If you have embarked on the journey of providing a loving home to a newborn puppy, you know that from the beginning, there is hard work to be done! Potty training is tough and takes consistency. Here are some Doggie-Smyle tips and resources to help you train your new pup. The most important thing to remember is that there WILL be accidents, and CONSISTENCY is the key.

It’s all about the ROUTINE:

Puppies do best on a regular schedule. When a schedule teaches him that there are times to eat, times to play, and times to potty, it provides security necessary for learning. Generally speaking, a puppy can control his bladder one hour for every month of age. So if you’re puppy is two months old, he can hold it for about two hours. If you work outside the home, this means you may have to hire a dog walker to give your puppy his breaks.

This applies to his eating schedule; what goes into a puppy on a schedule comes out of a puppy on a schedule. Depending on their age, puppies usually need to be fed three or four times a day. Feeding your puppy at the same times each day will make it more likely that he’ll eliminate at consistent times as well, and that makes housetraining easier for both of you.

Outside, Please!:

It is important to take your puppy outside at least every two hours; immediately after he wakes up, during and after playing, and after eating or drinking.

Pick an Out “House”:

Otherwise known as a designated bathroom spot outside. One helpful hint is to always take your puppy to that spot using a leash. While your puppy is eliminating, use a word or phrase, like “go potty,” that you can eventually use before he eliminates to remind him what to do. Take him out for a longer walk or some playtime only after he has eliminated.

“Good- Job!!”:

Be sure to praise your pup or give him a treat, making sure to do so immediately after he’s finished eliminating, not after he comes back inside the house. This step is vital, because rewarding your dog for eliminating outdoors is the only way he’ll know what’s expected of him. Before rewarding him, be sure he’s finished eliminating. Puppies are easily distracted. If you praise him too soon, he may forget to finish until he’s back in the house.

Monitor the H20:

Remove your puppy’s water bowl about two and a half hours before bedtime to reduce the likelihood that he’ll need to potty during the night. Most puppies can sleep for approximately seven hours without having to eliminate.
If your puppy does wake you up in the night, don’t make a big deal of it; otherwise, he will think it is time to play and won’t want to go back to sleep. Turn on as few lights as possible, don’t talk to or play with your puppy, take him out to do his business, and return him to his bed.

Supervision:

Don’t give your puppy an opportunity to soil in the house; keep an eye on him whenever he’s indoors. During the housetraining process, even your yard should be treated like any other room in your house. Give your puppy some freedom in the house and yard only after he is reliably housetrained.

For more tips, or to find out what to do if accidents happen (and they will!) click Here

(Resource: Humane Society of The United States)