Dog Potty Training -
Mistakes to Avoid

Dog potty training requires two things - being persistent and consistent. Avoiding common mistakes means it will take less time to train your dog.

Dog potty training also requires you to be patient, loving, and attentive.

From the very start of your training, you should let the dog feel that you're in charge.

Dominance is one of your keys to success. So, in your household, as the owner, you should be at the top of the dog's hierarchy.

You see, dogs are descended from wolves, which means that by nature, your pet dog is a pack animal that by instinct functions best within a strict hierarchy.

So, you must be the top dog through training and control.

Training means that you use hand gestures and commands together with a treat or leash to seek the desired dog behavior.

When we speak of control, it usually involves the use of collars ('no bark' or choke) and other devices.

Collars and leashes are great control tools especially when you need to take your dog outside of the house.

You will be in control of the dog and not the dog in control of you.

A variety of useful dog training aids are available at pet stores or you can save upto 75% on wholesale pet products by shopping on the Internet.

These dog potty training aids range from diapers for puppies, to wee wee pads, deterent sprays and tablets to stop dogs eating their own poo!

The difficulty with dog potty training is to learn the dog's signals. One of the signs a dog is going to do his/her business, is circling and sniffing about. But not all dogs act the same way.

Dogs and Dens

Avoid letting your dog sleep in the kitchen or in the utility room.

Because dogs and puppies belong to the family of the wolf, they prefer to have their own den.

Crates are also useful in dog potty training as a good way of keeping your dog confined in a specific place.

Although some people think putting a dog inside a crate is brutal, the dog will love to sleep in it when it's set up properly.

Avoid buying the largest crate thinking that your puppy will have room to grow.

A pup’s crate should just be big enough for them to stand up and move around in.

A dog will hold their poo as much as they can, because they won’t want to soil their own bed.

If the crate is too big, the dog will still have enough room to poop or pee away from where it sleeps, which is not what you want.

As you introduce the crate to your puppy, do not just let it in and close the door. This can cause anxiety and cause the dog to urinate. First let your dog become familiar with the crate and offer praise when they enter the crate or when they settle in their bed.

Poop Times

Studies show that dogs are likely to poop in the morning right after getting out of bed. In addition, studies also reveal that after eating dogs will probably want to poop. Hence, after every meal, bring your dog to the potty area.

Once you have established a pooping area, the next thing to do is let your puppy get familiarized with the spot.

It is best to bring your pet to the area several times a day.

If you see your pet soiling the house, immediately lead them to the pooping area.

Scold the dog only when you catch him or her on the act and praise when you see them when they are going outside to do it.

Try not to stress out the dog as this could backfire. Dogs can not think clearly if they are stressed out.

Always remember NOT to hit your dog when you catch your pet relieving themselves inside your house. This will tend to make your dog creative in terms of hiding their mess around your home.

Convey to them that outside is the area for pooping. Another helpful method to lead your pet is putting some of your puppy’s feces into your poop area. Once your puppy smells its own feces, it will be able to track and find the area.

Be consistent and do the same thing everyday for a series of days. For instance, in the first hour in the morning as the dog wakes up, show them the spot area. By creating a pattern, your dog will most likely know where the spot area is.

Additionally, they will know what the daily routine should be. If you do the same routine with your dog or puppy over and over again, they will learn faster. Try to reinforce the training with kindness, love and some treats after the dog has done the process correctly.

Always remember when dog potty training that it's important to accompany the dog outside and praise them while they are successfully doing their duty in the area where you taught them.

If you wait to give your puppy treats or praise until they come back into the house, they will think they are being rewarded for coming back inside the house again.

The dog can end up confusing dog potty training with other activities. If you make this mistake, your dog may just run around outside your house and come back in again expecting you to give them a treat or praise.

Above all be persistent, consistent and patient as dog potty training can take two to three months.

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