As
easy as 1, 2, 3!
Okay, so it may not be that easy.
But potty training puppies is possible if you follow this 3 day schedule. House
training doesn’t mean that your newest family member won’t still have accidents
in the house. We all make mistakes while we’re learning. However, it does
establish a schedule for bathroom breaks, meals and playtime which will create
structure and prevent accidents in the house.
Potty training at a young age
instills the rules which will eventually become habit for your puppy as it
learns and grows. So like any behavior altering program, the most important
aspect is to be strict and stick with the program. The 3 day schedule is as
important for new puppy owners as it is for the puppy and how successful your
puppy is with the training is directly proportionate to how firm you are with
the schedule.
Puppy Potty Times
There are three specific times that
puppies need to relieve themselves:
- Right after they eat
- Right after they sleep
- Right after they play
It is around these times that we
establish the schedule laid out in the following sections.
Invest in a Wire Crate
Once you’ve purchased a wire crate,
introduce your puppy to their new home for the next 3 days. This will be where
they return immediately after eating, going potty and after scheduled play
(which, noted above, should also be followed by a bathroom break). When you are
unable to supervise your puppy, place them in the crate and make sure to always
give a bathroom break before doing so.
Never exceed more than 8 hours in
the kennel without giving your puppy a break to relieve themselves. Once they
get older you may increase the length of kennel stay at bedtime but make sure
breaks are frequent at a young age.
Potty Routine
Now that you have your puppy’s home
base, it’s time to set the schedule:
- First thing in the morning take your puppy out to go
potty, then play, then potty again and finally return them to their
kennel.
- At 2 hour intervals (closer together for younger
puppies) take your puppy out to potty, then play, then potty and finally
return to the kennel once again.
- Be sure that your puppy has had a final bedtime
bathroom break 3 hours after their dinner before returning to the crate
for the night.
Incorporating Mealtime
Mealtime is important in
differentiating eating, playtime, rest and potty as separate actions in
distinct locations. For every meal of the day food should be left on the floor
for 20 minutes and taken away once that time slot has passed. Puppies should be
fed in the morning after going potty and playing and a second meal should be
offered in the middle of the day under the same structure. Your puppy should
have its last meal of the day no later than 7pm.
Unless you live in a warm climate
and your home is not controlled by an air conditioner, there’s no need to leave
water down at all times. Only offer water with meals and right after play which
will help prevent accidents in between scheduled potty breaks.
The Great Outdoors
It’s counterproductive to leave your
puppy outside unsupervised for the bulk of the day. It will give them the
belief that they can potty wherever and whenever they please which will
subsequently carry into their house training efforts. So when you take puppy
outside make it clear that you are there specifically to potty by using a
leash, standing in one spot and verbally commanding them to “go potty”. It’s a
good idea to return to the same spot each time, as superstar trainer Cesar
Milan notes, “the scent acts like a trigger.”
When your puppy starts doing his or
her business, make sure to say “good potty” or a similar phrase while they
are going, not once they have stopped. This way they will equate being “good”
with the action, not the end result.
Damage Control
Though the 3 day schedule allows for
many bathroom breaks throughout the day, it’s important to listen to and watch
your puppy. As going potty is a natural instinct, there may be times outside
the schedule that they need to relieve themselves. If your puppy wakes up in
the middle of the night and makes noise, he/she most likely needs to potty.
This is temporary but don’t ignore them or you’ll have a bigger problem to deal
with in the morning than simply being woken up.
If you spot your puppy starting to
make an accident indoors, interrupt their action by clapping your hands or
making a loud sound and immediately take them outside. If they finish once
outside, remember to praise them while they are relieving themselves.
Be Strict
Now that you have the essentials
down to create a house training schedule, make sure you follow the rules
closely for 3 full 24 hours. Once the 3 days are up, never let your puppy run
loose in the house. Keep him/her confined to a very small space where you can
see them at all times and place them in the crate when you are unable to
supervise them.
Just because the fundamental 3 days
have been completed doesn’t mean that the rules disappear once the time is up.
Make sure to stick to the schedule and you’ll be rewarded with a house trained
puppy living a healthy, structured life.
Afterthoughts
Best of luck with potty training
your puppy in 3 days! Sound off in the comments about your personal
experiences, successes and failures following the schedule.
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