House training puppies can be quite challenging for the new puppy owner, especially if this is the first time you are learning how to train a puppy. It’s important to get your potty training done right and done quick so that you and your puppy can move on to building a great relationship.
The challenge for many people when house training puppies is that there are so many mistakes you can make in the process if you are not 100% clear on each of the steps in your potty training game plan. Here are three common mistakes, how to avoid them and what to do instead.
Not Watching Your Puppy at All Times – When you are in the midst of house training puppies, you must watch your puppy at all times when he is out of his crate. This literally means “eyes on the puppy” at every moment, just like you would watch a curious baby crawling about, to make sure they don’t slip something in their mouths and choke. The moment you walk into another room, even for “just a second” is the moment your puppy will decide to relieve himself on the carpet. Call it Murphy’s Law! While you are in potty training mode, it is critical that you watch your pup very, very closely, because each time he needs to use the toilet throughout the day is an opportunity for you to teach him correctly. Each time you miss this, not only are you missing an important teaching opportunity for that day, your puppy is also learning that it is OK to go on the carpet. The scent of urine will bring him back to that spot again and again. Now you’ve got a real problem on your hands!
Not Using a Leash – When it’s time to take your pup for a potty break, whether indoors or outdoors, you should use a leash to keep him in the exact area where he should be doing his business. This keeps your puppy from getting distracted and wandering off. Such a simple idea, but one that is overlooked by many people. They take the puppy to the potty spot, and he thinks it’s time to explore and play! By keeping him on a short leash, you will be able to better keep your dog focused on the task at hand.
Not Rewarding Immediately – The biggest mistake people make without even realizing it while they are house training puppies is to delay the reward for the positive behavior to 5 minutes, 10 minutes or even 30 minutes later. After the fact, your puppy will not be able to associate his past action with the reward. You need to stay with your puppy on the potty break so that you can offer rewards in the forms of praise, treats and affection the moment he has finished his business. This can be incredibly boring, I know. It means basically, you are standing there for 10-20 minutes, hoping and praying your puppy will just go already! We’ve all been there. And of course, you will repeat this exercise many times throughout the first few days especially. Yes, it is tedious to stand there, staring off into space for 15 minutes…4 times that day! But this is simply what must be done. It’s how it works. When you are able to “catch” your puppy in a good behavior, such as going potty in the right area, you want him to associate that behavior with wild pleasure. He does that, he is rewarded with so much praise and affection, he can’t wait to do that again and receive the same reward. On you are on your way!
