6 Tips to Get Started with Puppy Potty Training in Santa Clarita, CA

If you have a new puppy or you’re getting ready to adopt one, you probably already know how difficult potty training a young puppy can be. However, puppy potty training isn’t impossible, and with a little time and patience, you can help your furry friend learn how to potty politely.

Read through the article below to find out more information about puppy potty training tips and tricks. With the help of this guide, you can get ready to help your puppy learn how to go potty outside, and you can find some ideas and suggestions to make the job a little easier, too. Let’s get started!

1. Stick to a Schedule

Make a schedule for your puppy and stick to it. For the first month, you should expect to be taking your puppy out to the bathroom every two to three hours, even during the night. During the day, when you take them out, let them go the bathroom and then bring them in for some playtime. Feed them and give them water, then take them back out to use the bathroom again immediately.

With time, you can adjust the schedule to fit your routine more than your dog’s. However, for the first several months to the first year of your puppy’s life, it will be important to work around their needs as much as possible.

2. Lots of Treats

Most puppies respond very well to positive reinforcement, so having plenty of treats on hand is an excellent way to ensure your puppy learns as much as possible as fast as they can. Every time your dog goes to the bathroom in the right place outside, act very excited and give them plenty of treats to show what a good dog they are!

It will not take long for your puppy to realize that they get no attention or rewards for pottying inside, but plenty for going outside. This positive reinforcement will encourage them to build good bathroom habits from day one.

3. Employ Crate Training

Although crate training is not for every human or every puppy, it can be a great way to help your furry friend learn when and where to go to the bathroom. Use a crate that is large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around in, but not so large that they can walk back and forth. This will prevent them from urinating or defecating inside the crate.

Keep your puppy in the crate until time to take them out for a bathroom break, play, food, and second bathroom session. This method works well for the first several months of a young puppy’s life.

4. Slowly Increase Time

As your puppy gets older, you can slowly increase the amount of time between each trip outside. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that puppies can hold their bladders for about one hour per one month of age, plus one. For example, a two-month-old puppy can only hold it for three hours, but a seven-month-old puppy can go all night without a potty break.

Never expect your puppy to hold it longer than 10 hours—and then only at night. Always make sure someone will be home to let your puppy go potty frequently enough for their needs.

5. Go to the Same Place Every Time

Every time you take your puppy outside to go potty, be sure you return to the same spot. With enough practice, they will get the idea that this is where they should go potty.

From there, try going to other spots that have the same type of terrain. For example, if they have been going to the bathroom regularly on the garden mulch, take them to another mulchy area in the yard and see if they will go to the bathroom there. Slowly, you can add other types of terrain, so they know going to the bathroom outside almost anywhere is okay.

6. Expect Setbacks

Many puppies go through a phase in which they regress a little bit in their training. This is perfectly normal, but it can be very frustrating if you’ve been working hard to potty train your puppy.

While setbacks do happen, it is important to remember that they aren’t going to last forever. Be patient, and if you’re feeling too frustrated, step away from the situation until you have calmed down a little bit. Remember that negative reinforcement does not work on dogs.

Your Puppy Can Be Potty Trained

Puppy potty training may seem like a daunting task, but it only takes a few months to get it right. Prepare for the possibility of accidents inside until your puppy is about a year old but understand that they should be fully potty trained by about five or six months in most instances.

It takes a lot of patience and work to potty train a young puppy. If you don’t have the time or ability to do so, you may need to adopt an older dog instead. Otherwise, consider hiring a professional dog trainer to help in this situation.

Do you have questions about your puppy’s wellness and care? Stevenson Ranch Veterinary Center can help! Give them a call at (661) 799-0655 or book an appointment online today!