A beginner’s guide to potty training a puppy

Original article kxan.com
By: Bre Richey

How to potty train a puppy

Adding a new puppy to your family is always exciting and fun. However, your furry friend will certainly keep you on your toes. In addition to teaching them about their new boundaries, you’ll also want to potty train your puppy as soon as possible. 

There are several potty training methods. Picking the best method for your family depends on the age of your puppy, your living circumstances, and your puppy’s breed. Regardless of your preferred method, here are some items you’ll need to potty train your puppy.

Puppy potty training methods

Crate potty training

While it may seem harsh to keep your new puppy confined to a crate, it’s one of the most recommended potty training methods.

Keep your puppy’s space small. The principle behind the crate method is that dogs won’t soil in their space or den. Keep the area small by using a small crate or a crate divider, leaving enough room for your furry friend to stand up, lay down and turn around. 

Don’t leave your puppy for too long. Your puppy has a small bladder and can’t be in the crate for too long without a potty break. As soon as they scratch or whine, take them outside and reward them for using the bathroom. 

The key to the crate potty training method to work is to make sure your dog sees their crate as their den. Don’t use the crate as a negative tool or punishment. 

Bell potty training

Train your dog to touch the bell. Introduce your dog to the bell and have them practice touching it. Use a command such as “touch,” and reward your puppy as soon as they touch the bell. 

Hang the bell on your door. When you feel your puppy understands how to touch the bell, it’s time to hang the bell on the door. Say your command and when your dog rings the bell, take them out. 

For this method to work, you need to take your dog outside every time they ring the bell, so they know they won’t be ignored when they need to use the bathroom.