How to Potty Train Your New Puppy (or your not so new dog)
How on earth do I get across the idea that my dog needs to pee and poop outside?! This is the question on the front of most people's minds when getting a new puppy.
Step one: CRATE TRAINING. Buy a small crate, just barely big enough for your current puppy to turn around in and lie down to sleep. You are not buying a puppy condo! And if you get a crate that is too big and don't use the divider that usually comes with a wire crate then you are essentially telling your new furry bundle of joy (and poop) that, "Here in the front is the bedroom. Here in the back is the bathroom. Here in the corner is the kitchen. I'll just put some treats there for you....." And guess what? In the morning your bundle of joy has left you a surprise. Ewwww. So... get a small crate. Or make use of the divider and make the front section where puppy will sleep only big enough for Fido to turn around and lie down. Dogs naturally don't want to lie down in their excrement. Do you? I didn't think so. This small size is for TRAINING. It's not forever. This is only a training period and in a few short months your baby will be crate trained and you can enlarge the crate, or buy a puppy condo that looks like a credenza.
Step two: CRATE TRAINING PART TWO (A). As soon as you take him out of the crate, carry that sweet puddle maker to the back yard or the lanai or wherever you are going to want your adult dog to do his business. And, yes, I said CARRY. A young puppy is going to really neeeed to go potty. So if you open the crate door and let him walk outside, he is going to squat right here, right now. He won't make it to the door. Hopefully, you can have his crate set up near the back door where you plan to take him outside. Remember, your young puppy or older untrained dog is learning (training) to hold his bladder until he gets outside. The peeing and pooping parts are made of a type of muscle. Muscles need to be worked out in order to get stronger. That's what crate training does!
CRATE TRAINING PART TWO (B). Start crate training during the day. Day 1, an 8 /9 week old puppy can probably hold his bladder for 2 hours. Day 2, the same. Day 3, try 3 hours. Around Day 7, extend his crate time to 4 hours. You want to increase the time slowly. Set puppy up for success! When you know that puppy can hold his bladder for 4 hours during the day, that gives you the green light to let him sleep in his crate with the door closed at night for up to 4 hours at a time. That gives you a little stretch of sleep. Your puppy, depending on the breed, will take time to build his bladder "muscles." Small breeds will probably be able to hold their bladder for 6-7 hours around 6-7 months. Large breeds have larger bladders and can hold it for longer at an earlier age. If they have been properly trained, or if you start it right now, a larger breed puppy should be able to hold it for 6-7 hours on or before 5 months. The key is to start training that bladder by crate training short and then longer periods of time during the day when you can keep an eye on them. "What if I work all day?" Then you need to have a pet sitter, dog walker, or helpful neighbor to come over and carry puppy outside to go potty. This can't wait. It has to be started right away. It sets a foundation. Even if your older puppy isn't house trained, you can start strengthening that bladder today by crate training.
Step three: Carry your puppy to the corner of the yard that you prefer he go. Otherwise, he might just start pooping right at the door. He won't automatically go to a far corner. But if you are consistent with taking him there, he will begin to realize, "THIS is the place to poop." I like to use the word "business." It's publicly correct. As puppy does #1 or #2 I say "business, business, business,..." When finished I praise him, "Good business!" and give lots of love. If you are traveling or walking your dog in a public place, you can say "do your business" and he knows what to do!
What if you don't have a backyard? If you live in a condo and want to train puppy to go on the lanai, I suggest a puppy tray or "litter" tray. Never use cat litter for dogs. Use alfalfa pellets or pine pellets. You can buy a big bag at Tractor Supply or any feed store. I have found some dog "litter" trays on Amazon. I don't really like them for various reasons, but you can see if it will fit your needs. And I know of a breeder that makes and sells them for a hefty fee. But I have found that a big rubbermaid storage box LID and a piece of pantry shelving from Home Depot work perfectly. Home Depot usually has this type of large storage bin for under $20. I found some at Costco and Sam's for less than $10. You'll have to get Home Depot to cut the pantry wire shelving to the proper length, for me it was 29". Then I just put the puppy pad folded to fit inside the top of the lid. It's about an inch deep. Then I cover the lid with the pantry shelving. The alfalfa pellets / pine pellets help teach the scent of grass so that puppy easily transitions to going outside on the grass vs. peeing on the sidewalk. (How embarrassing.) Most puppies, large and small, take to this relatively quickly - a couple of days. If your dog is older, it will take longer. But don't give up. They will get it.
