Potty Training Basics for Puppies and Untrained Dogs

Training a puppy or dog to eliminate outside instead of inside the house can be surprisingly quick and easy. Unfortunately, more people are aware of the "old wives' tale" type of methods than they are good, solid, science-based techniques. If you thought it was normal to take months or longer to potty train a dog, you're probably using these old methods!

The Don'ts

If you catch your dog in the act of eliminating, don't yell at him, smack with with a newspaper, or do anything else to signal your displeasure. Dogs are very literal creatures. He is far more likely to think, "Mom doesn't want me to poop" than he is to think, "Mom doesn't want me to poop here." If your dog feels unsafe eliminating in front of you, then good luck trying to teach him where to go potty! Instead simply say "Oops!" in a cheerful voice and scoop him outside to the area in which you would like him to go. Praise and reward him if he finishes outside.

If you don't see hiim go but you find a puddle or a pile, don't rub his nose in it or even show it to him. Again, he is likely to get the message that bodily fluids upset you, but not connect with the concept that you don't like where he left them. Clean it up and, if you must use that rolled-up newspaper, smack yourself in the head for letting your puppy go unsupervised.

If you have a fenced yard, don't just open the door and let him out. You can't train him if you're not with him.

What to Do

Supervision is key. Whenever your puppy is not under your direct supervision, he should be crated or tethered to you. Just like a human infant would not be safe crawling around the house when he's not being watched, a young puppy (or untrained older dog) also needs the equivalent of a crib or play-pen to keep him out of trouble.

If you allow your untrained dog unsupervised time in the house, she will more than likely have an accident. If she has an accident in the house, then it is likely that she'll do it again. In her doggie-mind there is no reason why she shouldn't. Remember that it's far easier to establish a new routine than it is to break an already established habit. Therefore it's ultimately important to prevent any and all accidents from the start.

The basic steps of effective potty training are:

1. Take her out on leash, using the same route, going out the same door, and ending up at the same place. The more consistent and structured the routine, the quicker your dog will learn.

2. Stand there. Don't play, don't walk, just wait. It's time for business.

3. If she doesn't potty within about 5 minutes, take her back in and put her in her crate. About 20 minutes later, take her out again and repeat.

4. Once she goes, praise her and reward her. Now you can walk, play, give her sniff time, all the "fun" things.

One of the most common complaints trainers here is, "I walked my dog for an hour and he didn't go. But as soon as we got into the house, he went!" That's because dogs are smarter than we think. We may not realize that we have established the habit of ending all their fun (the walk) as soon as they go, but they catch on quickly. So of course they want to hold it as long as they can to put off the end of the fun! So if it's business first, then walkies, your pup will be in a hurry to eliminate so the fun can begin.

If your puppy is very young, it will take longer to house-train him simply because his bladder and digestive system haven't developed to the point of where he can completely control them. The younger the pup, the more often he should be brought out to avoid any accidents in the house.

For more information on Potty Training, see Potty Training Basics. Information about workshops on Potty Training can be found at Dog Willing Workshops.