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First, I start off by singing my little potty training song…

Music: Bon Jovi
Words: Spike
Tune: You Give Love a Bad Name

Pee on the floor and you’re to blame
You give dogs a bad name
I told you to bark if you had to go
But you peed on the floor
And got thrown out the door.

RULES FOR POTTY TRAINING

1. If you cannot physically keep your eyes on the dog, he must be in his crate or a small confined area.
2. You should leave a six-foot NON-RETRACTABLE leash on your dog at all times during the training period.  Remember, you cannot train what you cannot control)
3. Potty training dogs are not allowed to free feed.
4. You must catch the dog in the act of soiling.  If not, you cannot correct him.  See rule #1.
5. NEVER allow your dog to see you clean up his accidents.
6. Dogs should go outside before and after play, sleeping, and eating.
7. Training sessions (sit, stay, etc) should be taught to a hungry dog and last for 10 minutes only.
8. It is recommended that puppies under 8 months of age eat 3 times a day.
9. Generally food and water are not allowed in the crate.

***  Spike’s Special Note: If your vet recommends that food and/or water be left out for your dog to free feed, DO IT!  Your dogs health may be at risk.  Dogs that free feed may take longer to potty train.  Also, younger and smaller breeds may need to have access to food at all times.

MORNING ROUTINE

Part A

• Take your dog from his crate and put on his six-foot non-retractable leash.
• Go directly outside.  If there are any supplies you need to take with you (baggies, hat, gloves, etc.), gather them BEFORE your leash your dog.
• Always use the same door to go outside and go to the same “potty spot” in the yard.
• Do not walk your dog.  A walk is a completely different activity.  For this training, stay in the “potty spot.”
• Give your dog a command word that signifies the business at hand. (”Tinkle”, “Get Busy”, etc).
• While you are standing near the “potty spot,” do not talk to your dog, do not look at him, and do not accept any gifts from him!
• Remember, this is a business trip!
• Potty time should last 15 minutes.
• When the dog does potty, give him lots of praise (”Good tinkle,” or “Good busy”) and GIVE HIM A TREAT.

Part B

• Feed your dog his breakfast of a premium brand dog food. Yes, these foods do cost more, but dogs will need to eat less of the food and produce less stool.
• Always measure the food. Feed the recommended amount based on your dog’s size, weight and age.
• Feeding time should last 20 minutes.
• At the end of feeding time, take up the food and water.  Keep your eyes on the dog.  He will give you a signal (circling, sniffing the ground, approaching the door) when it is time to go outside.
• Take your dog outside.
• Potty time should last 15 minutes, using the same methods from Part A
• The morning routine is now over.  Your dog should go in his crate or confined area.

Things NOT ALLOWED in the crate or confined area:

Blankets, pillows, paper, bedding of any type.  Your dog must earn these with good behavior.  Because dogs are denning animals, they will use these items to clean up any mess they may make in their area.

Things ALLOWED in the crate:

Kong toy: stuff with treats, seal end with peanut butter and freeze.
Rope toy: soak in chicken bouillon, drain on sink and freeze
Frozen carrots

MID MORNING ROUTINE

Provide water and take the dog outside, using the steps of Part A in the Morning Routine.

LUNCH TIME

Repeat Part A
Repeat Part B

MID AFTERNOON

Provide water and take the dog outside, using the steps of Part A in the Morning Routine.

DINNER TIME

Repeat Part A
Repeat Part B

MID EVENING

Provide water and take the dog outside, using the steps of Part A in the Morning Routine.  Try a 10 minute training session on other areas of interest.  Dogs, especially young pups, will need to make another trip outside before midnight.

POTTY TIMES:

When your puppy is 8 weeks old (2 months), they should be taken out every 2 hours.  As your puppy ages, for each month, that period between trips outside can increase by one hour.  For example, at 12 weeks old (3 months), they should be taken out every 3 hours, and at 16 weeks old (4 months), they should be taken out every 4 hours and so forth.  Once your dog is 32 weeks old (8 months), they should be going out every 8 hours.  After training from 8 weeks old, a dog should be able to wait at least 8 hours to go out.  Adult dogs may be able to move through the the increased times a little faster, but don’t rush things.

The key to all training, especially potty training, comes down to positively reinforcing the correct behavior.  That means lots of praise when he goes in the right place (outside).  The other significant thing is to manage your dog to prevent him from using the wrong places.

When you give your dog too much freedom in the house, he will make a mistake, and if you do not catch the dog in the act of soiling, then you CANNOT correct him.  There was an old wives’ tale about rubbing a dog’s nose in his stuff.  As dogs, we just thought that was a weird ritual practiced by some humans and even though we did not like it, it got us attention and we LOVE attention.   Any kind of attention.  Even mean, rotten attention.

This article is a part of our Potty Training Page.