Puppy Potty Training in One Week

Potty training a puppy can be a nightmare if you do it incorrectly. Forcing your pet to eliminate in the right place or punishing them will only increase the accidents. Positive techniques such as clicker training can help you potty train your pet in no time. Once you understand what your pup needs and learn the best ways to communicate, it will take only one week until your pet is ready.

This article discusses in more detail how to potty train your puppy fast.

Concepts You Should Know for Successful Puppy Potty Training

Consider Crate Training

If puppies are trained correctly, they feel safe and secure in their crate. So, you should consider crate training your pup when it is not possible to keep an eye on them.

Avoid a Long Wait Time

In general, a two-month-old puppy can control their bladder for about 2 to 3 hours. Their capacity to hold increases an hour per month of age. When they are six months old, they can control their bladder for about 7 to 8 hours a day. Ensure you don’t make your pet wait more than 8 hours.

Use Enzymatic Cleaners

Enzymatic cleaners break down urine and feces molecules to remove strong smells around the soiled areas. Because dogs have a strong sense of smell, these special cleaners will ensure that the smell is completely gone, and your pup will not get attracted to eliminate in the same place again.

6 Easy Steps on How to Potty Train a Puppy

Create a Schedule

Give your puppy three meals a day. But each time you place the bowl on the floor, ensure you let them eat for only up to 15 min. Repeating this will make your pet get used to this schedule.

Once you start puppy potty training, take them outside three times as follows:

• After they wake up
• After every meal
• After playtime

Avoid leaving your puppy outside alone and stay with them until their job is done.

Prepare to Avoid Accidents

When you start potty training, make some preparations to avoid accidents. Here are different options you can choose from:

• Crate train your puppy. Ensure the crate is not big enough so your pup can eliminate one side and sleep comfortably on the other side.
• Use a small room to confine them until they are trained
• Keep them on a leash and ensure you hold it to prevent them from getting out of your sight and having an accident.

Click and Praise Appropriate Elimination

Clicking and praising appropriate behaviour is key to puppy potty training. Avoid being excited or interested when you take your pet outside after they wake up. Stay calm, speak softly, and let them explore. Once they complete the job, click, praise, and reward them. Praising and treating them will encourage them to eliminate outside and make a routine.

Avoid going back inside immediately after elimination, as your pet might learn that going potty means going back inside, which might be discouraging. So, try spending a few minutes outside, such as playing or walking.

Understand Your Pet’s Body Signals

For successful puppy potty training, it is essential to learn your pet’s body signals. Your puppy’s body will show specific signs such as smelling, circling and pawing a door when they need to eliminate. Understanding these cues will help you when the schedule changes. Ensure you take your pup outside as soon as you notice these signals.

Avoid Punishments

When you find out that your dog had an accident inside the house, you can help them learn the correct behaviour by following two ways which include:

• When you see a soiled area in the house, clean it with an enzymatic cleaner and continue with your puppy potty training. Avoid any punishment or yelling at your pet.
• When you see your pup is about to eliminate inside the house, interrupt the event by saying something like “oops” in a gentle way. Meanwhile, you can take him outside to finish the job and when it is done, ensure to click and praise.

Give Them Freedom

When your pet begins learning to potty outside, you can give them more freedom. Allow them to stay outside the crate and let water be available throughout the day.

Troubleshooting Puppy Potty Training

If you are facing any issues even after following puppy potty training, here are some suggestions you could consider:

• Consult a vet and ensure your pet is not having a urinary infection or any other medical issue
• Increase the frequency of taking your pet outside until accidents stop
• If you have been using potty pads indoors, it may take longer when transitioning
• Implement different positive reinforcement methods every time your pet eliminates outside. You must use these techniques many times before your puppy starts learning.
• Try to clean the soiled areas until the smell is gone, and ensure you use enzymatic cleaners.
• You might be taking your puppy potty training too fast, so take time to repeat the steps and reinforce good behaviour.
• Toy breeds may take longer to housetrain than larger breeds. Ensure you are implementing the dog lessons as needed. It helps to consult a professional dog trainer in such situations.

Explore Our Expert Puppy Training Services

A puppy develops 90% of their attitudes towards people, animals and their surroundings in the first 16 weeks of their life. So, it is crucial to set the foundation that will help them become a well-behaved dog. Alpha Paws offers a comprehensive puppy preschool program that helps you understand common puppy problems and establish a strong dog-owner relationship. Our expert dog trainers will analyze your pet’s personality and temperament and teach you how to communicate with them.

Whether you want to potty train your puppy fast or train them to develop good behaviour, our dog lessons can help you. Even if your dog is older than 16 weeks, we can provide you with customized dog obedience training programs. Contact us at 905-830-9500 or toll-free at 1-877-868-7297 to speak to one of our dog training experts. You can also fill out our form to submit a general query.