Everyone loves puppies.

They are cute, snuggly, playful, and oh so sweet. But you know what can suddenly ruin your day and replace all that puppy love with frustration?

Seeing your puppy had a potty accident on the floor.

Oops!

That’s why Petbobi has the best dog training tips and tricks. We make dog training at home easy! Today let’s learn how to train both puppies and adult dogs alike when and where to go potty.

Use a Special Word

Oh no…

You came home from work and discovered a puddle of pee and poop. Understandably, this can be an upsetting experience (for you and your dog). But remember, your dog didn’t have a potty accident on purpose. They simply need to be taught the correct time and place to relieve themselves.

However, dogs don’t speak using human language!

So, how can you explain potty concepts to them?

A great idea would be to use a verbal cue. This is a training method that signals what a dog should do. When dogs hear a specific word or phrase, they associate it with a desired action.

For example, saying:

• “Go potty.”
• “Do your business.”
• “Pee time.”
• “Hurry up.”
• “Good poop.”

Over time, dogs learn that these words mean it’s time to go potty. Therefore, when they hear them, they are trained to urinate and/or defecate at the moment.

It’s an easy way to communicate potty expectations with dogs.

Choose One Spot

Next, Petbobi recommends visiting the same potty spot again and again.

Why?

Well, because dogs have great memories. They thrive on routine. When going outside to go potty, immediately take your dog to a chosen location. This could be a:

• Patch of grass
• Fire hydrant
• Tree
• Rock

After a little while, your dog will come to see this as their bathroom. Plus, they will recognize the scent and associate it with where they are supposed to pee and poop.

Use a Dog Toilet or Dog Pee Pad

Of course, not everyone has a backyard.

At Petbobi, we understand that dog owners also live in condos and apartments. It can be hard to race downstairs or quickly jump in an elevator before an accident happens!

Luckily, Dog Pee Pads are an option.

These keep a home clean. Once dogs learn that pee pads are for them, there will be less pee and poop messes. So, to train your dog to use a pee pad, first confine your dog to a small area (with the pee pad). The kitchen or bathroom is a good spot. Next, let him sniff. When he starts whining or acting like he might pee/poop, put him onto the pee pad. Keep doing this! Eventually, your dog will realize the pee pads are for him to use.   

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat

The most important takeaway about dog training is repetition.

Dogs learn differently. Some will be faster than others. But one thing is the same for all dogs – practice makes perfect. Once your dogs learn a new skill, they won’t forget it. This includes going potty.

As a dog trainer, you must be consistent. Don’t skip any days! Practice desired potty behavior 24/7 and Monday to Sunday.

Be Patient

We know it can be tempting to get angry about a potty accident.

After all, cleaning up poop isn’t fun! Yet you should never yell at or physically punish a dog for peeing or pooping by mistake. Not only is this cruel, but actually it might make your pet more likely to continue having accidents – the opposite of what we want to achieve.

When dogs are fearful, they struggle to learn.

Positive Reinforcement is Key

Lastly, stay positive!

Don’t let your own anger and annoyance interfere with dog training. Instead, use positive reinforcement. For instance:

• Food / Treats
• Praise
• Cuddles
• Toys
• Playtime

These are all things your puppy or dog loves. Therefore, we want to use them as tools to encourage dogs to act in a certain way. Here is how to potty train a dog positively. First, ask yourself, “What is my dog’s favorite treat?” Try to choose something that smells especially delicious (like small pieces of hotdog or cheese). Keep them inside your pocket. Whenever your dog successfully pees or poops, praise them.

Say something like, “Good girl!” or “Yes!”

Then feed them a treat right away. As they gobble down their reward, they will learn that potty time means yummy snacks.

This leads to our final dog potty training tip…

Potty Training the Right Way with Petbobi

There you have it, pet parents. An easy-to-follow guide on how to potty train a dog fast.

For more “paw-some” dog training content, visit our blog.