One of the biggest obstacles that comes along with training your dog is potty training. House training is probably one of the most frustrating parts of adopting a new dog, especially if this is your first time!
3 Tips To Potty Train Your Dog
How Long It Takes
House training usually takes between 4-6 months, but it depends on a few factors. Puppies tend to learn faster than older dogs. However, a dog’s bladder isn’t fully developed until around 12 months.
Different dogs also have different abilities to learn quickly. For some dogs, it could take up to a year to learn to use the bathroom outside. It really depends on your dog.
How To Tell Your Dog Needs The Bathroom
There are some signs to look out for to know your dog has to go. This includes:
- Fidgeting/ not being able to sit still
- Sniffing around. This signals they are looking for a place to go
- Circling around and then squatting
The Steps
When you know your dog needs to go, use these steps to train them:
- Take them to the same place every time to use the bathroom.
- When they begin to go, use a verbal command. Eventually they will associate the word with using the bathroom.
- Reward them when they are done. You can offer treats, praise, and playtime.
- If they’re going in the wrong place, calmly redirect them to where you want them to go.
- If they go in the wrong place, such as in the house, do not punish them. Punishing dogs does not teach them, it only makes them confused and scared. Just keep using positive reinforcement, and they will learn eventually.
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