Busayo Amoo, DVM
Potty training can be a challenge to the new pet owner, but you can do it stress-free if you follow through with the right process and guidelines.
Potty training is not a one-off occasion, it is one that you must keep at till you are certain your pet has learnt and mastered the right habit of knowing where to do their business.
It requires plenty of patience, positivity, commitment, consistency especially if you are a new pet parent. This is because in the early period of training, your puppy will most likely make mistakes here and there and your response in those times will determine if there will be progress or not.
Here is a guideline on how to potty train your puppy
- HAVE A ROUTINE
First off, establish a routine for feeding; this helps you with programming when your puppy will do their business. This helps to potty train your puppy
Puppies operate best when they are guarded by a routine. The schedule should be based on what works for you and what you can keep up with. Routine also involves WHERE and not just when. Have an exact place where you will prefer them to do their business and where you’ll put their pee-pads.
Puppies basically like to do their business after the following times: feeding (15-30 minutes after), playing, waking up or sometimes when they are bored or just excited.
- REWARD
Puppies learn by positive affirmation. So, reward them immediately after they do the right thing. This way they can associate the reward with the good behaviour.
Conversely, when they do the wrong thing, let there be negative affirmation immediately after; like using a strong and firm tone.
- SUPERVISE
Supervise them. You can either stay with them through the process or have them leashed. This will prevent them from wandering off in excitement. Perhaps you can’t do any of these, you can confine them to a space just enough for them to stand, lie down and turn around, like a cage with a drainage.
- GIVE ROOM FOR MISTAKES
Your puppy will most likely make one or two mistakes, so it’ll do you both good to expect this.
Don’t be overly harsh when they do. When you correct, do so immediately after the mistake. Try as much as possible to be always around or have someone watch them very often so situations like these can be properly handled.
Most times when your puppy is ready to do their business they’d usually go round in circles and keep sniffing for the right spot. So, if you can catch them at this point, you’ll intervene promptly.
- GIVE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR POTTY TIME
The more chances your dog gets to “go” outside, the quicker they learn and get it right. Go to the same spot each time, wait (ignoring your dog) until she goes and then give her a treat!
- USE PEEPADS AND NEUTRALISERS
Pee-pads make potty training happen with ease; they are quite convenient. Peepads are also useful when your pet can’t do their business outside during rainy seasons and when you stay in a flat and don’t have easy access to areas where they poo and pee.
Neutralisers are useful when your dog makes a mistake at the wrong place it is important to use an odour remover to ensure they don’t go there next time. There are also products that are odours offensive to your dog and would discourage them from peeing at unwanted areas. This also serves to discourage bad habit of chewing indiscriminately.
Conclusion
Potty training takes time, patience and a lot of consistency, but there are great rewards for both you and your pet when you succeed.
Click on the link below to our various products to help potty train your dog better.
https://petshopplus.ng/product-category/dog/supplies/cleaning-potty/
