Who does not love a puppy? Cute little face, chubby cheeks, puffy butt! We love puppies!! But bringing a puppy home is like bringing a toddler home and toddlers  make mess…

It can be frustrating and upsetting for many families to realize that their newest, cutest addition POOPS. POOPS a lot. If you are not ready for this – don’t get a puppy!

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Potty training starts immediately when you bring a puppy into your home. For us, it starts from the very first moments of dog’s life – a puppy pen must be kept free of poop to ensure puppies are never used to it being around. During the first weeks of life momma is a great help!  Around week six all puppies start to follow their momma and littermates and not poop in the whelping box/puppy space. Let me tell you that naturally dogs do not poop where they live. They never will poop in their sleeping space (crate) unless they are forced to be in it for a very long time.  

The potty training for families starts immediately, at the very moment you take a puppy home. 

 

What helps?

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1. Be consistent and always on schedule – with going outside times. Puppy cannot hold for a very long time, so remember to take your puppy outside every hour for how many months a puppy is. For example, a puppy of 3 months old must be taken out every 3 hours, 4 months old – every four hours and so on.  Take your puppy out first thing in the morning, after every feeding, after every nap, and the last thing at night.  Take your puppy out to the same spot.

2. Be consistent and on schedule – with feeding times! Puppy should not be allowed to have “free feeding”. We recommend six times per day feeding up to 6 months of age. Water should always be available. This will ensure regular BMs.

3. Be consistent and right on – with cleaning accidents! Never leave a mess in the house for a long time. Use an old rug/towel to wipe the puddle. Immediately spray the place of an accident with vinegar to eliminate the smell (vinegar infused with oranges and thyme is the best!). Then, place a rug/towel that you used to wipe the accident with by the door, so a puppy knows where to go next time. Not a bad idea to have a plastic tray by the door to keep your used towel on. This way, the next time your puppy is looking for that smell, you can easily open the door and take him/her out immediately.

4. Crate training helps tremendously with potty training!  Crate must be a proper size for your puppy – puppy should be able to sit, stand and turn around in it comfortably. Crate is a safe space, so never send your puppy in a crate for punishment. 

5. Remember to be kind and patient.  Praise and reward your puppy when they do it right. If your puppy has an accident in the house  do not rub their nose in it. Do not punish your puppy for an accident in the house.

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Always watch your puppy’s stools – this will tell you a lot about overall puppy’s health.  Stress and change of food can cause diarrhea.  If this happens, a tablespoon of plain unsweetened pumpkin puree should help.  

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It is a lot of work to raise a puppy but remember – dogs don’t stay little for a long time!  This puppy stage will pass too soon - Enjoy it!

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text: Vom Geliebten Haus, 2019 (c)

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