Want to potty train your dog? These tips would definitely help you.

Are you tired of trying to make your dog pee or poop in a particular place, perhaps a garden or your backyard? And you keep wondering why isn't he/she following you? Well, let's get through some pointers to understand where you could be going wrong in potty training your fur-buddy.

What is potty training?

(Image source: American Kennel Club)

It's the kind of training you would give your dog when you want them to excrete in a particular area. It's very useful as your dog knows after the training where not to make a mess. 

Potty training could be provided by you or a trainer. But it's always better if you do it, as you are the one who would command the dog after all. And with the vast information available online, you can really learn to do anything on your own. 

You could train your pooch to poop in a confined space, or in an open space, like a garden, or a park, etc., wherever you think you can easily clean it. 

It's better if you potty train your dog when it's a puppy, as they are very open to learning and can be molded to live in a certain way. But even if you have an adult dog, you can potty train them as well. It could take a bit more patience, but it can be done.

Things to keep in mind

So let us begin by highlighting the things you need to keep in mind while potty training your dog. 

Be patient

Many times pawrents are not very patient in the whole training process, which is why the training can be a failure. You need to keep in mind that it is a whole process and will involve some time.

The time your dog takes to be trained actually depends on a lot of factors. It could take a few days or a few weeks depending on the factors, like your dog's aptitude, your method of training, reinforcement, etc.

Do not rush your dog to learn something new. Give them the time to understand what you want them to do and process it. Do not be disheartened if you are working on your dog for quite some time and they are not getting it right. It's okay, give them some time's rest and start again after a while.

Start at the right age

It has been noticed that many pawrents start training their newly born puppy. Well, that can't be right. You wouldn't expect an infant to start learning, would you? You would want to incorporate good behavior, but you really can't expect them to understand, right?

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Let your puppy be. Don't start training from the first week you got it. Let it know you, the other family members, let it settle down, and have a sense of belonging. 

After your puppy is acquainted with the house and everything, you can start with the potty training process. Ideally, you can start potty training after your puppy is 16 weeks old or above.

Understand the breed and its behavior

This is a very important thing to keep in mind which mostly all pawrents don't think about. Every breed is different. And when we say different, it means that their behavior can be different, their energy levels can be different, also their aptitude can be different from others.

(Image source: Doggy Gifts)

When you are potty training your dog, make sure you understand it first. And how you would understand your dog? By reading and learning about its breed, it's behavior and everything that you can learn. After that, you can empathize with your little one and can give the right kind of training.

Often the breeds that are highly energetic, such as Pitbull, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, etc., need a different style of training. Their training includes a pattern that involves draining their energy levels first so that they pay attention to you. Similarly, other breeds also have different requirements for training.

Choose a potty zone

Another very important point is to choose a potty zone for your dog. It could be a spot at the park or your backyard, anywhere you want it to excrete. You have to make sure that you take your dog to the spot every time it wants to urinate or make a poo.

When you have spent some time with your dog, you understand its excretion timings. You just have to understand the timings and take your dog to the potty spot whenever it needs to go.

Praises and reinforcement

(Image source: Pedigree)

Reinforcement is very important in the training process. Whenever your dog does something you asked for or even came close to doing it, praise him/her. They need to know that you are happy with what they did and your praises would act as a form of motivation for them.

Also, you can reinforce good behavior in your dog by giving them a treat. This is a very common doing and also very effective. Right when your dog poops on the potty spot for the first time, praise him and/or give him a treat. You can also do the same for every little milestone your buddy achieves. 

Potty training products

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Have you heard about the products that help you potty train your dog? If not, then here we are briefing you about them and how useful they can be. There are various types of potty training products available in stores. Such as potty training pads, potty training spray, mats, and so on. 

The products made for potty training have a distinct smell that attracts the dog to make a poo in them. Check out some potty training pads here.

Please understand that no amount of products will work if you are not training your dog properly. So make sure you understand your dog and its behavior before you drop the whole training process. Best of luck with the training!

We hope that these pointers were useful to you and if there's anything else you need to know, ask away!