How to Know When Your Puppy Needs to Potty
You've brought your cute little puppy home, and you can't wait to begin your relationship. You've picked out the most comfortable bed for her to sleep on, bought her loads of fun toys and even made her gourmet organic cookies. Just when you think it couldn't be any better, your perfect puppy goes to the bathroom on your expensive rug. Could this have been avoided? Most likely, yes. By observing your puppy and learning her cues, you can easily know when she needs to go outside and can avoid having to clean up messy accidents.
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Instructions
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Observe your puppy. Every dog is different and shows you that she needs to go in her own way. While many dogs display common cues, this doesn't mean that yours uses the same as others. Watch her behavior before she has an accident and if she gives you a cue.
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Watch her to see if she is sniffing the floor. This behavior is a definite sign that she needs to go. She may also walk around in a circle while sniffing before she goes potty. Even when outdoors, a dog sniffs the ground before she eliminates, so she will likely do the same indoors.
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Listen for your puppy to whine or cry. If your pup starts making these noises for no apparent reason, it is probably a sign that she needs to relieve herself. This is especially common once a puppy starts to learn that going to the bathroom in the house is unacceptable. She will cry because she is uncomfortable and needs to be let out.
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Look and see if she is standing by the door. Once puppies start to get the hang of going outside through a certain door to go to the bathroom, they begin standing in front of that door to signal to you that it is time. Some dogs may even scratch at the door or try to turn the knob. If you walk her on a leash to go, she may even grab her leash.
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Tips & Warnings
Young puppies typically have little to no bladder control and often don't know they have to eliminate until mere seconds beforehand. Your puppy may take some time before she begins showing you cues.
Most puppies need to relieve themselves after they eat or drink, because their full bellies place pressure on their bladders and intestines. Additionally, many need to go after they have slept. Routinely taking them out after these occasions will help with the potty training process.
