So, you’ve got a new addition to your family, right? You’ve brought a new puppy into your household and now you’re wondering just how to potty train a puppy fast.
After all, you definitely don’t want a mess to deal with. What’s a new pet parent to do?
If you are also interested in teaching your new puppy to fetch you should definitely check out this article for some quick tips.
Table of Contents
How To Potty Train A Puppy Fast
Set a Feeding Schedule
The first thing you should do is make sure your puppy has a feeding schedule.
Just like any of us has to go to the bathroom within a short time after eating, so will your puppy.
If you set a specific schedule for them to eat then you’ll know when they need to go to the bathroom.
Make sure you also remove any of the leftover food after you’ve given them enough time to eat as much as they want.
Set a Potty Schedule
There should be set times that you take your puppy outside to go to the bathroom. You should always take them out first thing in the morning and right before bed.
You’ll also want to make sure you take them outside within 30 minutes after they eat.
This reduces the risk of them going to the bathroom in the house at all and makes sure that you’re going to have fewer accidents even when you’re just getting started with potty training.
Set a Specific Location
When your puppy gets older you may be able to let them outside and have them do their business wherever they want.
For now, focus on a specific part of the yard. When you take your puppy outside take them directly to that spot in the yard and wait there while they do their business.
Encourage them to continue going to that specific location every time you take them out.
They may continue to use that same spot to go to the bathroom even as they get older because they will start to associate the spot with what they’re supposed to do there.
Stay Outside with Your Puppy
Chances are your puppy is going to be pretty nervous about just about anything that’s new and being outside by themselves is definitely going to be something new.
So is going to the bathroom outside in your yard.
So standing outside with them is a great way for them to feel more comfortable and to actually do what they’re supposed to be doing.
As they get older they’ll be able to do this alone, but for now it’s going to be a good idea to stand there and make sure they don’t wander off somewhere you don’t want them to be as well.
Offer Rewards and Praise
Every time your puppy goes to the bathroom where you want them to and doesn’t have an accident in the house give them plenty of praise and rewards.
It doesn’t have to be a treat every time. You could take them for a walk or give them attention and affection.
They’ll start to associate the praise and the rewards with the act and they’ll be even more likely to repeat it again.
After all, your puppy is just like a child. They want attention and they want praise from you and they’re likely to do whatever leads them to get it.
React to ‘Requests’ to Go Out Quickly
If your puppy starts whining or circling or even sniffing around it’s a sign that the may need to go to the bathroom.
That’s a sign for you to immediately get up and take them outside.
Teach them that these behaviors mean you’re going to take them out and that they should only do them if they need to go outside.
The sooner you react to these ‘requests’ the less likely you are to have any accidents inside the house because you’re catching them before they can eliminate in the house.
Take Your Puppy Outside Immediately After Any Accidents
If your puppy does have an accident in the house make sure you immediately take them outside and over to the spot you’ve designated for them.
They may still have to go and if you ignore them to clean up the mess you may actually end up with more than one mess to clean up.
That’s definitely not something you’re going to want.
Also, taking them outside immediately reinforces the idea that this is where they are supposed to use the bathroom, not inside the house.
Clean Accidents Thoroughly to Reduce the Risk of Repeat Accidents
If your puppy does have an accident in the house it’s important that you clean it up thoroughly.
Urine can leave specific enzymes and odors in your carpet or on your floors that your dog will recognize.
If they smell those they may associate the spot with going to the bathroom and they may repeat the accident in the same location again.
An odor-removing cleaner, such as an ammonia-based cleaner, is going to be the best option when it comes to cleaning up the mess and getting your puppy to avoid going to the bathroom in the same spot yet again.
If you are looking for some good options check out the best dog stain and odor removers.
Avoid Punishments
The one thing you should avoid is punishments for accidents. Yelling or rubbing your puppy’s nose in anything will not help matters.
Punishing them in any manner will actually not improve the situation.
Your puppy won’t be able to associate the behavior with the negative reaction and will likely only come to fear you rather than to understand what you’re trying to tell them.
That’s why it’s important to focus on rewarding positive behavior rather than trying to punish them for negative behavior.
Your puppy will respond better and they’ll come to love you instead of being afraid of what you might do next.
Conclusion
Hopefully, now you know how to potty train a puppy fast and you’re ready to get started with yours.
Before you know it, your new puppy is going to have no problem heading outside in order to do their business and you’ll be loving having them around.
