Trainer Tips--Potty Training, Ring the Bell

As a continuation from our Potty Training -Trainer Tips from August, (and as we continue potty training our new puppy), I am going to present you with an advanced training technique you can add to potty training that can be used for your dog's whole life.  This is adding a bell, or something the dog can touch or ring, to let you know they need to go potty.

To teach this to DEVO, I went to Ben Franklin and got some ribbon and bells.  Then simply attached the bells to a length of ribbon that DEVO can reach.  He is a small dog, so the ribbon hangs pretty low to the ground.


TO BEGIN:
First we start with regular potty training.  This means taking the dog out every few hours and always taking the puppy or dog out after:  waking up from a nap, playtime, eating, and drinking.  During this basic potty training, you should be adding your command like "Go potty." when you take the dog out.  (Explained in more detail in this previous post.)  Remember to say "Good potty!" with LOTS of praise when the puppy goes outside.

During this basic potty training, you will start noticing signals the puppy will give that he may have to go potty.  These can include: sniffing around a certain area or near the way out, disappearing suddenly (usually going out of sight to potty), whining, pacing back and forth, whining or jumping near the door or window.  Early in our potty training, DEVO gave a very clear signal of whining then jumping near the door when he had to go.  His signal has decreased to a simple whine as we are redirecting him into the Bell training.  Each dog will have their own signals.  Keep a watchful eye and it will soon become apparent what these signals are for your dog.

In basic potty training (especially when the puppy can't hold it very well), as soon as the puppy gives these signals, immediately get up and give your command like, "you need to Go Potty?"  Put the leash on and take the puppy directly out to the area to potty.  Continue as above (good potty, praise, etc.)

TO ADD THE BELL:
Continue training but when the puppy starts to give his signal, incorporate the bell.
So, when DEVO goes to the door and whines (telling me he has to go potty), I say "Do you have to go potty?"  Then I come over to the door and point to the bell, and again say, "Go potty?"

Initially, you will want to come over after the puppy signals the need to go potty, say your phrase, and ring the bell yourself.  Say "Let's go potty!" then touch the bell a few times.  If the puppy touches the bell, give lavish praise..."Good! Let's go potty."  Continue with excitement until the puppy starts touching the bell.

If you are consistent with using the bell when the dog signals you he has to go potty, he will learn to associate the Bell with going potty and eventually start touching the Bell instead of giving his other signals (such as whining).  This training does take time.  Don't think it will happen overnight or even in a few days.  Most likely it will take several weeks to a few months.  Don't get discouraged.  It will all be worth it in the end.  From now on you will have a dog that will easily let you know when he really has to go potty.  Besides that, it is an extra helpful way to keep up with proper potty training for you pup.  Many of us do not take a new puppy or dog out to go potty nearly as often as we should!

This was after DEVO rang the bell.  He is waiting to go outside.  Good boy!

(NOTE:  You may also need to do a side training of "Touch," teaching a dog to touch an object.  For "Touch Training," say your word "Touch," touch a simple object like a toy while encouraging the dog to mimic you.  When they do, "Good Touch!" and reward.  Work up to more difficult and unusual objects.)

Trainer Tips--Puppy Potty Pads

Potty training a puppy or new dog in your home can be quite frustrating at times.  Many people forget to use patience.  Remember to stay calm and never punish a dog for going potty in front you.  This will only make them want to go out of sight and potty somewhere else (not exactly what we are trying to teach).  Instead, snap them out of what they are doing (loud clap) and immediately take them outside.  Encourage them to finish going potty outside.  When they do, praise lavishly and reward with a treat.  When you return inside, be sure to clean the area with an enzymatic cleaner.

When potty training, many people tend to use some brand of Puppy Training Pads or Wee-Wee Pads.  There are many variations to choose from.  Unfortunately people use these potty training pads in the wrong way.

