How to Potty Train Your Puppy

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By Michael-Jon Lazar
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Your dog wants to please you, but discipline is necessary.

Puppy potty training is not as daunting a task as you may think. There are proven methods that will allow you to effectively housebreak your puppy in a matter of weeks. So do not give in just yet, get your puppy housebroken in no time at all by following these simple steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Bleach enhanced tile cleaner spray
Carpet cleaner spray

Step 1

Enforce your dominance. Let the dog know that you are boss. Like a child, the puppy learns wrong and right through discipline. Every time you catch your puppy using the carpet as their bathroom make sure to discipline them with a light tap on the nose. Reinforce this by telling them in a harsh tone that they were bad. This usually works well, “Bad Dog, no potty in the house!”
Step 2

Take them immediately outside. Once you have scolded the puppy pick it up and take it outside. Make sure to support the puppy’s weight with one hand, while maintaining a secure grip on their scruff with the other hand. This enforces your dominance in the situation; much like the mother dog would do.
Step 3

Enforce the potty outside rule. Now that you have your puppy outside set them on or near were they can go and tell them, “You go potty outside!” Do not let them go inside or allow them to play until they have done their business. Once they have finished their business reward them with praise, “Good dog good potty outside!”
Step 4

Clean up in-door puppy waste properly. You will definitely want to use a specialty cleaning product, depending on what type of surface you will be cleaning. If you are cleaning tile flooring use bleach enhanced cleaner. If you are cleaning carpeting use a brand name carpet cleaner spray. This is necessary to remove all residue of the smell; this way your puppy is not encouraged to go on the same spot again.
Step 5

Practice makes perfect. Don’t expect your puppy to become potty trained overnight. Remember puppy potty training is a habit that you must form in your puppy’s mind. Habits take time, especially with puppies. This process will generally take anywhere from three to six weeks to really take effect on your puppy.

Comments

TheSeeker said

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on 6/20/2008 Michael I agree with your article completely. However your behavior in the comments section is wrong. Your use of all CAPS indicates shouting and quite frankly no one wants to hear a shouting match in a how to article, comments section or not. Ehow is a professional site, please keep it that way.

michaelgavin said

on 6/19/2008 by michaelgavin on 06/18/08 : Thank you Lilac, for your kind words. And, thank you to all of my readers for giving me 168,000+ reads to date, you all rock. Sorry I have been so absent. I have been working with a new band and working on my book for Dorrance, but I am still here in the background writing new content. Take care all, More articles coming at you soon! Mike ...