Advice on Potty Training a Dog

Potty training is an essential dog owner responsibility. Dogs are instinctively clean animals and don't like to soil their living area, so use this instinct as the starting point for potty training.

  1. Establish a Routine

    • Establish a routine so that your dog is in the right place at the times it is most likely to potty. After meals and first thing in the morning, make sure that your dog is outside. Be patient and be prepared to reward the dog as soon as it goes to the toilet.

    Ignore Accidents

    • All dogs will have accidents and it is essential not to punish the dog. Doing so can create toilet anxiety, which can make housetraining extremely hard. Avoid accidents by monitoring your dog's behavior. Circling, scratching at the door or whining are potential signs that the dog needs to go. If you spot these signs, open the door and encourage the dog to go outside.

    Praise Appropriate Behavior

    • The trick to potty training is to make the dog want to go in the right place. Give a positive reaction to the behavior of going to the toilet, and you create an association in the dog's mind that the action has good consequences. Dogs learn by association and repeat actions that bring good consequences. Use food, toys or praise as a reward.