing on the floor. To him or her, the two events are not related.

Tips & Warnings

Puppies have very small bladders and can't go more than 3 or 4 hours without going to the bathroom.
Train yourself not to lay newspapers on the floor or you could end up with a surprise when you come back to it.

Resources

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