How-To Potty Train a Puppy

There are many ideas out there for first-time dog owners, but it can be a bit overwhelming when everyone is giving you different suggestions! This article will break it down for you so you can potty train your dog in the way that works for you... and your new furry friend!

So you've got yourself a puppy... congratulations! You and your dog will become best frends in no time, but no amount of love is going to clean up the poop that's probably hidden in little piles thoughout your house right now while you are sitting around reading this article. That's why you need to pick a training strategy, and stick to it. Once you decide on your approach, CONSISTENCY is the key to quickly training your puppy. If you have a yard, training your dog to signal when a trip outside is necessary can be very convenient because there is no mess for you to clean up. Using puppy pads can work for people who live in apartments or who plan on leaving the dog inside all day long, but if a dog is trained to go on a square of fabric, he may go to other people's houses and choose to go on their nice white persian rug because he doesn't see a pad anywhere, and that's the next best thing.

1. If you and the people you live with are gone for more than 4 hours at a time every day and you have no one who can come over to let your dog out, you may want to think about waiting until you have a couple months where you have more free time to get a dog.

2. You shoud get a crate to keep your dog in during the day because most animals will not go to the bathroom where they sleep unless it is an emergency or they are not feeling well. Do not use the crate as a punishment when they do something bad. Give the dog a treat everytime he or she goes in, and fill it with soft blankets and a safe chew toy, like an old sock tied in a knot or one of your old t-shirts. (They love things that smell like you!) You want the crate to be a safe place where they feel relaxed. Make sure the crate is not near a draft or heating vent. Keep it in the same place all the time with the door open, and your dog will actually go in on his own when he wants to take a nap.