You have just brought your new puppy home and you are so excited to welcome a new member of the family! Little did you expect that just after a few hours in your place, your new puppy peed on your favourite carpet!
Your puppy is not potty trained, what do you do now?
Potty training your pet is indeed an uphill task that requires a lot of patience, commitment, consistency and love. However, it is not an impossible one, it takes about 4-6 months to potty train a puppy but some may take up to a year. We have gathered some tips to help you to potty train your furby so that you and your pet can enjoy each other’s company in your home.
Take your puppy out frequently
Puppies are still developing their muscles to hold their eliminations and typically, puppies can hold their bladder one hour for every month of age. Bringing them out around every 2 hours reduces the probability of accidents happening in your home. It is advised to bring your puppy out after sleeping, playing, eating, or drinking, especially when trying to potty train them.
Stick to a regular schedule
Feeding your puppy on a regular feeding schedule will also ensure that your puppy also eliminates on a regular schedule, making it easier to plan and to predict when to expect your puppy to eliminate.
Also put in place a regular schedule such as bringing your dog out in the morning for a walk for them to eliminate and before they sleep. It is also good to always bring them to the same spot for them to do their business. This helps to make potty training easier for both you and your dog.
Positive reinforcement
As with all types of puppy training, not just potty training, positive reinforcement has shown to be one of the most effective methods. Praise or reward your puppy with a treat when they eliminate outside and remember to do it immediately after they eliminate. Do ensure that they are finished, or they will finish their business when they are back in your house.
Crate training
Crate training can also be further supplemented with the above methods and has been proven quite effective with older dogs as well. Dogs, like humans, will also try not to eliminate where they eat and sleep. It is very important that the crate is of the right size, not too small or too large for your dog, just enough for your dog to lie down, stand up and turn around. Many crates in the market come with partitions to allow a larger space for your pet when it grows bigger.
When your pet needs to be let out, your pet will usually let you know by whining or scratching. Then you can bring your pet to their usual spot to do their business.
Mistakes do happen
When mistakes happen at home, never use punishment or violent methods to potty train your dog as these methods do not work. It only results in creating a lot of fear in your pet and your pet will grow to be afraid of you. Instead, clean the soiled area thoroughly as puppies tend to go back there to do their business if there is a residual odour.
If you caught your puppy eliminating at home, do not shout or scream, but immediately take them outside to the spot they usually do their business at and let them finish it there.
Remember that potty training your puppy requires a lot of patience and it is not something that happens overnight. With much persistence and love, it is very rewarding and fulfilling, especially when your furby becomes potty trained and can roam in your home freely together with you.