Potty Training 101: How to House-Train Your Puppy
After welcoming a new furry family member to your home, it’s important that you learn how to house-train your dog as quickly as possible. After all, you want to have a positive relationship, and it’s no secret that cleaning up indoor messes can be quite an unpleasant task. Fortunately, with some patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can help your four-legged housemate embrace life-long habits that keep your home odor and stain-free. Here’s how to potty train your puppy.
Go Outside for Frequent Potty Breaks
It’s up to you to be proactive and give your puppy plenty of opportunities to go outdoors. A major part of learning how to house-train your puppy is establishing a consistent schedule, so they know that relief is right around the corner.
On average, puppies can hold their bladder for one hour per every month of age. For example, if your puppy is 2 months old, they can probably hold their bladder for around two hours, give or take. Keep that number in mind, and bring them outside at least that often. Additionally, you should bring them outside right before and after play sessions, after they wake up after they eat or drink, and anytime they show signs of communicating that they need to go.
Choose a Designated Spot
As you learn how to house-train your puppy, you’ll find that consistency is key. Make sure your puppy has an outdoor area where they’re expected to go. Put them on a leash and bring them to that spot according to the schedule above, and use a specific command while they’re going so that they associate that word or phrase with going potty.
Reward Them After Successful Potty Breaks
You’ll find that positive reinforcement is extremely helpful as you learn how to house-train your dog. Punishing your pup after an accident won’t help, and it can actually lead to trust issues that make them afraid to go to the bathroom while in your presence. Mistakes happen. Be patient!
As you discover how to house-train your puppy effectively, you’ll see that some extra treats or playtime can really encourage puppies to embrace healthy habits. After your pup goes potty in the right place, give them some Premium Chicken Jerky Dog Treats or Elk & Venison Toppers and, of course, some extra pets and snuggles. They’ll associate those happy feelings with a job well done!
Shop Top-Quality Pet Products
Learning how to potty train your puppy can be a process, so try not to get discouraged if it takes a lot of time and effort — the end result is well worth it! While your pup’s in the potty training phase, you’re going to need to have plenty of Pet Odor & Stain Eraser on hand. Long after you’ve learned how to house-train your puppy, this amazing product will still be super handy for taking care of all sorts of stains and smells that come with pet ownership!
Finding out how to house-train your dog is a crucial step for new dog owners, but it’s just one of many challenges to come. We carry a variety of other high-quality, non-toxic pet essentials for dental health, chewing prevention, sun protection, itch relief, and more, and many products are all-natural. Shop our collection of USA-made dog products now, and browse our pet blog for more expert tips on pet ownership.