Mark and Sandra Richardson recently adopted a five month old golden retriever, Sam, from a local animal rescue organization.   According to the staff, Sam was housebroken, so the Richardsons didn’t plan on potty training him.  Shortly after his arrival, they learned the shelter was not completely honest with them.

Sandra took Sam outside shortly after they arrived home.  Sam explored the backyard, chased a few butterflies, urinated on the tree and galloped back to the house.   Sandra, relieved at how easy it seemed to potty train Sam, followed him inside.  Ten minutes later she stepped in a rather stinky indication potty training was not going to be as simple as she hoped.

Housebreaking a puppy can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be difficult.  Like training a dog to do almost any task, the key is consistency and positive reinforcement.   If the dog is rewarded every time he eliminates outside and redirected every time he eliminates in an unacceptable area he will quickly stop leaving “surprises” indoors. 

With the right techniques and a little patience, housetraining a dog can be easy and extremely rewarding. 

Dogs are creatures of habit and thrive when they have a regular schedule.  Having set times to take the puppy outside will help him adapt to only eliminating outdoors.  Young puppies (8-12 weeks old) will usually need to go when they wake up, after they eat, after playtimes and before bed.  Consistently taking him outside after these activities will quickly cement potty time into the dog’s routine.  Praise and reward him every time he eliminates outside.  Dogs respond beautifully to this kind of reinforcement, and will be eager to please.

Individual dogs may have different scheduling needs.  If the dog is still having accidents, try taking them outside more frequently.  Pay attention to the dog’s activities, if accidents seem to occur at certain times or after certain activities, adjust the outdoor schedule to reflect the dog’s needs.

Using a schedule helps a dog develop bowel and bladder control, but it takes time.  Older puppies and adult dogs may only need three or four outdoor trips per day, but young puppies can’t be expected to control themselves for that long between trips.  When the dog is mature enough, slowly ease back on the number of times per day the dog is taken outside.  Sudden changes can confuse a dog, which can lead to unwanted accidents.

By eight or nine months of age, most dogs should be able to adhere to a less frequent schedule easily, especially if the owner has been consistent and provided regular praise. At this age a dog is typically able to indicate if he needs to go outside, as well. 

All dogs are unique; one dog may need to go outside several times a day while another only needs two or three trips.  Pay attention to how he responds and adjust the schedule to meet his needs.