Let’s discuss potty training your new puppy when you bring it home for the first time! It would be wonderful if new puppies came home potty trained, but that is not the case. The most popular way to potty train your dog is crate training. Dogs are den animals by nature and crates allow your dog a confined space to rest and feel safe.
What is most important when crate training a new dog is routine, expecting accidents, and keeping a positive attitude. Before long, you will forget the potty training period.
Crate Training Your New Puppy
Don’t cringe at the thought of using a dog crate. Crates make life easier and dogs enjoy being confined in a safe space instinctively. Dogs will learn to love their crate quickly and will naturally avoid soiling their safe surroundings. It is entirely fine to offer your dog meals and treats inside their crate. It is their special place, after all.
How Big Should A Dog Crate Be?
According to The Association of Professional Dog Trainers, crates only need to be big enough for a dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down. If the crate is too big, your new dog will likely decide that a far corner of the crate is the perfect place for a potty break. There are many dog crates that expand as your dog grows. This is an economical way to crate train your dog.
How Do I Train A Puppy To Go Potty Outside?
Training a puppy to go outside doesn’t have to be stressful when proper crate training is implemented. Keeping your new dog in the crate when they are not outside or supervised is a good way to make your pet feel safe and allow your family to function without worrying about where the new dog is and what they are doing.
When your puppy comes home, set a timer and take them out of their crate every 30 minutes to go outside for a potty break. Bring them to the same spot or take them on the exact walk for the first few weeks.
Make sure to wildly praise your dog when they go to the bathroom and then put them back in the crate when you get back inside. The more treats the better, so reward your dog when they go back in their crate.
As time passes, increase the time between potty breaks and before you know it your dog will be totally reliant on going outside.
How Long Can My New Puppy Stay in Their Crate?
New Puppies should never be in their crate for more than two hours at a time. If you cannot take your puppy out regularly, ask a neighbor or dog walking service to stop in to take your puppy for a quick walk. Since socialization is so important for young puppies, staying in their crate too long might contribute to a fearful puppy that is afraid to play with other dogs and people. It might also force them to break their instincts and soil their crate.
Never use a dog crate for punishments, as it needs to remain a joyful and safe place for your dog. Crate training offers enormous benefits. It gives your new puppy security makes the house-training process significantly easier. Training a dog with a crate is an excellent choice if you want to get the best potty training results.
