Getting your pup to go when and where you want them to
by Dr. Mikel Delgado, PhD
One of the first things to do with your new puppy is to start house training right away! This will help ensure a lifetime of success at going when and where you would prefer them to eliminate.
It’s important for young puppies to be provided with a place to eliminate (a doggie bathroom, so to speak) - otherwise, if they are housed with just one substrate, they may learn that ANYWHERE is a good place to go, and you definitely don’t want that!
At first, you will want to give your pup frequent chances to succeed, by taking them outdoors to eliminate SEVERAL times a day (ideally at least hourly during waking hours):
A good rule of thumb is that pups less than six months old can hold their urine about as many hours as they are months old. They can usually retain urine for longer periods overnight when sleeping, but young pups will need a potty break overnight.
It’s generally safe to take your puppy outside to eliminate if you avoid areas where other dogs toilet, especially if your puppy has not had their full set of vaccinations. Most dogs are comfortable with dirt, grass or concrete. Some may be picky, so it’s good to give them exposure to different textures when they’re ready to eliminate.
Training goes faster when you choose a spot and consistently bring them there right away. Give them about 10 minutes. If they don’t have to eliminate, bring them inside, and try again a little later.
When they start to urinate or defecate, introduce a cue word or phrase (such as “go potty”). Over time you will be able to use this phrase to ask your dog to go to the bathroom in a timely fashion.
Gently praise and generously reward your pup when they have finished urinating or defecating. But don’t rush your puppy back indoors. If they learn that as soon as they are done going to the bathroom, the outdoor time immediately ends, they may procrastinate so that they can extend the adventure.
Close supervision: Supervision is key during house training.
Confinement: In addition to the frequent trips outdoors, and praising your puppy for good behavior, help your pup get used to time in a crate.
Feeding on a schedule: Input on a routine increases the chance of output on a routine!
What about puppy pads? Some people like to use indoor training devices such as puppy pads during training. There’s nothing wrong with this, but your puppy may get used to eliminating indoors, which can slow down your training to get them to consistently eliminate outdoors.
If you catch your dog urinating or defecating inside, don’t panic! If possible, gently interrupt and quickly grab the leash and take them outdoors to finish.
The goal is to avoid accidents and provide many opportunities for your pup to succeed. Remember that puppies don’t have full control of their bladder. If your pup has an accident, NEVER scold or punish them. Urinating and defecating are never a bad thing to do - even if they might choose a place we don’t appreciate.
When your pup has gone 2+ months without a mistake, they are ready for freedom! Some pups take just a few weeks, where others will need a few months to be fully house trained. If you’re still having difficulties, don’t hesitate to talk to your veterinarian and ask for a referral for a qualified dog trainer or behavior specialist.
Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado, PhD is Standards & Research Lead at Good Do
If you think training your new puppy has to be all about strict discipline and “tough love,” relax: positive reinforcement training is not only effective, it’s also gentle and doesn’t involve yelling or punishment. Read on to learn more about positive reinforcement, and why it’s such an effective method for promoting good behavior.
In This Article
Positive reinforcement is a training method that focuses on rewarding your pet for good behavior, rather than punishing bad behavior. Giving rewards when your pet obeys you or behaves well in specific ways encourages your pet to repeat these actions or behaviors when given the command. Good behavior becomes inextricably linked with a reward.
This training method has been associated with successful outcomes and good relationships between pets and pet parents.
We recommend beginning training as soon as your puppy first enters your home. Although there are some differing opinions on how to set the stage for obedience and order, many experts agree on the following recommendations:
The overall point to keep in mind is that rewards, whether in the form of treats, verbal praise, or a loving touch, are good! People like rewards, and so do our pets. By rewarding good behavior, you’re reinforcing the association between good behavior and good things.
Finally, know that all dogs (like people) learn at a different pace. So be patient, consistent, and persistent.
Remember that positive reinforcement is only effective if it’s constant, predictable, reproducible, and given immediately after your dog exhibits good behavior. Rewards must occur within seconds of the desired behavior or your dog may not be able to associate the two.
Our furry friends aren’t able to understand full sentences the way we do, so it’s important to use short, direct commands when training (“Yes!” “Good!” “Smart!”). Some of the most common and effective short commands include:
Consistency is a key element in training your dog. If you live in a household with multiple people, it’s important to make sure everyone is on the same page with training cues and methods, otherwise you run the risk of confusing your dog and being unproductive.
Consistency doesn’t just apply to verbal cues and training treats, it also applies to rewarding the same types of desired behaviors and making sure negative behavior is never rewarded. For example if you reward your dog for staying off the couch but later let them on to cuddle, this sends mixed messages to your dog and is counterproductive to the training you’ve done.
Clicker training can be a very effective method when combined with positive reinforcement training because the clicking sound is much more distinct for your dog and faster to deliver than verbal cues. At the exact time that your pup displays the behavior you want, click and then immediately give a treat to teach them the meaning of the click and provide the positive reinforcement.
“Training clickers” are available online or at pet stores, and they are relatively inexpensive.
While training takes patience, it should also be fun for you and your pup. We recommend keeping training sessions around 10 minutes maximum (especially for puppies) to hold their attention span and make sure you both have fun with the training.
Pay attention to your dog's physical cues. If they’re not listening, distracted or uneager to receive treats, then try training another time. Always aim to end on a good note and keep things positive — in doing so your pup may begin to associate training sessions as playtime and realize that they get good things when they listen to you.
Rewards can look like edible treats, verbal praise, physical touch, or giving your pup toys after they do something correctly.
Remember that you want trainer treats to be small and low-calorie, since you will be giving a lot of them out, especially in the beginning. You can also use bits of cut up carrot, apple, banana, bell pepper, cucumber, strawberry, or blueberry.
We also recommend having a variety of treats and mixing them up so your dog doesn’t get bored with the same kind every time.
Rewarding bad behavior may seem counterintuitive as you wouldn’t give a dog a treat for something they did wrong. However, affection and attention are also highly rewarding, so it’s important that you withhold these when your dog behaves badly. With positive reinforcement training, it’s best to ignore your dog when they behave badly to set the tone that they won’t get any attention for this kind of behavior.
We recommend that you never punish your dog for not listening. Verbal punishment only creates a negative experience where your dog develops fear or aggression. No matter what, you should never physically punish your pet, as it’s cruel, leads to a negative relationship, and induces anxiety. While positive training methods take repetition, they’re the most effective and build the best relationship between you and your dog.
Remember, for your pup to be happy and comfortable in your home, a dependable, consistent environment is important: it makes your dog feel safe and stable. By rewarding good behavior and completely ignoring unwanted ones, you can train your dog to be obedient to your commands in a way that’s agreeable for both of you.
At Golden Hearts Ranch English Cream Retrievers, we believe in responsible breeding practices that prioritize the health and well-being of our dogs. We are committed to producing happy and healthy Golden Retriever puppies that will make great pets for families and individuals alike.
We are a small family-owned breeder specializing in Golden Retrievers. We started breeding Golden Retriever dogs a few years ago because we wanted to share the joy and love that these amazing animals bring to our lives.
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