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Potty training Will this work?

ChadMussil Sep 30, 2009 12:33 PM

I have a new puppy, I just got him two days ago. My wife was.. Ok with me getting a dog but she had one stipulation -- it needed to be housebroken soon. So anyway i just want some advice to get Tucker (my pup)potty trained soon. I was reading on a website about Puppy potty training and this is what the site had to say, sorry this might be a little long!
Dr Yin -- When the pup wakes up, let him out of his pooch-palace, a travel kennel just big enough for him to sleep in but not large enough for a bed plus bathroom. Immediately carry or run him out on leash to the preferred potty spot outside and stand there stationary and silent until he’s done both #1 and #2. As he’s about to potty you can say the cue word “potty” just once so he comes to associate the word with the action. Then you can reward him as he’s finishing. But otherwise you’re silent so you don’t distract him from doing his duty. If he’s done both then he can come in and have a meal and play session. If he has not, then he goes back into his pooch palace for 15 minutes after which time you try again. Repeat this process until he’s done both #1 and #2 or he’ll potty inside as soon as you’ve taken a break and strayed from the plan.

Next, once he’s earned a free-time session you can let him loose in a small area if you can keep your eyes glued to him. As soon as you take your eyes off him, he’s sure to have an accident just as sure as your pasta water will boil over as soon as your attention is diverted elsewhere. Watch for signs such as sniffing the ground that he’s ready to go potty again and run him outside if you’re unsure. Next, 15-20 minutes after he’s eaten, or drunk water, and every time he wakes up from resting or has been playing and slows down, take him out to go potty. During the rest of the day he should spend bouts sleeping in his crate and you can regularly go through the same potty process you went through first thing in the morning. You may need to go through the process 4-6 times a day.

Once he’s relieved himself outside during the day, he can have a play session or be attached to you on leash so you’re more likely to catch the signs he wants to potty. The goal is that every time he goes outside he sees this as his opportunity to potty and he does #1 or #2, and when he’s inside he does not have an opportunity to make a mistake. This is the quickest way for him to develop an outdoor potty habit and to learn that indoors is not a normal potty place.

Usually after a week you get a pup who goes potty outside on cue but who may still have accidents inside. This rigid routine must be carried out consistently for several months and without accidents for several weeks before it’s set. Even the most diligent owners should expect accidents and avoid getting upset. Just startle the pup if you catch him in the act so that you can hopefully get him to stop and then rush him outside to finish. Beware that if you punish him or cause him to be scared, he may just learn to potty in the house out of your sight. So just chalk accidents up to your mistake and resume following the plan.

If this potty training process sounds like a drag, you’re right. The only thing more inconvenient than following this plan is having to randomly clean up after your dog in the house for the dog’s entire life.

Will this work? Is there an easier way? thanks
Puppy potty training

Replies (1)

KDiamondDavis Oct 01, 2009 07:12 AM

Yes, those are good instructions. I say to take the dog outside to potty about once per hour whenever you are at home and awake. So that can be more than 4-6 times.

Also, dogs are not actually able to control their sphincter muscles completely until about 4 months of age, sometimes older. So be SURE to take the dog out frequently, and handle accidents calmly. Rush the dog outside if you catch him in the act, but no punishment.

You can use a bacterial enzyme odor eliminator product such as Nature's Miracle to remove odor from spots that have dried before treating. The dog can still smell that scent, even if you can't, and it will tell him to use that spot again. So that scent must be treated. If you treat the spot while it is still wet, undiluted clear vinegar will work. Again, no punishment on the dog. Just treat the spot without comment.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

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