A lot of us love to own those furry, fluff balls with those inquisitive eyes and notorious nature. First thought which crosses our mind is how will I manage? How difficult can it be? Puppies require a lot of attention right? Potty training can be a hectic time consuming task and it needs lot of work! No I don’t want to go through all this!! This is how we drop the idea of getting a pup immediately. Trust me this happens with everyone and in every household who wants to get a puppy.

Let us make this timing consuming hectic task easier…

There are few simple and easy steps which we have to follow patiently. I repeat patiently…

Introducing to the Environment

Puppy Training should start at day one. Newly arrived pup should be introduced to the new surroundings. Let him sniff around and move freely. To make it easier introduce the place part by part for example if you have a two storied building or villa let him get used to the lower floor thoroughly followed by upper. It is mandatory that he gets a clear idea about the whole area. I should warn you, it may take few days, but let him go through it part by part.

Crate Training 

It would be really helpful if the pup has his own crate or kennel space. Puppy should be introduced positively to the crate this is the one thumb rule that we have to keep in our mind. By positively I mean, he should be able to get in the crate by his own will. When we forcefully lock him inside the crate by beating or scolding him, he might have a negative association which might end up in, him disliking the crate.

Technique for this positive association is

1. open the crate, make him sniff the crate
2. keep it open, give him treats one by one
3. make a trail of doggy treats into the crate
4. once he gets inside let him be comfortable do not close the crate
5. continue these above steps frequently
6. close the crate; leave him inside for short intervals starting with 15mins intervals. Slowly increase the duration.
7. develop a routine timing, so that when the time comes he himself will go rest in his crate/kennel.

Why crate training:

•       Crate training helps in closer observation of the puppy.
•       It helps to keep the pup in confined area, when left unattended.
•       It helps in reducing the activity level.

Primary idea behind the crate training is that when a dog realises his private space he will not defecate in the same place. The key is to make him understand that his private space is not only crate/kennel but also the whole living area inside the house. So starting from crate, his private space should be increased step by step. Till he recognise the whole house as his own.

Supervision

Supervision is the key word. Puppies are just like babies they should be under close watch, observation and supervision. They shouldn’t be left unattended especially when they are in the living area. Easy way to do so is to, keep the puppy on leash and attach the leash to your hand or your belt loop thereby you will be able keep a close watch on him. Monitor his movements, his behavioural changes when he is about to urinate or defecate. Common gestures manifested before urination and defecation are sniffing, circling and restlessness. Keep a note of frequency of voiding too. In puppyhood they frequently pass urine because of the small bladder. As they grow up bladder capacity will increase and the frequency will reduce. It can vary from breed to breed also. Toy breeds like poodles, Chihuahua generally will have lower bladder capacity even after attaining adult body size and weight. So the frequency of voiding will be more.

Praising and Rewarding

Let’s face the fact – no puppy is perfect in this world and they make a lot of mess. They do not know the difference between right and wrong. It is our duty to train them. Soiling of the rugs, carpets, sorry to mention even beds and expensive couches may happen.  Do not lose patience, in such instance our mantra should be “keep calm and love your puppy”! Most of us were told to punish the puppy when they make mistakes or accidents. Rubbing of the nose on urine, beating with news paper, scolding, locking in the kennel for the entire day etc are the common punishments given. I should say all these are traditional methods it is no longer practiced. As generations passes by, there is significant development in IQ and EQ not only in Homo sapiens but also in domesticated canines and felines. This is due to their close association with the human beings.  According to the new practices, the word punishment is replaced with praising and rewarding. Unlike us, they do not crave for anything other than food, attention and love. So in order to show that you are happy with them, all you have to do is reward them with doggy treats, toys and encouragement.

There are a few possible instances you will encounter

1.    Puppy urinating or defecating in front of you

• Stop him immediately with a strong “NO”, “BAD PUPPY”, and take him outside or wherever you want him to finish his business.

2.     When you notice, after the accident is made

• There is no use of punishing him after the accident is made. He should be corrected before accident or during the process of voiding but never after it.
• The reason behind it is that, most of the time we tend to scold or make them understand their mistake only after the incident, thinking it would make much sense. There is another side to it. Often puppies or dogs do not understand why they are been shouted at. They only understand that you are upset with him. I am pretty sure there will be good percentage of dog lovers who would disagree with this statement. “My dog perfectly understands everything I say. When I shout at him, he is truly guilty and sad” these might be your arguments. As a dog lover and a veterinarian even I agree to it to some extent. According to domesticated canine psychology what really happens is that when you shout at them irrespective of whether they understand their mistake or not, they tend to respond with fear. It is not exactly the guilt, but it is the fear which we misinterpret as guilt.

3.    When they urinate/defecate at the right place where you want him to do

• Pet and reward them with doggy treats. Offer him some extra play time. Encourage him saying “GOOD PUPPY”

DO NOT FORGET TO REWARD them when they get it right!!! That is how they are going to have a positive association with the whole process.

Schedule and Routine

By routine activities I mean timely feeding, playing etc. Make a schedule. Timely feeding will help us to predict his voiding time to great extent. When they are in puppyhood digestion is faster so they will void within 1-2hrs. As they grow up digestion takes time.

Puppies are more likely to void

• Immediately after feeding
• After a nap
• After playing
• After 2-3hrs of feeding

Make it a point that you follow it on a daily basis

These five steps will make your pup’s potty training much easier and faster than you expected.

Remember when your dog makes an accident inside, it means that you were not observing or supervising him enough. It is your mistake not his!

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