Potty Pointers: How to Train Your New Dog

Whether you decide to adopt, rescue, foster or otherwise care for a new puppy or older dog in your home, you will want to learn how to potty train the animal. And you will want to begin as soon as possible, to save your stress levels from climbing and your flooring and other possessions. To help, here are some potty pointers:

1) If you have a puppy, many suggest that from eight weeks to 12 weeks is a good time to begin this type of training. Bottom line: as soon as you can, begin with good practices. Set newspaper on the floor by the door you want the dog to go out of regularly. If you notice the animal begin go in the same place elsewhere, also place newspaper down there. The goal is to newspaper train, then outdoor train, unless you are lucky enough to advance to Go and have them go directly outside from the get-go (a miracle, but it can happen).

2) Others suggest crate training first, using a barred cage-type crate, similar to a dog carrier , for animals with a door that closes and locks shut. Make sure there is room for the dog to move around in here, turning in a full circle to make itself comfortable. And use this for a bedroom, not an area for punishment. Use it for naps that are not longer than two hours. The theory is that dogs will not go to the bathroom where they sleep, although is the need is urgent enough (example: you delay getting to them), nature does take over, as it does with all of us. Since puppies usually need to go to the bathroom very three hours or so, guide them to this cage every few hours to see if they need to go.

As your pup ages, you may seek to then paper train it, as in #1 above. Then train it to go outside.

3) Dogs love routine and circles (think: tail-chasing!) So as soon as they wake up, take them outside to go potty, just as you'd do. After meals, do the same. And right before bed, have a routine where the dog goes potty, then night-night (sort of like two year old humans) roughly the same time each night.

4) Dogs love to be happy and wag their tails, too. So use positive reinforcement and training techniques; for example, say, "Good dog!" or "Good (dog's name)!" when the dog goes potty where it should.

5) If the animal is sniffing around, it probably needs to go. So learn to be alert to this. Plus if it starts going inside, say a firm, "No!" and grab the little guy and take it outdoors or to its designated area (newspaper or cage, for instance) and then see if it will continue to go there instead.

6) Please do not use negative actions like hitting to punish the dog for mishaps. Your new family member may learn but get excited and forget once in awhile. Be patient, offer hugs and kisses and just pick up and keep on going.

For help, call or email your local Humane Society, pet store, pet rescues, vet or dog trainer. You can find plenty of helpful books at the public library and online resources as well. Keep plenty of housetraining aids on hand, and you should do fine!