Potty Training
Potty training is HARD, y’all. I know it can start to be very frustrating and you feel like they’ll never get it. Then it’ll seem like they’re getting it, only to regress again. It’s enough to make one pull their own hair out. Here are a few tips and tricks I can provide through the process!
Restrict Access: I always recommend blocking off a small area for puppy, only giving them free reign when you can keep an eye on them. Sometimes this can be made easier by keeping a leash on them any time they’re not either in a crate or penned off area (some of my clients use baby gates or an x-pen for this.)
Regular Potty Schedule: Having a regular schedule is helpful too…make sure to take them out every hour or two at MOST. Generally a dog can go 1hour for every month old they are, plus one (up to 10 months old…then cap.) So if they’re 3 months old for example, they should be able to go four hours. That’s only if they’ve not had a drink of water or if they’ve been relatively inactive in that time. That said, a few minutes after eating, drinking, playing, waking up, etc. they should go outside and not be brought in until they’ve gone potty. If for some reason they’re just not going and you have to come inside for whatever reason, keep taking them out every 10 minutes until they go.
Triangle Method: This might be my favorite, and one of those most effective. They stay in the cordoned off area for an hour, go outside to potty, after potty they have an hour free reign, repeat. If they don’t go potty in that outside time, they go back into the cordoned off area.
Watch for Signals. I know this seems pretty self explanatory and common sense but not all dogs give the same signs. Some dogs get a little spastic right before they need to potty, and won’t listen to anything at all. They may seem distracted and like they’re on a mission to do something but have no idea what. Some, because they’re uncomfortable, will start acting naughty and grab things they’re not supposed to, chew on US, bark for no reason…basically lash out. They know they’re uncomfortable, they don’t know why, so they act out. Keep an eye on this type of behavior.
Keep a Log…mark down when they go potty. Accident, outside, what type, etc. Also log feedings and playtimes. I know this is a lot, but it will help establish a pattern. Recognizing the pattern will help identify the times and triggers, and help you stay on top of it.
Additional Tips:
ALWAYS REWARD. As soon as they potty, say “good dog” or whatever your marker word or phrase is, and then give them a treat or piece of kibble as soon as they’re done. Mark with your marker word or phrase as soon as they squat, reward when they’re done. Yes, this will sometimes lead to them asking to go out even if they don’t need to potty (one of mine actually pretended to potty…) but it’s better to be safe than sorry, and having them recognize that going outside gets them rewarded is the goal.
Scent Transfer for Attractant: If they go poo in the house, pick it up and put it outside where you want them to go. I would also take a paper towel used to blot pee, and step on that outside where you want them to go. Basically transfer the scent to where you’d rather them go, and take them to that spot when they go outside. Reward when they go. This can help them understand that’s where the expectation is.
Potty Pads: Last ditch effort/all else fails (and this is something I’m actually usually dead against but I’ve also seen it work) potty pads with attractant. Put the pad in the regular area(s) they usually go at first. Gradually move the pads toward the door. Ideally they’ll continue to go on the pads, which means eventually they’ll go toward the door to go potty. They may not ASK - they may never ASK (I only have one who actually asks to go potty. The others just hold it until I let them out.) But if they go toward the door, or toward a pad, you know what’s going on.
Potty Bells: These be helpful too. You can order them, and they usually come with a dvd or link to help you through the process.