Step four: Accidents happen. When they do, just say no. Then take puppy to his "place of business" and say "business, business,..." If he has done #2 somewhere he's not supposed to, pick it up with a paper towel or doggy bag and put the poop where you want him to go, either in the corner or on the litter tray. Leave it there. Dispose of the paper towel or doggy bag in the trash. Just leave the #2 where he's supposed to be leaving it. I had a customer tell me his back yard corner was filling up with paper towels. I suddenly realized that I had to tell him to throw the paper towel away. Just leave the poop. The devil's in the details, I guess. Be consistent about taking him to his spot and/or putting his accidents in that spot. He WILL learn. It is a process. That's why it's called potty TRAINING. Patience, Grasshopper.
Step five: What about bell training? Do it! Every time you take puppy outside to do his business, take his little paw and tap the bell. Say "business." Go outside to his corner, etc. It just takes time and consistency on the part of the humans. You can do this! If you are concerned that young puppy can't hold it for an extra second, tap the bell with your foot on the way out and say "business." As time goes by, he will associate that bell with going outside to do business. Easy peezy.
Step six: Help! My family is crazy in the mornings. I can't add one more thing. Great! So was mine when I had school age children. Get an 8 panel exercise pen from Chewy or Amazon, short for small breeds, tall for large breeds. Set it up just outside the back door, preferably in the grass. As soon as you get up in the morning, put puppy in this exercise area. It's not big, but it's big enough to go potty in and not have to sit in the mess. It trains puppy that he should do his business OUTSIDE and not INSIDE. Sometimes that's all that matters for busy families. And that's perfectly ok! Set yourself and your puppy up for success. While he does his business, grab your coffee and get breakfast going. If it helps, give him his food and water in the exercise pen in the morning. Puppies usually need to empty out within 5-20 minutes of eating / drinking. Do what works for you and your family. I'll say it again: Consistency is the key. You can do this!
Step seven: My dog can't ONLY be in the crate or outside! What about the rest of the time? Do I ever get to just play with him and cuddle? YES! Here's the routine -- 1) Crate. 2) Outside. 3) Business. 4) Inside to play and cuddle then eat if it's time. 5) Outside. Then start back at 1). While he is inside with you, keep a short 5-6 feet long leash on him at all times. Do not use a retractable leash. Ever. The first month keep him close to you. Keep an eye on him AND HIS LEASH. If he starts to sniff, circle, pace, squat, or run away (all signs of forthcoming business!) then you can easily grab the leash and even step on it in an emergency. The leash gives you a better knowledge of his or her tell tale signs of needing to go outside for business. The leash gives you a better chance of knowing where puppy is so that you avoid accidents in the house. The leash is your friend! The leash is puppy's friend! Love the leash. This is a training period. After 4-6 weeks you and puppy should have a good routine and the leash can be hung up and used for walks
Step eight: Feed puppies 3 times a day with the last feeding hopefully by 5 or 6 pm. Remember to immediately take him outside after eating. Whatever he doesn't eat in 10-15 minutes, take it up for next meal. Larger dog breeds will finish in 1 minute. Make sure that you SEE him do #1 and #2 after eating. After evening cuddle time, take puppy out for one last bathroom break. Then it's off to bed.
Step nine: Night time sleeping schedule. Small breed puppies can't hold their bladder for 8 hours until they are much older, almost a year. By 6 months they should be able to hold their bladder for 6 hours, maybe 7. See the FAQ page for a picture of the puppy night time set up using an exercise pen, crate with door tied open, and puppy pad / litter tray. Use this type of set up for 5-7 months keeping crate door open with a potty pad just outside the crate, or I prefer the litter pad tray so that pup doesn't shred the puppy pad. Many people have to get up in the night to use the bathroom anyway. So they take their puppy to the bathroom where a litter tray is set up. This allows puppy to sleep in the crate at an earlier age and frees up the space that the exercise pen takes up. The bottom line is: You Do What Works For You!
