Potty Training Puppies

Most animals have an instinctive desire to move away from their sleeping, or "nesting", quarters to relieve themselves, making potty training puppies an easier task than you might imagine. Puppies will move away from their bed area in order to urinate without being taught as soon as they are able, which is usually around the age of about three weeks.

What we then have to teach them is that our houses are our nesting areas, and that they have to move outside when they want to relieve themselves. In order to undertake puppy potty training, take your puppy outside to the same spot in your yard or garden at the following times:

1. Shortly after each feeding, playing, exercise, and any excitement.
2. Immediately upon waking
3. First thing in the morning
4. Last thing at night
5. Once every hour

It is important to stay outside with him. Be patient and wait. As soon as he begins to urinate, say a chosen phrase to him such as "Be clean", "Do wees", "Go potty", or a similar phrase - always say the same words. When he has finished,praise enthusiastically and play a game with him. Keep the area clean by picking up any mess and flushing it down the toilet.

Puppies are easily distracted when outside, so having the patience to stay with him until he has settled down is essential. If you leave him to it, he will probably run to the back door and spend the rest of the time trying to get back in with you. Once you let him in, the stress of the separation, together with the increased excitement and exercise, will make him want to go, and you may well be left with a mess inside and an uneducated puppy. And it's not your puppy's fault.  So don't scold him if you haven't had the patience to stay outside with him.

However, there is no need to stay outdoors for very lengthy periods, waiting for him to go. Wait for a few minutes, and if nothing happens, take him inside and try again a little later. If at any time of the day you notice him sniffing the floor and circling or getting ready to squat, immediately interrupt him and take him outside. Let him walk. Do not pick him up, or he will not learn the vital link in the process, which is: "When I need to go, I need to get to the back door and into the garden."

If, at any time, you catch him in the act of going in the house, shout! What you shout is immaterial, but it needs to be loud enough to capture his undivided attention and to stop him mid-flow, but not so loud that he runs for cover. Do not punish your puppy or get angry with him, though, as the distress this causes your puppy will inhibit the learning process. He will also begin to avoid going to the toilet in front of you because he knows it makes you angry and will sneak away to do it, making it harder for you to teach him the correct behavior.

As soon as you have shouted, run away from him, toward the back door, calling him happily and enthusiastically to encourage him to follow. Go outside to your chosen spot and wait until he has relaxed and finished what he started earlier. Say your chosen phrase as he goes, praise him, and play with him as usual. Take him back into the house and put him in another room while you clean up any mess.

Do not ever shout at or scold your puppy if he has already urinated in the house.  Even if he has just finished the act.  House training puppies, as with all other forms of puppy training, depends on your puppy associating your happiness or your shouting at him with a specific act.  Puppies cannot make the connection between something they did even a few seconds ago with what you're saying to your puppy now.  The two things must occur simultaneously.

Do all of this, and you'll wonder what all the fuss is about with potty training puppies.  It's not so hard!