How to Potty Train Little Dogs

You may be under the impression that a little dog will be harder to potty train than larger dogs. Just because a dog is small doesn't mean it isn't smart. A little dog can learn to go potty outside in under a week's time if the dog has a dedicated owner. It is important to potty train your little dog during a week that you will be available to keep accidents from happening.

Things You'll Need

• Treats

Instructions

1. Make a schedule that allows someone in the family to be home with the little dog for the entire week. The person on duty is to watch the little dog for signs that it has to go to the bathroom and then take it outside immediately.

2. Take the little dog outside each morning when you wake up. This is important so that the little dog learns that it will have a chance to go outside as soon as you get up. Make sure that when you take the dog out that you don't come back in until it goes to the bathroom.

3. Give your dog three meals per day and take it outside to go to the bathroom as soon as the dog finishes its meal.

4. Take your dog outside after each nap that lasts longer than 20 minutes. This is another key time that your little dog is likely to have to go the bathroom.

5. Give your dog treats every time it goes to the bathroom outside. Also praise your little dog and show it affection. The dog will then learn that it did something good.

6. Walk away from your dog if it has an accident in the house. Show it no affection and don't speak to it. It will then learn that what it did wasn't pleasing to you. Since dogs seek to please their owners, your dog will quickly stop.

7. Make sure that your dog does not have access to any water after 8 p.m. at night. This will keep your dog from having to go to the bathroom while everyone is sleeping. You can put up the water dish, but you will also need to make sure the lids are down on the toilet seat so the little dog can't get water that way.

8. Stick to your schedule. After seven days, your little dog should be completely trained.

Tips & Warnings

• Dogs under the age of six months are hard to train. Don't expect a dog under this age, whether big or little, to be potty trained quickly.

• Never hit your dog for having an accident. This will not train your dog to go outside. Ignoring your dog for an accident is enough to get the message across.