- Use all positive reinforcement—rewards—like your happy voice and occasional treats.
Hint: Be ready to be outside EVERY
time with your puppy! Your new puppy relies on you to provide this positive
reinforcement. If you are in the house when your puppy is going to the bathroom
outside, he/she won’t know how pleased you are!
- NEVER use any form of punishment, like scolding, rubbing the puppy’s nose in the mess in the house or hitting your puppy.
Hint: Puppies crave any form of
attention, even negative attention. If they get this attention for going to the
bathroom in the house, THIS will become an unintentional reinforcement of the
wrong behavior, resulting in the pup continuing to go to the bathroom in the
house.
- Give your puppy the opportunity to do the right thing.
Hint: Take your puppy outside
IMMEDIATELY after feeding. A handy little reflex tells the colon to empty when
the stomach is full.
Hint: Always take your puppy
outside first thing in the morning, before bed, and likely many more times
during the day until a routine is established.
Hint: Try to use the same door each
time. Ultimately, your puppy may learn to signal you at that door.
- DON’T give your puppy the opportunity to do the wrong thing!
Hint: If you can’t give your puppy
your full attention, like if you’re reading, cooking, taking a shower or
sleeping, then make sure your puppy is confined in small area, like a crate.
Hint: This small area should be
large enough for the puppy to stand up and turn around, but not large enough to
be able to walk from one end to the other. You want this to simulate a wolf’s
den, not a condominium.
