Step 4: Make a Schedule
A schedule can accelerate your puppy's progress through Housetraining 101. That's because your little one is a creature of habit, and learns through repetition. If you take him to the potty spot to do his business at the same time each and every day, you will condition your puppy to go potty at the times you want.
However, count on taking lots of trips to the outdoor potty, at least at first. A puppy just can't hold it for very long. If your dog is younger than 3 months old, he needs a bathroom break as often as every hour or two, and also once or twice during the night. As your puppy matures, though, he will need fewer pit stops. In any case, you should take your puppy to the potty whenever he wakes up from a nap, after energetic play and after meals.
Step 5: Cast an Eagle Eye
Whenever your puppy is not in his crate, you need to watch him carefully. Your puppy can get into mischief if you don't supervise and will have a bathroom boo-boo if you're not there to prevent it.
When it comes to housetraining, prevention is key. If you can forestall bathroom boo-boos before they happen, your puppy will learn potty protocol more quickly than if you allow him to consider your entire home his own personal outhouse.
In order to prevent bathroom mistakes, you must learn to recognize the obvious gestures that signal your puppy is about to go. Those signs include sudden restlessness, intense sniffing in one area, circling, pacing, or suddenly standing still.
If you catch your puppy in the act, distract him: clap your hands or say "No!" Then, pick your puppy up and whisk him outside to the potty spot.
Step 6: Expect to Mess Up
No matter how diligent you are, your puppy will have an accident. You'll turn your back for a second, and a puddle will materialize at your feet or a deposit will appear at the other end of the room.
When these events occur, though, don't scold your puppy. Your puppy didn't mess up; you did. Put your puppy in his crate, then clean up. But don't use just any cleaner to do the job. Instead, employ an enzymatic product manufactured especially for dealing with canine bathroom mishaps. These products remove the sight and the scent of puppy potty indiscretions. If any trace of your dog's bathroom mistake lingers, he's likely to go back to that place and perform an encore.
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