POTTY TRAINING TIPS!

WHY DOES MY PUPPY GO POTTY IN THE HOUSE…

RIGHT AFTER I TOOK THEM OUTSIDE?

First of all… This is a very common potty training issue and I get this question A LOT. Be Patient. They all  “get it” eventually but sometimes it just takes more time.

When training any puppy to do basically anything, it’s gonna take time, guidance, and effort on your part before they can get 100% on their report card.

Be patient and consistent.

Of course, I don’t have the perfect answers for every puppy in ever household but I can give you some tips on what I know can influence Puppies to go potty outside more often than not!

I’ve also added some helpful links below…

#1 – GET YOUR PUPPY ON A SCHEDULE. Period.

My #1 potty training tip has always been to get your new puppy on a fairly strict sleeping/feeding/potty schedule!

Once you consistently feed them on a schedule, it will become easier to figure out when you need to take them out and less of a guessing game.

• Start by writing down when they eat & drink and then write down how long it took for them to digest their food and go potty.

After a few times of writing this down, you’ll start to see a potty pattern.

Edit your training schedule accordingly. Use the “Notes” or “Calendar” app on your phone!

Potty trips outside eventually will decrease once your puppy’s body matures enough for their bladder to actually hold more urine, they’ll also learn to hold their potty for longer periods of time (without accidents).

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#2 – DON’T INTERRUPT THEM MID-STREAM!

We tend to get excited when we see our puppy start to squat outside and we want to praise them for a good job but if we praise them too soon (like mid-stream) then what can happen is they can startle or just get excited with you and they’ll rush or stop altogether! Then go inside later.

I can really relate to this one because I’ve done it myself but if you just wait quietly to let them finish, you can still throw them a party of praise and give them a treat once they’ve finished and are less likely to go once you get inside.

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#3 – TREATS AS POTTY REWARDS MAY BECOME MORE DISTRACTING…THEN GOOD!

Food rewards might be too exciting and even become distracting for YOUR puppy! Every puppy is different.

Puppies may start rushing their potty breaks just to get that treat sooner. So, If you think this is the case then you can try verbal praise and affection alone.

You may also want to avoid getting them to overly excited right before or even during their potty breaks.

If you still want to use treats…  just make sure you’re bringing them outside with you.

Do NOT wait to give them a treat once you’re back inside the house or they’ll think the treat was for something they’re doing inside and they might even start to rush their potty breaks outside to get the treat part inside.

You must make it super clear what all the praise and treats are actually for, you gotta wait to give them the treat the second they’re done to “mark the behavior” you’re looking for.

If you continue to use treats or praise at the wrong time, you might (unintentionally) train your dog some pretty bad habits instead of good!

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#3 How to make it clear when Potty Time Not Party Time!

You must make a clear distinction between a potty break and playtime.

Simply putting them on a leash to go potty outside can make it more clear. Yes, even in your own backyard.

A leash teaches them to focus on the task at hand and also makes it impossible for them to run away to play during their potty break but you also got to correct them when they’re fighting the leash, you can do this with a quick leash pop. Remember there’s no need to be overly aggressive with your leash pops, it’s only meant to refocus your dog not hurt them.

The leash can really change the whole vibe of the activity. It teaches them when the leash is on its training time. Not playtime.

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#4 Your Tone of Voice

Before puppies learn how to understand our words or our verbal commands they learn to read our tone of voice.

Humans change their tone of voice to match their emotions and dogs are very aware of these changes.

Happy, sad, mad, excited, inviting, or playful! You change your tone and they’re always listening and learning.

Your tone of voice and your body language speaks volumes to your dogs about how your feelings and even your expectations of them.

Learn to use this to your benefit.

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#4 – BLADDER INFECTION

This behavior can also be a symptom of a “bladder infection” which can cause puppies to feel the urge to go pee a lot more than usual but when they do they only pee a little at a time another sign of a bladder infection is licking their genitals a lot. Puppies don’t groom themselves a lot like adult dogs so if your puppy is doing this. You may want to take them to the vet for a check-up.

 Bladder infections can be pretty common in young puppies, most likely because they don’t groom themselves as much as adult dogs do.

Read all the symptoms of a bladder infection on VetStreet.com 

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#4 – ARE THEY SPENDING ENOUGH TIME OUTSIDE?

Make sure your puppy has enough time outside to completely empty their bladder and bowel before bringing them back inside. 

Some puppies may need to go potty and then again 15 mins later. So make sure your potty breaks are long enough. 10-15 mins or however long it takes to finish the job! Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing if they’re done or not so this can be a little tricky.

If you’re able to leave your puppy outside alone in a fenced yard (safely) for 10 to 30 mins, that is always an option. Once they figure out that’s what you’re doing, they might just try to go potty faster so they can come back inside with you.

 

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COMMON POTTY TRAINING MISTAKES

• Not watching or confirming if they went potty or not. If you just let your puppy outside for a few minutes and then assume they went, you might be right OR you might be wrong. If your puppy is going in the house right after they’ve been outside, then you may need to be more diligent of a poop and pee watcher.

 

• Having unrealistic expectations with young puppies. Not taking them out often enough or long enough or at the wrong time. Expecting them to get it faster or hold it longer than they actually can.

 

• Failing to clean previously soiled areas with products made for potty mistakes like *Nature’s Miricle. Puppies will pee in spots they previously peed in more often than other spots.

 

• Failing to learn your puppy’s potty cues or not paying close enough attention to watch for them. Potty cues are usually circling, sniffing, and sometimes whining. Every puppy will eventually learn how to notify you. Some people use bells on their doors and teach their puppies to ring them whenever they need to go outside. Some people use doggy doors.

 

• Leaving your puppy in a crate for longer than they’re physically capable of holding it. This can also cause them to have accidents in their crate (which goes against their natural instincts of not going potty where they sleep).

 

• Crates can be used for longer amounts of time once their bodies mature more but for young puppies or mini-size puppies, it’s 2 hours max during the day. Puppies can go longer at night, 4 to 8 hours but this always depends on when they drank last and if they went potty before bed.

 

• For puppies under 12 wks it’s recommended to set up a playpen area with distinct areas for sleeping, eating, playing, and eliminating during the day, this is to be used ONLY if you can’t let them out of the crate every 2 hours during a more strict couple weeks of potty training.

 

• Providing 24/7 access to food and water and having no enclosure or real schedule – which also means you won’t have a good idea when or how often they need to go or how long it takes for them to go potty after eating or drinking. The true “flying by the seat of your pants” POTTY TRAINING protocol? 😅 *Not recommended.

RECOMMENDED READING

Getting your puppy on a schedule:

How to Potty Train Your Puppy in 7 Days! Two Crate Training Schedules!

Puppy Development:

The Importance of Early Puppy Socialization and the Different Stages of Puppy Development

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

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