Potty Training Protocol
Occasional accidents your puppy has are often a result of being in the wrong place at the right time. Dogs naturally prefer to keep their sleeping and eating areas clean and separate from where they eliminate, especially if their mother was diligent and they had a well-maintained whelping box environment. However, this distinction isn't immediately evident to puppies, and they require patient guidance to understand the difference between indoors and outdoors. They learn that indoor substrates are different than outdoor substrates, but only with your help.
Always take your puppy to an outdoor spot on a leash—even in the backyard—at regular intervals. When your puppy successfully eliminates, reward them with enthusiastic praise and a treat. Designate a specific, but large enough to walk around, outdoor area for this purpose to reinforce the association.
Keep a container of treats in the designated outdoor area so you can instantly reward your pup when they potty there. Immediate rewards help your puppy make the connection between the right action and the right place. If you aren't generous with encouragement and super special treats, it is going to take longer for your puppy to get it. It’s science.
Mix up the rewards by offering your puppy an additional special walk or playtime as a reward for proper bathroom behavior. This not only makes the outdoor trips more exciting but also reinforces your puppy's good behavior, encouraging them to repeat it. Don’t go immediately back inside once your puppy performs. That will set you back in your training efforts.
Remember, it's essential to provide immediate consequences for your puppy's actions, whether positive reinforcement or reprimand. Avoid reprimanding them after the fact, as puppies require immediate feedback to grasp expectations.
Your primary focus should be on delivering immediate consequences and preventing indoor accidents at all costs. Indoor accidents can lead to confusion and hinder the housebreaking process.
Once you've established a strong reward history for outdoor elimination, you can address indoor mistakes when you're present. Catch your pup in the act, as timing is crucial for effective reprimand. Missing one and catching another can prolong the training process.
The most challenging aspect of potty training is maintaining constant supervision or confining your puppy to a designated area. Even a momentary lapse in attention can lead to an indoor accident, a phenomenon known as the "blink factor."
Here are key housebreaking rules to keep in mind: