Hi there, just thought about doing a quick blog to once again remind anyone that has decided to get a puppy, that has just gotten a new puppy or is thinking about getting that absolutely gorgeous little puppy that was on your social media feed: you will need to potty train your pup. As a rule of thumb, puppies do not come out of the box knowing where and when to go to the bathroom. Very much like us, they are taught these rules by their peers or pack. A responsible breeder will most likely have done the initial leg work for you, nevertheless that does not mean all the work has been done. Puppies as we all know are very young, prone to making mistakes but also extremely open to following direction. So, if you are ready and willing to teach your puppy the rules of your house, know that they will learn where and when to use the bathroom in a matter of weeks. That is if one is consistent, diligent and compassionate. Remember that we were all taught how, when and where to go the bathroom. Hopefully we were taught with compassion, patience and a lot of repetition. The huge difference is that white it took us months to learn the right behavior, puppies (and dogs) learn in a matter of weeks. We just have to make a commitment to teach them. Are you ready?
When welcoming that new puppy (or elder dog) into your house have a crate. A crate is to a dog what a crib is to a human. A safe space, a place of rest and relaxation. If you start teaching any dog that the crate is where they rest, then rest will come much easier. I usually only have a bed in a crate or puppy pads if the dog is younger than 6 months. Teach them by opening and closing the door and not letting them out, educate them that the way out of a crate is through calmness. If the puppy is scratching, barking whining in the crate, I’ll usually go do some other chores around the house and not focus on the fight the dog is giving me. They will stop whining, specially if this exercise is done after a walk or with young puppies a fun play session in the yard. Let the puppy sleep, once they start sleeping in a crate during the day, the chances of them sleeping in it through the night increase exponentially. As a rule of thumb, the younger the dog the less likely they will be able to hold their pee or poop. Therefore in order to teach them how to hold it, I take them out of the crate every two hours if a puppy is less than 5 months old. I put a leash on them in the crate and guide them to the place I want them to go relieve themselves. It is that simple, just a walk around with them where you wish them to go. Movement and smells will do the rest. One has just be willing to do it and to be present. Not rushing the process, but having the awareness that nature will take care of most of it, we just have to be willing and able to give the initial direction.
A very easy way to teach a young dog where and when to go to the bathroom is, after feeding have them go back to their crate for about 15 – 20 minutes (for puppies as young as 4 months this is the ideal time frame. However, the older the dog the more time they can hold it). With a leash, guide them to where you want them to go. It takes time for the digestive system to do it’s thing and by having a dog in a smaller space, we are working with mother nature to be successful in the teaching. Since dogs do not like to go to the bathroom close to where they rest, they will hold as much as they can not to go in the crate. With enough repetition and patience any dog can learn that they should hold it until they are at the spot you chose for them to go and worked to teach them.
If you are consistent in your intention to teach a dog with compassion, then potty training your puppy or an older dog will not be as hard as one imagines. It is by working with mother nature, respecting the biology of dogs and working in dog psychology that one can achieve wonders in having a true connection with their dog. No matter their age. Successfully potty training your puppy is but the first step in a long journey. Dogs depend on us (their pack) to teach them the rules of the game. Remember that we were taught by our pack the rules and boundaries that made us successful in this wide ranging world. You are now accountable for this being. Your responsibility doesn’t end with simply providing a warm bed and food. Dogs need guidance in this human world of ours. Teaching them where and when to go potty is the first sign that one is willing to provide direction and ready to be a dog owner. Go slow, remember that training is on our terms but on the dog’s time. It will happen. Happy training!
