Potty training your dog is a must, especially if you want to prevent accidents indoors. But it can be difficult to get your puppy to pee outdoors. What you can do, however, is start by training them to consistently pee in one spot, which is their potty pad.
Allow Your Pup to Become Familiar with the Potty Pad
The first step to potty training your dog is to allow your pup to become familiar with the potty pad. Start by letting your puppy sniff around and get comfortable with their potty pad.
Once they are comfortable, put the potty pad down. Leave the potty pad on the floor for a few minutes and then pick it up. If your puppy has not peed on their potty pad, place it back down and wait once more.
Once your puppy has peed on the potty pad, you can praise them. If they have not peed on the pad, put it back down and try again. Eventually, your pup will start to pee while on the potty pad.
Anticipate When They’ll Need to Pee
Next, it is essential to anticipate when your puppy will need to use their potty pad. The best way to do this is by observing your puppy and understanding their potty patterns.
For example, if you know your puppy is always playful at 8 A.M. and usually sleeps for three hours after that, you will know precisely when the time to potty your dog will be. Always set a timer, so you know when that time has come.
Dogs also have what’s referred to as an elimination clock, which is an inborn tendency to eliminate at specific times daily. So it’s a good idea to try to determine what time your dog’s elimination clock is by being present and paying attention to your puppy’s body language.
When you see your puppy start to sniff or circle, pick up the potty pad and take it outside. When you are out with the potty pad, place it on the ground and wait for your puppy to use it.
Reward Your Dog When They Pee
Once your pup uses their potty pad, give them a quick reward. This could be something simple, like a treat. The key to this is consistency. The more consistent you are with rewarding your dog when they do the right thing, the quicker they will learn.
Keep Plenty of Potty Pads
The key to successful potty training is to keep plenty of potty pads in your house. It’s best to have at least three to four. Also, keep an eye on your puppy. If you know they are looking for a place to use their potty pad, it would be best to bring the pad out with you.
Every time you take your puppy to their potty pad, make sure to give them a treat. If they use their potty pad, praise them and give them a treat. Even if they don’t use their potty pad, bring it outside with your puppy and place it on the ground. If they use it, give them a treat.
It’s also a good idea to keep their potty pad in the same place so they can quickly find it. You can even leave it out at all times, but be sure to cover it if you do.
Final Thoughts
Training your puppy to use their potty pad is essential and can make your life a lot easier. If you’re consistent and persistent, you will be able to potty train your puppy in no time.
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