Key facts to potty training your Puppy

Do the words “potty training” strike fear into your heart?  Maybe they should if they haven’t already and you are looking at adding a cute cuddly little puppy to your family.

Potty training your puppy isn’t easy. It takes time, work and a lot of doggie treats. Even if you have an older dog, the same rules apply.

Give your dog what it wants

Most dogs want food, and lots of it.

Besides the obvious no-no’s (chocolate, grapes, xylitol candy — all of which have proven toxic to pets), fatty foods are best avoided since they can cause pancreatitis and/or diarrhea.

Beyond this, let your imagination run wild. Use fancy dog treats, string cheese or chunks of cooked meats (chicken, ham, hot dog). Make potty training worth it for your pet.

And give them a treat right when they potty, not 10 minutes later once they’re back in the house. If you wait until they come inside, then they will think they’re getting the treat for coming indoors. You need to make it obvious and instantaneous.

Take your time

Accept the fact that potty training is no going to happen overnight.
You have to take the time to wait past the puppy procrastination until the potty action commences. If you don’t wait, your puppy is guaranteed to potty once it gets back inside where there’s nothing around to distract it. This applies each and every time.
The proof is in the pottying

Don’t let your pup fool you. Make sure you see them in position, doing their business to completion before you take them back inside.

If you’re not sure, you must stay outside longer. Otherwise, when you come inside, you might as well get out the carpet cleaner right away, because you know what’s going to happen next.

Of course there is always going to be that occasional accident and who wants their house smelling like an indoor designated potty area.  Make sure to use Clear the Air for Carpet/Furniture when you go through the not so fun battle of potty training.