These steps are essential to helping your pet learn new habits and even break old ones. If you have questions or need more help with your little pooping angel, email me at [email protected]. I'll be happy to help.
Step one: CRATE TRAINING. Buy a small crate, just barely big enough for your current puppy to turn around in and lie down to sleep. You are not buying a puppy condo! And if you get a crate that is too big and don't use the divider that usually comes with a wire crate then you are essentially telling your new furry bundle of joy (and poop) that, "Here in the front is the bedroom. Here in the back is the bathroom. Here in the corner is the kitchen. I'll just put some treats there for you....." And guess what? In the morning your bundle of joy has left you a surprise. Ewwww. So... get a small crate. Or make use of the divider and make the front section where puppy will sleep only big enough for Fido to turn around and lie down. Dogs naturally don't want to lie down in their excrement. Do you? I didn't think so. This small size is for TRAINING. It's not forever. This is only a training period and in a few short months your baby will be crate trained and you can enlarge the crate, or buy a puppy condo that looks like a credenza.
Step two: CRATE TRAINING PART TWO (A). As soon as you take him out of the crate, carry that sweet puddle maker to the back yard or the lanai or wherever you are going to want your adult dog to do his business. And, yes, I said CARRY. A young puppy is going to really neeeed to go potty. So if you open the crate door and let him walk outside, he is going to squat right here, right now. He won't make it to the door. Hopefully, you can have his crate set up near the back door where you plan to take him outside. Remember, your young puppy or older untrained dog is learning (training) to hold his bladder until he gets outside. The peeing and pooping parts are made of a type of muscle. Muscles need to be worked out in order to get stronger. That's what crate training does!
CRATE TRAINING PART TWO (B). Start crate training during the day. Day 1, an 8 /9 week old puppy can probably hold his bladder for 2 hours. Day 2, the same. Day 3, try 3 hours. Around Day 7, extend his crate time to 4 hours. You want to increase the time slowly. Set puppy up for success! When you know that puppy can hold his bladder for 4 hours during the day, that gives you the green light to let him sleep in his crate with the door closed at night for up to 4 hours at a time. That gives you a little stretch of sleep. Your puppy, depending on the breed, will take time to build his bladder "muscles." Small breeds will probably be able to hold their bladder for 6-7 hours around 6-7 months. Large breeds have larger bladders and can hold it for longer at an earlier age. If they have been properly trained, or if you start it right now, a larger breed puppy should be able to hold it for 6-7 hours on or before 5 months. The key is to start training that bladder by crate training short and then longer periods of time during the day when you can keep an eye on them. "What if I work all day?" Then you need to have a pet sitter, dog walker, or helpful neighbor to come over and carry puppy outside to go potty. This can't wait. It has to be started right away. It sets a foundation. Even if your older puppy isn't house trained, you can start strengthening that bladder today by crate training.
Step three: Carry your puppy to the corner of the yard that you prefer he go. Otherwise, he might just start pooping right at the door. He won't automatically go to a far corner. But if you are consistent with taking him there, he will begin to realize, "THIS is the place to poop." I like to use the word "business." It's publicly correct. As puppy does #1 or #2 I say "business, business, business,..." When finished I praise him, "Good business!" and give lots of love. If you are traveling or walking your dog in a public place, you can say "do your business" and he knows what to do!
What if you don't have a backyard? If you live in a condo and want to train puppy to go on the lanai, I suggest a puppy tray or "litter" tray. Never use cat litter for dogs. Use alfalfa pellets or pine pellets. You can buy a big bag at Tractor Supply or any feed store. I have found some dog "litter" trays on Amazon. I don't really like them for various reasons, but you can see if it will fit your needs. And I know of a breeder that makes and sells them for a hefty fee. But I have found that a big rubbermaid storage box LID and a piece of pantry shelving from Home Depot work perfectly. Home Depot usually has this type of large storage bin for under $20. I found some at Costco and Sam's for less than $10. You'll have to get Home Depot to cut the pantry wire shelving to the proper length, for me it was 29". Then I just put the puppy pad folded to fit inside the top of the lid. It's about an inch deep. Then I cover the lid with the pantry shelving. The alfalfa pellets / pine pellets help teach the scent of grass so that puppy easily transitions to going outside on the grass vs. peeing on the sidewalk. (How embarrassing.) Most puppies, large and small, take to this relatively quickly - a couple of days. If your dog is older, it will take longer. But don't give up. They will get it.
