POTTY TRAINING
GENERAL APPROACH
Potty training can sometimes take a little longer for small dogs. But whether you have a small dog or a big dog, following a few tips with consistency will help your puppy learn what to expect.
When your pup isn’t in her crate, she should be with you (or someone) AT ALL TIMES, in order to redirect unwanted behavior and praise proper behavior. (It can be helpful to have your dog attached to your belt loop with a leash.) If you’re able to "catch" your dog going potty in the wrong place, immediately interrupt her by saying, “Hey” or “eh, eh”. Never rub your dog’s nose in it, punish or hit her! Instead, direct her to the place where she should go, and say, “Go Potty”. When she does go in the right place, give her lots of praise, and maybe even a treat if you have one handy! It doesn't take long for them to "get it" when they get consistent positive rewards for doing the right thing.
OUTSIDE TRAINING
Housebreaking is a behavior that typically begins outside. A puppy needs to potty much more often than an adult dog. A good rule of thumb is that a puppy can hold their bladder one hour for each month of their age. The best times to take your puppy out to potty is after waking from sleep, after mealtime, and after playtime. An adult dog usually needs to take a potty break every 6-8 hours.
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POTTY PAD TRAINING
Training your dog to use potty pads have certain advantages, especially if you have a small dog, and can’t easily go outside. It’s also a good option for traveling.
Start your pad training by creating a small area where your puppy hangs out when he’s alone. Dogs will naturally want to avoid soiling their bed, so he should only have his sleeping space, and the remaining floor space covered with pads. You want to set your puppy up for success by not giving him the opportunity to relieve himself on anything other than the potty pad.
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Over the course of time, as the dog begins to get used to going potty on the pad, gradually start covering less of the floor space with the pad, until you’re able to only use one pad.
Tip: Before you start the potty pad training, be sure the pad is in the same area you’re going to want it in when the training is complete.
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CRATE TRAINING
For puppy training, I like to use the “The Puppy Apartment, or similar crate that has a small portion for the “bedroom” and the larger portion as the “bathroom”. Start crate training by making it a fun game! Encourage your puppy to go inside to get a treat, while the door stays open. Call him back out, to get another treat, then back in again. That could conclude your first training session. The next day, you could close the door briefly, then open it and call him out to get a treat. With each practice session, have the door closed a little longer.
I like “Puppy Apartment” type crates because when they’re in their crate at night, you don’t have to worry about them needing to go to the bathroom. It’s easily accessible, and they can climb right back into their bed.