Potty training your puppy can be a hassle, but it’s not something you will want to put off. Dogs are creatures of habit and these habits are learned early, so it’s best to teach them early too! Potty training your pup can be inconvenient and a real test of patience, but if you hang in there, you will soon have a potty-trained puppy and you will see the fruits of your labor in as little as two weeks! If you’re a first-time dog owner and are a little lost on how to potty train your little one, don’t you worry. DNV is here to help. Just keep the following pointers in mind:

-       The first thing to remember is that your puppy is like a child. It does not yet know the difference between right and wrong, which is where you come in. The key to puppy training is a lot of patience and understanding. Your little puppy isn’t peeing or pooping on your grandmother’s rug to annoy you- the poor thing just doesn’t know any better, so don’t take it personally. Remember: Patience is a virtue!

-       When you start potty training, you have to decide on a designated spot outdoors where you should teach your puppy to go. Be specific so not as not to confuse your puppy. Pick a specific tree, for example, not a whole backyard.

-       When your puppy has had an accident indoors, firmly say, “No!” and then quickly take your puppy outside. Do not physically abuse your puppy no matter how frustrated you may be!

-       Your puppy naturally aims to please you, so while you let your puppy know of your displeasure when they’ve peed or pooped indoors, you should also let him or her know of your approval if they’ve managed to go at your designated spot. After they’ve done it right, praise them! Make sure you use the same phrase each time so they will eventually know what that one phrase means. You can say “Good potty!” The key is to be consistent! Another thing you can do to show how pleased you are with them is to give them a toy or a treat after they’ve accomplished their task!

-       Another important tip is to set a specific schedule for meal times and potty times. It may not be a good idea to free feed your pup before he or she has been potty trained. Feed your puppy at the same time everyday so he or she will also go potty at around the same time. If you have to leave the house, make sure that you give your puppy food two hours before you have to leave, so as to give him or her enough time to eat and go potty. Also, there should be at least four hours between the puppy’s last meal and bedtime, and two hours between the puppy’s last drink of water and bedtime. This ensures that he or she won’t have to go in the middle of the night.

-       Like his eating schedule, his sleeping schedule has to be regular also. Take him outside when he wakes up every morning. They always have to go after waking up. They usually have to go after intense physical activity too, so take them to their designated potty area after play or exercise.

-       Study your puppy’s behavior. If you see him restlessly walking around or sniffing around the house, this may mean that he has to go!

-       If your puppy ends up having an accident indoors, make sure you clean the spot thoroughly, removing all traces of smell. Your puppy’s sense of smell is a lot more sensitive than yours. If he smells the slightest hint of his pee or poop, he might think of that spot as a toilet.

Just follow these pointers and you will find yourself constantly saying, “Good potty” to your new puppy very soon enough!