Potty training
a puppy can be a challenge. If you live in an apartment you might even
think it’s impossible. But here is the good news dog lover: You can live
in an apartment and still have a puppy. (As long as your landlord
doesn’t mind!) The 5 secrets to potty training a puppy in an apartment
are easy to remember because they all start with the letter P. They are:
- Planning
- Preparing
- Puppy Pads
- Praise
- Persistence
Let’s take a closer look at each one.
Planning Ahead to Apartment Train Your Puppy
If you’re going to be successful at potty training your puppy in your
apartment, the first thing you need is a plan. Potty training a puppy
takes some one on one time with your puppy, so try not to bring home
your puppy during a busy time of year for you. If you’re going to be
away from home for work or school for long periods it’s not a good time.
The trick to potty training a puppy is to reinforce good behavior and
lessen the chances for wrong behavior. Good behavior is going in the
area you want your puppy to go. Wrong behavior is when your puppy goes
somewhere in your apartment you don’t want them to go.
The more you are around, the more you can reinforce the good behavior
and the more you can limit your puppy’s chances to form bad habits.
Therefore, the better you plan, the better able you will be to potty
train your puppy in your apartment.
Preparing: 5 Things You Need To Start Potty Training
In addition to scheduling, part of the plan involves preparing your
apartment. To potty train a puppy in your apartment you will need the
following:
- A crate, or house for your puppy.
- Puppy Pads or equivalent.
- A designated area in your apartment where you want to train your puppy to go.
- A phrase you want to use as a cue for your puppy to go potty.
- An agreement among everyone in your apartment on the plan so everyone is on the same page.
Puppy Pads Mark the Spot
In order to apartment train your puppy, you need to set aside a room
in your apartment where you want your puppy to potty. You will want this
area to be away from where your dog will eat and sleep. Also, try not
to use a room with carpet for obvious reasons.
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Prepare the area by placing puppy pads down. When you start training, make the area bigger than it will eventually be.
What are puppy pads? Puppy pads are made of absorbent material so
that when your puppy pees on them, they absorb the liquid without
soaking through like newspaper would. Puppy pads also include
attractants to encourage your puppy to use them. They also include odor
blockers to keep them from getting smelly.
You can also use artificial grass pads which are definitely more
attractive to have in your apartment. They even have ones with real
grass.<br />
Praise is Critical to Success in Potty Training a Puppy in an Apartment
Once you have everything in place, the plan is simple. When your
puppy starts to go or looks like he’s about to go, pick the puppy up and
immediately take him to the puppy pads.
The more time you spend around your puppy, the more you will pick up
on its cues. Usually a puppy will start to sniff around or give other
signs that you will soon recognize.
First thing in the morning, you should take your puppy directly from his crate
to the puppy pads. Remember that puppies have small bladders and can’t
hold it for long. Dogs will try not to go on their crates, but if you
leave a puppy in a crate for too long they won’t be able to hold it.
Once your puppy goes, be sure to heap on the enthusiastic praise.
Dogs love praise. Many people underestimate the effectiveness of praise
with their dogs.
Use Your Magic Potty Words
Whenever you put your puppy on the designated potty space in your
apartment, be sure to use the same phrase each time. It can be “go
potty, “make some magic” or something more creative. Just make sure it’s
the same each time. That phrase will become the command your puppy
associates with taking care of business.
Persistence is Key to Potty Training
None of this will work if you don’t follow through. Puppies don’t get
potty trained overnight. Your puppy will have accidents, this doesn’t
mean you are failing and should give up.
If your puppy has accident while you are there, pick him up and take him to the puppy pads. Never hit your puppy or rub his nose in it. This won’t help. Plus, who wants to be a jerk to puppy?
Conclusion
See, you can potty train a puppy in an apartment. Adopting a puppy is
a big responsibility so make sure you are up to the challenge.
If you need more tips, check out our free Everyday Training Guide.
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