Potty training your dog or pup can be extremely stressful if you have trouble with persistence or are unsure how to properly go through the training process. This article aims to provide you with a few helpful tips to ease the stress of dog potty training.

Most dogs are housebroken as puppies, so let’s start with talking about potty training a new puppy. First, it is important to know that puppies do have limited bladder control, so accidents are going to happen. The first thing you need to do is introduce your puppy to a crate, a place that is his own and where he can be confined when you are unable to watch him. This is one of the best ways to prevent your puppy from soiling areas around the house. There are housebreaking pads available at pet stores that you can place in your puppy’s crate for him to go on while you are away.

Keeping to a regular schedule is the key to preventing accidents and potty training your dog or puppy. Take your dog out first thing in the morning, thirty minutes after every meal, and right before bed. Also, feed your puppy on a strict schedule. If it goes in on a schedule, it will come out on a schedule! It is important to initially praise your dog every time you take him out and he does his business. This helps reinforce to the animal that this is the correct spot to eliminate in.

When an accident does occur, don’t get upset or hit your dog. If you didn’t catch him in the act, simply put him in his crate while you clean up the mess. There is no point in trying to punish him, as he will not know why he is in trouble. If you do catch him in the act, giving him a firm ‘No!’ will let him know you are upset. Immediately take him to the proper spot outside and praise him if he goes again.

Potty training your puppy can be a trying time, but a bit of patience and determination will see you through the process. Just remember: develop a routine and take your puppy outside about 15 minutes after meal time. Soon, you will find that training becomes even easier, at which point you’ll want to start training him not only for obedience, but also for using items such as pet stairs instead of jumping onto furniture. Pet steps are much better for your dog’s joints and reduces the likelihood of your dog developing arthritis or sustaining an injury from falling off of high furniture.