Free Dog Training: How to Use Puppy Pads and Outdoor Potty Training Together

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Having a hard time potty training your puppy? Here's how to get the job done with puppy pads.

Steps

Place the puppy pad where the puppy goes first. Every day, move the pad a little bit closer towards the door, and every time the puppy uses the pad, tell him what a good dog he is, with gentle petting and a sweet voice.
Open the door when he goes towards the door and the puppy pad is near the door, drag the pad outside, and let puppy go on the pad or the ground. Tell him how GOOD he is, whether he goes on the pad or on the ground.
Put a rock on the pad, leave it outside the door, and put down a clean pad inside the door. The next time the puppy goes towards the door (needs to go), open the door and let him choose: the inside pad, outside pad, or the ground.
Remove the pad once he gets an idea. The inside pad can be put down when you cannot watch him going to the door, like when he is alone at home.

This works very well and is accomplished fairly soon but the most important part is the immediate "Good dog" with the sweet voice, and a gentle pat from the owner as soon as puppy goes where he is supposed to. Dogs learn much better, and much more, by kindness than from harshness.

Never hit your dog with your hand. Your hand is the instrument, through your hand and your voice all kindness and joy comes towards the little one. Dogs live to please their owners.
Usually raising one's voice slightly is enough to let the dog know it did something that displeased the owner.
A "NO" with a raised finger teaches the puppy what you don't like.