Step four: Accidents happen. When they do, just say no. Then take puppy to his "place of business" and say "business, business,..." If he has done #2 somewhere he's not supposed to, pick it up with a paper towel or doggy bag and put the poop where you want him to go, either in the corner or on the litter tray. Leave it there. Dispose of the paper towel or doggy bag in the trash. Just leave the #2 where he's supposed to be leaving it. I had a customer tell me his back yard corner was filling up with paper towels. I suddenly realized that I had to tell him to throw the paper towel away. Just leave the poop. The devil's in the details, I guess. Be consistent about taking him to his spot and/or putting his accidents in that spot. He WILL learn. It is a process. That's why it's called potty TRAINING. Patience, Grasshopper.
Step five: What about bell training? Do it! Every time you take puppy outside to do his business, take his little paw and tap the bell. Say "business." Go outside to his corner, etc. It just takes time and consistency on the part of the humans. You can do this! If you are concerned that young puppy can't hold it for an extra second, tap the bell with your foot on the way out and say "business." As time goes by, he will associate that bell with going outside to do business. Easy peezy.
Step six: Help! My family is crazy in the mornings. I can't add one more thing. Great! So was mine when I had school age children. Get an 8 panel exercise pen from Chewy or Amazon, short for small breeds, tall for large breeds. Set it up just outside the back door, preferably in the grass. As soon as you get up in the morning, put puppy in this exercise area. It's not big, but it's big enough to go potty in and not have to sit in the mess. It trains puppy that he should do his business OUTSIDE and not INSIDE. Sometimes that's all that matters for busy families. And that's perfectly ok! Set yourself and your puppy up for success. While he does his business, grab your coffee and get breakfast going. If it helps, give him his food and water in the exercise pen in the morning. Puppies usually need to empty out within 5-20 minutes of eating / drinking. Do what works for you and your family. I'll say it again: Consistency is the key. You can do this!
Step seven: My dog can't ONLY be in the crate or outside! What about the rest of the time? Do I ever get to just play with him and cuddle? YES! Here's the routine -- 1) Crate. 2) Outside. 3) Business. 4) Inside to play and cuddle then eat if it's time. 5) Outside. Then start back at 1). While he is inside with you, keep a short 5-6 feet long leash on him at all times. Do not use a retractable leash. Ever. The first month keep him close to you. Keep an eye on him AND HIS LEASH. If he starts to sniff, circle, pace, squat, or run away (all signs of forthcoming business!) then you can easily grab the leash and even step on it in an emergency. The leash gives you a better knowledge of his or her tell tale signs of needing to go outside for business. The leash gives you a better chance of knowing where puppy is so that you avoid accidents in the house. The leash is your friend! The leash is puppy's friend! Love the leash. This is a training period. After 4-6 weeks you and puppy should have a good routine and the leash can be hung up and used for walks
Step eight: Feed puppies 3 times a day with the last feeding hopefully by 5 or 6 pm. Remember to immediately take him outside after eating. Whatever he doesn't eat in 10-15 minutes, take it up for next meal. Larger dog breeds will finish in 1 minute. Make sure that you SEE him do #1 and #2 after eating. After evening cuddle time, take puppy out for one last bathroom break. Then it's off to bed.
Step nine: Night time sleeping schedule. Small breed puppies can't hold their bladder for 8 hours until they are much older, almost a year. By 6 months they should be able to hold their bladder for 6 hours, maybe 7. See the FAQ page for a picture of the puppy night time set up using an exercise pen, crate with door tied open, and puppy pad / litter tray. Use this type of set up for 5-7 months keeping crate door open with a potty pad just outside the crate, or I prefer the litter pad tray so that pup doesn't shred the puppy pad. Many people have to get up in the night to use the bathroom anyway. So they take their puppy to the bathroom where a litter tray is set up. This allows puppy to sleep in the crate at an earlier age and frees up the space that the exercise pen takes up. The bottom line is: You Do What Works For You!
These steps are essential to helping your pet learn new habits and even break old ones. If you have questions or need more help with your little pooping angel, email me at [email protected]. I'll be happy to help.