We like to refer to this as house training a puppy. There are many methods available to train your puppy to go potty outside. The one that’s right for you will match your enthusiasm and commitment level and your schedule. All methods must be used consistently in order to help puppy understand that they should go potty outside the house…not in it.
How long should you expect puppy to “hold it”?
Depending on his age, your puppy’s bladder and bowels are still developing and he won’t be able to hold it very long. A good formula is to take puppy’s age in weeks and divide by 3. This gives you the maximum amount of time he can hold it. For example, if your pup is 9 weeks old, divided by 3, gives you a maximum of 3 hours of holding power.
If you are crate training your puppy
Crates are excellent to teach house training but remember that crates are a tool… and should not be used for storage for your pet. We recommend that puppy be brought out of the crate on regular intervals to interact with his family and receive the necessary visual and mental stimulation. The moment puppy comes out of the crate, take him outside. When he goes potty, praise the heck out of him and make a BIG fuss over his achievement. Then it’s back inside to play. Puppy should have another potty outing prior to going back in the crate.
How does crate training work?
Puppies typically won’t go potty where they sleep so the crate removes that temptation. It also prevents puppy from going to the bathroom in the house so you prevent a habit from beginning. Both of these things help puppy understand that going potty outside is good and going inside is not good.
What if puppy is going to the bathroom in his crate?
If your puppy is going to the bathroom in his crate, verify if he’s in there too long. Additionally, is the crate so big for him that he can potty on one side of it and sleep on the other? If this is the case, crate dividers might be a good option. They are temporary and you can adjust and remove them as your puppy grows. Your puppy needs room to stand up and turn around comfortably but if you have a 4 pound puppy in a crate large enough for a full grown Boxer, there’s plenty of room to sneak off for a quick tinkle! The final question is, is the crate free of all traces of urine and feces? Clean up is critical, using special enzymes to breakdown the scents. Soap and water or vinegar is not enough. If puppy can still smell any trace of a prior accident, it will attract him to go back there and do it again.
If space is not an issue and puppy is offered potty breaks at intervals appropriate for his age, we’d recommend a veterinary check up to rule out bladder problems such as a urinary tract infection or other medical reasons.
More tomorrow!