Potty Training
Potty training is something that a lot of small dog owners struggle with. It is all about keeping a schedule and repetition. The first thing to do is have scheduled feeding times for your dog or puppy. Once a dog eats, their digestive tract is stimulated to start moving and usually they have to use the bathroom 10-20 minutes after eating. After your dog eats, let them outside for 20-30 minutes and usually they will go to the bathroom. This helps the dog realize that it is supposed to go to the bathroom outside. Try to keep the same feeding/letting outside schedule while the dog is still learning to potty outside. Also try not to feed the dog right before going to bed. This will cause the dog to need to go to the bathroom during the night.
Once your dog goes to the bathroom outside, praise him with a treat or your "baby voice" to make the dog feel good for going to the bathroom outside. If the dog has an accident inside, do not scold him. Immediately take the dog outside to where he normally goes to the bathroom.
We at White Crest let our dogs out of their crates in the morning and they go straight outside to potty. They come inside after 10 minutes and eat their breakfast. They then go back outside for another 30 minutes(unless its nice weather, then the dogs don't want to come inside!). The puppies eat again at lunch time and go outside for around 30 minutes. And everybody eats dinner(3-4 hours before bedtime) and goes outside for 30 minutes or longer.
Once your dog goes to the bathroom outside, praise him with a treat or your "baby voice" to make the dog feel good for going to the bathroom outside. If the dog has an accident inside, do not scold him. Immediately take the dog outside to where he normally goes to the bathroom.
We at White Crest let our dogs out of their crates in the morning and they go straight outside to potty. They come inside after 10 minutes and eat their breakfast. They then go back outside for another 30 minutes(unless its nice weather, then the dogs don't want to come inside!). The puppies eat again at lunch time and go outside for around 30 minutes. And everybody eats dinner(3-4 hours before bedtime) and goes outside for 30 minutes or longer.