You have been waiting for this moment for such a long time. You have done all your homework on dog breeds and have finally got to bring your perfect little puppy home. He is lively, he is enthusiastic, he is licking your children with an adoring look on his face, and the first thing he does when you set him down is pee on your beautiful carpet. This is not a problem. You had done your research prior to deciding on a dog, and realized that he wasn't going to come potty-trained and carrying a roll of toilet tissue in his mouth.
The problem comes three or four months later when he is a little bigger, drinking a greater amount of water, and still flooding your carpet with pee on a daily basis. Here are some fantastic tips to help him kick the habit!
Clean Problem Areas Thoroughly
It might LOOK like you got rid of the urine using regular cleaners, and it might smell like you got rid of the urine, but it is still there and your dog can smell it! Your dog can smell his urine on the floor like we can smell a dirty bathroom. Unless you use specialized cleaners that actually degrade the enzymes, your puppy will be drawn to the spot as though there was a flag saying “Pee Here” on it.
Supervise Toilet Time
Take your dog out to the bathroom on a leash so you can carefully monitor progress. Enthusiastically praise him and reward him with a treat as he urinates in the correct place. As he is doing so, use a word such as “Potty” and keep repeating it. Eventually, your dog will associate “Potty” with good bathroom behavior, and will go on command when he hears the word “Potty.”
Crate the Dog When Unsupervised
No matter how much you love your dog; there will be times when you cannot supervise him. At these times, use an appropriately sized dog crate to prevent him roaming free in the house. There is nothing worse than finding puddles everywhere, and dogs hate to be sitting in their own mess, so crating the dog for a short time is an excellent solution until you can take him outside, or provide undivided attention.
Potty training requires a continuous, sustained effort, and you must be consistent. Follow these tips, and you and your dog will become happier!
