4 Tips for Potty Training Puppies

When potty training puppies, many folks become frustrated at the whole process in general. Getting frustrated is understandable, and mistakes can be quite frequent as most puppies are still getting acquainted with the way the world operates. The way you react to your puppy’s actions is the big determiner of his behavior that most people don’t realize. Here are a few things to remember as you potty train your puppy:

RESPECT: That’s right – potty training puppies need respect too! Dogs respond to emotions and feelings, and can tell when they’re being respected, even though they are not necessarily verbal animals. If they feel like they’re loved members of your family, they will usually return the favor and respect your rules better.

TEMPER: It’s hard to stay cool when your little puppy just left a “dookie” in the middle of the floor! However, the truth is that calm commands get a much better response than yelling and screaming. Your puppy will become confused and his progress delayed if you lose your temper.

PRAISE: Always remember to give credit when credit is due. This means to constantly reinforce good behavior. Make sure to give your puppy plenty of petting praising, and loving. This will not only imrpove behavior, but will also help to strengthen the mutual respect for each other, and reinforce the bond between you.

STRIKING: Many folks believe that hitting their dog helps establish “who’s boss” when potty training puppies. But the truth is that this can cause psychological damage, and can contribute to lengthy delays in the potty training process because it just plain freaks your puppy out! This can mean a major repositioning for many dog owners’ thought processes, but most of the main-stream dog trainers now recommend positive reinforcement over negative reinforcement. So again, if you feel your temper heating up, just walk away and deal with it when you calm down.

By following these four easy tips, you will strengthen the relationship between you and your dog, and your dog’s behavior will improve, thus speeding up the potty training process. Have fun!

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