How to Potty Train Your Puppy

By michaelgavin

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

Bleach enhanced tile cleaner spray
Carpet cleaner spray

Step 1:
Enforce your dominance. Let the dog know that you are boss. Like a child, the puppy learns wrong and right through discipline. Every time you catch your puppy using the carpet as their bathroom make sure to discipline them with a light tap on the nose. Reinforce this by telling them in a harsh tone that they were bad. This usually works well, “Bad Dog, no potty in the house!”
Step 2:
Take them immediately outside. Once you have scolded the puppy pick it up and take it outside. Make sure to support the puppy’s weight with one hand, while maintaining a secure grip on their scruff with the other hand. This enforces your dominance in the situation; much like the mother dog would do.
Step 3:
Enforce the potty outside rule. Now that you have your puppy outside set them on or near were they can go and tell them, “You go potty outside!” Do not let them go inside or allow them to play until they have done their business. Once they have finished their business reward them with praise, “Good dog good potty outside!”
Step 4:
Clean up in-door puppy waste properly. You will definitely want to use a specialty cleaning product, depending on what type of surface you will be cleaning. If you are cleaning tile flooring use bleach enhanced cleaner. If you are cleaning carpeting use a brand name carpet cleaner spray. This is necessary to remove all residue of the smell; this way your puppy is not encouraged to go on the same spot again.
Step 5:
Practice makes perfect. Don’t expect your puppy to become potty trained overnight. Remember puppy potty training is a habit that you must form in your puppy’s mind. Habits take time, especially with puppies. This process will generally take anywhere from three to six weeks to really take effect on your puppy.

Tips & Warnings

If you live in an apartment and can not be home for your dog all day, you can still lay out puppy potty training pads. You can easily find these pads at any pet supplies store for cheap. Simply lay the pads out before you leave; they have a smell that attracts your puppy when it is potty time.
Never use extreme physical force when disciplining your puppy.
Never rub their face in the mess. This is one of the worst things you can possibly do during puppy potty training. The puppy will not understand what you are doing, and you will have to clean them up later. This also will cause all prior training to backfire.

Resources

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