Potty Training Tips

One of the top dog training priorities for dog owners is potty training. Every dog is different in what motivates them and the time it takes to potty train. The breed of the dog and gender of the dog can make a difference as well. Below are some tips to help in potty training your dog.

Tip 1: Make a schedule for taking your dog out to potty. Dogs are pretty routine and usually need to potty when they wake up in the morning and after a nap, after and sometimes during playtime, after eating and drinking, and when something exciting is happening.

Tip 2: Have a feeding and water schedule. Predicting when your dog will need to eliminate becomes a lot easier when you know when they have had food and water. Eating tends to trigger the dogs physical need to eliminate. When dogs have a measured amount of food that they are given, you are able to not only identify when they will need to eliminate but also be able to quickly identify when they are not feeling well based on the amount of food they are eating.

Tip 3: Take young puppies out more frequently. When puppies are free roaming inside, they should be taken out every half hour to every 45 minutes. They have less ability to control their bladder.

Tip 4: Kennel train your dog. Dogs do not prefer to sleep in areas where they have eliminated and will therefore attempt to hold their bladder and bowel until they are out of their kennel or will attempt to let you know they need out of their kennel. This provides a perfect opportunity to potty train them! Be sure the kennel is not big enough for your dog to soil on one side and sit on the clean side.

Tip 5: Take your dog to the same place to potty. By taking your dog out on a leash to the same place each time they go outside to potty, your dog will associate that area with eliminating. This will make it much less likely that you will step on land mines when walking in your backyard. You will know which area you need to be careful in and will also have only one area to clean up. By giving the “Go Potty” command while going out to potty will teach him to potty on leash as well as learn to potty on command. When he has completed his task: Praise! Treat! Praise! Treat! Praise!

Tip 6: Quickly clean up potty accidents in the house. When a potty accident happens in the house, and it will, be sure to clean it up quickly with an ammonia free cleaning product. Cleaning it up immediately will eliminate the urine scent and will make it less likely he will attempt to return to that area for a repeat performance.

Additional Service Dog Tips

Tip 1: Provide potty opportunity for your dog before entering public places. Always, always, always provide your dog with the opportunity and the adequate time to potty prior to entering any store, even if they went to the bathroom just prior to leaving home. This provides your dog the opportunity to eliminate any bit that they didn’t eliminate at home and could allow you to catch that they may not be feeling well prior to having an embarrassing accident in the store. 

Tip 2: Provide potty break while shopping for lengthy periods. Be kind to your dog and when in stores shopping for extended periods of time, give him a potty break every two hours. He will appreciate the small break from working as well as for having the ability to eliminate.

Tip 3: Take notice of any unusual behavior. If your dog begins whining, not following commands, pulling you towards an exit, sniffing the ground, circling behavior, is gassy, or any other behavior that is out of the ordinary for your dog, take him out to potty. Walking can stimulate the bowels leaving your dog with a desire to potty. Again, when in doubt, take him out.