Puppyhood is the “formative” period for your dog. What you teach him during this time will most likely stick with him the rest of his life. One of the most important things you will be teaching him is where to potty.

We need to realize that puppies are like children in that they are needy for attention and require a routine. The best thing you can do to ease the potty-training process for your pup is to make sure that you establish the “sleep-eat-potty” routine.

Although some people are adverse to the idea, others find that keeping a pallet of newspaper near an exit (one your puppy will soon associate with the outdoors). Although we do our best, we don’t always pay attention or are in a position to let our dog outside-especially at nighttime. This is a positive alternative for your puppy to use until he develops better bladder control.

Understand that a puppy’s system is like clockwork. When you feed or water him, he will be ready to potty about 15 – 20 minutes later. The key is to make sure your pup has access to the yard (or wherever you’re teaching him to potty) when the time comes. Arranging your puppy’s routine to match your own is the easiest way to expect when he’s hungry or needs to potty.

You might find that you can save yourself a lot of unproductive potty trips if you establish separate times to potty and play. You might take your pup outside to potty, then after a successful trip, take him inside. Wait as long as you like before making a separate trip outside for him to play. By separating these tasks, you’ll greatly minimize your pup’s confusion.

Now would be a great time to teach your puppy the praise and discipline phrases you intend to use throughout training. Many people use terms such as “good boy/girl” and “no.” Just remember that while puppies require a firm hand and patience, this is also a time to enjoy your puppy while he’s young and full of energy!