How to House Train a Pitbull Puppy

House training your pit bull puppy can be very frustrating when you first begin. You may think that you will never be able to housebreak your puppy, but it will eventually learn to go potty outside. Pit bulls are extremely intelligent and live to please their owners. To house train your pit bull quickly, remain with your puppy day and night so you can watch for signs that it needs to go to the bathroom. Constant praise is essential to keeping your pit bull puppy from having accidents in your home.

Things You'll Need

  • Newspapers
  • Dog crate
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Instructions

    • 1

      Learn to recognize the signals your puppy gives when it has to go potty. Excessive sniffing of the carpet is one sign that your puppy is ready to go to the bathroom. Discern your puppy's specific signs and signals. Remember what your puppy's actions were just before it went potty; this will clue you in as to what to look for so that when your puppy exhibits these signs, you can take it outdoors.

    • 2

      Use newspapers or a potty pad to aid in house training your puppy. Place newspapers or a potty pad on the floor so that your puppy has access to them. Pick up the fecal matter or wipe up the urine with a towel when your puppy has an accident, then place the substances on the newspaper or pad. Place your puppy on the newspaper or pad, and allow it to sniff the waste. Praise and pet your puppy at this time; this will let your puppy know that you expect it to go potty on the newspaper or potty pad, not on the floor.

    • 3

      Take your puppy outside to go potty frequently. Take your puppy outside 15 to 20 minutes after eating or drinking, before going to bed and as soon as you get home from work or school. Take your puppy out as soon as you wake up as well. This will give your puppy plenty of chances to go potty outside.

    • 4

      Crate train your puppy to help eliminate overnight accidents. Take your puppy outside and allow it to eliminate before bedtime, then place it in the crate for up to five hours overnight.

    • 5

      Praise your puppy, and correct it with love. Pit bulls rarely respond in a positive way to harsh commands or discipline. Give your puppy time to learn what is expected.