Quick and easy dog potty training: Master it in three days

Dog potty training is crucial for all new furry friends to learn. However, this task may seem daunting if you’re a first-time dog owner.

This informative guide will walk you through the process of successfully potty training your dog in just three days.

Learn when to take your puppy outside and how to encourage good behavior to prevent accidents indoors.

With this organized plan, your dog will quickly master this vital skill within three days.

Start using potty training techniques early when you welcome a young puppy.

Prepare for dog potty training

Before you start potty training your puppy, there are essential steps you need to take. These steps are necessary to ensure the process is safe and simple for you and your dog.

Gather necessary supplies

Start by getting essential items like a dog crate. This gives your puppy a safe and comfy area during house training.

Buying treats as rewards for good behavior will be necessary for positive reinforcement training.

Rewards make training fun for your dog. Treats work exceptionally well for food-motivated dogs.

Also, stock up on cleaning supplies to remove any accidents quickly.

Select a designated potty area

Pick a particular spot outside where you want your dog to go potty regularly.

This helps strengthen your puppy’s daily routine and ensures that the puppy knows what you expect.

Establish a consistent feeding schedule

Feeding your puppy at the same time every day helps them know when it’s time for bathroom breaks. Set meals at the same time daily for puppies.

Following a routine helps you know when your puppy needs to go outside, making training easier and more successful.

Consistency is critical for successful dog potty training.

Day 1: Establish the routine

The first day of training your puppy is about establishing a solid routine.

Here are the steps you should take on day one to ensure you have an effective routine.

Introduce the dog to the crate

Help your puppy adjust to spending time in her crate.

Crate training is a crucial tool for successful potty training.

Let your dog get to know it slowly, and use treats and good behavior to help your dog understand the crate is a safe place.

Set a regular potty schedule

Remember to take your puppy on frequent outdoor potty breaks using a designated potty spot.

Take your dog outside about 20 minutes after it eats or drinks water.

Teaching your puppy to go outside for potty breaks helps them learn where to go. It also reinforces the habit of going outside.

Supervise indoor breaks

When at home, supervise your puppy and give them time to rest in a room inside the house.

Watch for clues your dog might need to use the restroom and guide them to the right place outdoors.

Use positive reinforcement

Make sure to treat your puppy and say “good job,” right away when they finish going potty outside.

Giving your puppy a treat after going potty outside reinforces the behavior.

Understand that accidents in the house happen. So, it’s essential to address accidents without scolding.

Don’t yell at your puppy. Instead, stay calm and quickly clean up the mess.

Yelling only makes your puppy nervous and could potentially make him fear you.

Instead, staying calm creates a pressure-free place for your puppy to learn a new skill.

Day 2: Reinforce training

For day two, practice consistency.

If you aren’t consistent with training, your puppy might regress.

Repeat what you did on the first day to reinforce your dog’s new habits.

Stick to your planned potty breaks as much as you can.

Use treats and praise to encourage and celebrate your dog for following the proper routine.

You can also make your training more advanced by adding commands related to bathroom time.

Use the same signal, like a particular word or phrase such as “go potty” or “time to poop,” during walks on a leash to help your dog learn why you are taking them out.

Say the exact words every time you take your dog to go potty.

This will help your dog understand what you want.

Watch your puppy for cues it needs to go outside.

Day 3: Fine-tune the process

Day three is all about fine-tuning your training process and correcting any mistakes.

Gradually extend the time between potty breaks

On day three, or when your puppy is ready, you can start helping them hold their pee for longer. Gradually increase the time between bathroom breaks.

This step pushes for independence and control.

Reinforce good behavior with increased freedom

Reward your dog by giving it more time inside with you and slowly letting it stay out of the crate for longer stretches.

Make sure to watch your puppy all the time. Puppy potty training takes time and focus.

Giving your dog extra freedom is a good reward, making the idea that successful potty breaks lead to more rewards like treats or playtime with a favorite toy.

Allow more supervised indoor time

Give your dog more chances to explore inside safely while you’re watching, building confidence in their potty training abilities.

Gradually expand crate-free periods

Give your puppy more time outside the crate and let them explore your home while you still watch over them. This stage helps them grow in their overall behavior.

Using a baby gate to confine your dog to a smaller area also helps.

Monitor signs of readiness

Learn to understand your puppy’s signs and actions that tell you it’s time for a bathroom break.

Knowing these signs is very important for strengthening the connection between you and your puppy.

If training your puppy is too hard, you can send them to a dog training camp to make it easier.

Dog potty training challenges

Potty training dogs can be difficult and varies for each dog. Understand common challenges and use tips to overcome them.

Accidents in the house

It can be frustrating when your dog continues to have accidents despite your training efforts.

The key to overcoming this challenge is consistency and patience.

Remember, puppies have small bladders, so take your dog outside frequently (every 1-2 hours) and reward them with treats and praise when they go potty in the designated spot.

If they have an accident inside, don’t scold or punish them; this will only confuse them and worsen matters.

Clean up urine quickly so your new puppy doesn’t associate those odors with being indoors.

Difficulty understanding where to go

Some dogs need help understanding where they are supposed to go potty, especially if you live in a high-rise building or apartment complex without easy access to outdoor space.

Temporarily create a designated indoor area for your dog to relieve themselves using puppy pads, a potty mat, or even a litter box until they understand where they should be going.

Fear of going outside

Some dogs develop a fear of going outside due to loud noises like thunderstorms or construction work in the neighborhood.

That makes it difficult for them to learn proper potty habits outdoors.

If your dog exhibits fear of going outside, try desensitizing techniques such as gradually exposing them to outdoor noises while giving treats so that they associate being outside with positive experiences.

Disrupting established routines

If you’ve recently adopted an older dog, they may already have established routines and habits that don’t align with your potty training plan.

Dogs are creatures of habit and thrive with routine.

Create a potty training schedule and stick with it to help your dog adjust.

For example, take your dog out after meals or a nap.

Stay positive

Keep going even if your furry companion takes longer than expected to pick up on proper potty habits.

With these tips and determination, you’ll soon be well on your way to successful potty training.

Focus on reinforcement and patience

When you teach your dog how to use the bathroom, being patient and using rewards are crucial for success.

Training accidents indoors are not bad. Recognize they will happen. The goal is to get your puppy out regularly to reduce the risk.

To succeed, it’s essential to be patient and keep trying.

If your puppy has a few accidents, don’t be frustrated. Never yell, and don’t punish your puppy.

Most puppies take a while to master potty training, but they learn.

If your puppy continues to struggle, check with your vet to ensure your dog doesn’t have a urinary tract infection.

Malia Capen is a content writer focusing on personal injury law and consumer safety. She collaborates with Dan Davis Law Firm, a personal injury law firm in Oklahoma City specializing in dog bite injuries and accidents.

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