One of the most important factors in determining whether or not a dog becomes a well behaved member of the family is how well the owner is able to potty train the dog.   One of the most frequent reasons a dog is returned to the breeder or rescue is because they are not reliably potty trained.

Are You Ready to Potty Train Your Dog?

There are two main considerations to take into account when preparing to potty train your dog.  First, is the dog old enough to be house trained?  If the puppy is less than eight weeks old, it is unrealistic to expect them to be able to control their bowel movements.  The second consideration is your schedule.  Do you have the time to commit to the potty training process.  Just as with a child, potty training a dog will take your time, focus and attention.  The dog is not going to potty train himself.

Important Things to Remember When Potty Training Your Dog

The first thing to remember is that house training process will take patience.   As the saying goes, “Rome was not built in a day,” and your puppy isn’t going to be housebroken in one either.  How long it will take to potty train your dog is entirely dependent on your commitment to your process.   You must be consistent in the training.

Potty Training Your Dog

While potty training your dog takes time and consistency, it is a fairly simple process.  Pay attention to your dog’s eating and elimination habits.  The first thing in the morning, take your dog out to go potty.  Take him out after he eats.  He will need a bathroom break between 10 and 30 minutes after he eats, depending on the size and age of your dog.

Take him out on a leash.  The first order of business is the potty break.  Once he performs, immediately praise and reward him.  Then you can let him off his leash for play time before going back inside.

In order to potty train dogs, it takes patience, and holding to a schedule consistently.   The more consistent you are, the more quickly your dog will become reliably potty trained.

If you’d like to learn more about potty training dogs,  click here to learn how to house train any dog,