IMPROPER USE of potty training pads:
Most people just pull up all their throw rugs throughout the house and randomly put down the wee-wee pads, hoping that the puppy will go there.  Or they figure out where the puppy or dog goes inside most often and put pads there.  This is not really the way this is supposed to work.  First off, when you remove rugs and then use puppy pads, the puppy is learning to go potty on this square or rectangular object on the floor (which is very similar to most throw rugs).  Then the owner decides that the puppy is potty trained, removes all the wee-wee pads, and puts all the rugs back.  Is it really that surprising that the puppy then goes potty on the rug?

PROPER USE of Wee-Wee pads:
First, do NOT remove your regular rugs when getting a puppy or new dog.  Second, the puppy should have to earn his freedom.  Puppies and new dogs brought into your home should be given a very small space when they cannot be constantly supervised.  This is usually a crate, kennel, or play pen area.  This is where your puppy should be when you cannot watch him, or leave the house.  THIS is the area where you put your wee-wee pads down.  Cover the entire area or kennel with wee-wee pads.  Eventually you will see in which spot the dog goes to the bathroom most often.  Start removing the other pads (where the dog does not usually go) slowly, one at a time.

For potty training our new puppy DEVO, I only use Wee-Wee Pads in his kennel.  There are NO pads throughout the rest of the house.  This does not encourage him to go on our rugs.  But again, the puppy must be constantly supervised when not confined.  Even though DEVO's puppy training is going well, he is certainly not trustworthy yet.  So we will continue to keep pads in his kennel and take him outside often, until he has not had any accidents (inside the house or kennel) for at least a month.

Don't forget, this is only half of potty training...
What is more important that the use of wee-wee pads?  Actually TAKING YOUR DOG OUTSIDE TO GO POTTY!  Puppies generally have to go out to go potty every 2-4 hours.  This means a lot of in and out for you, so get used to it!  Also, you should take your puppy out after any of the following:  waking up from a nap, eating or drinking, exciting play time.

ADD A COMMAND:  GO POTTY!
When taking your dog outside to potty, add a command word, like "Go potty."  Do not constantly repeat, but say a few times, especially right before you see the signs of the dog about to go potty.  Once the dog begins to potty, remain silent (we don't want to distract them).  Once the dog has finished, loudly praise, "GOOD POTTY! GOOD POTTY!" and give a treat.

IMPORTANT:  Another part of potty training that is very important is to stay outside another 1-4 minutes after your dog has gone potty.  The reason for this is, some dogs learn that once they go potty outside, they go right back in the house.  So when the dog wants to stay outside, they will start to hold their potty, then have an accident when they go back inside.

I hope this has cleared up some things on Potty Training and the proper use of Wee-Wee or Puppy Potty Training Pads.

Trainer Tips--Picking up Poop in the Dark

So I was hanging out with some neighbors and their dog the other night and we went out to the yard for a last dog potty break before bed.  Many times I see people bring flashlights or use their cell phone to find where the poop landed, but what happens when you have none of these things and are searching for it in the dark?

Well this month's Trainer Tip is helpful, yet extremely simple.  It's something I've been doing for years now.  Whenever my dog(s) stop circling and go for the Number 2, I point my foot in the direction of where it will land.  That way you don't have to stare and watch, which of course no one really wants to do, but you also won't lose it in the dark or bad weather and spend time having to search.  Like I said, simple, but very helpful.

So from now when you take your dog out at night to do his business, just remember to point your foot the direction of where the poop will land and you won't lose it in the dark.

Happy night walking everyone!

Basic Indoor Potty Training Schedule

This is a basic guideline for an indoor toilet training schedule.  When toilet training, the thing to remember is that prevention of accidents is key.

Dog Toilet Training Schedule:

8:30a.m.         Wake up.  Remove dogs from kennel.  Place in confined potty area with breakfast.

9 a.m. Remove food bowls, leave dogs in potty area.  Praise lavishly for using the

        proper potty area.

9:10 a.m. Morning walk.  Praise and special treat for going potty outside.

9:45 a.m. Return from walk, place dogs immediately in potty area.  Praise lavishly 

        for using proper potty area.

10 a.m.        Supervised free time in the house.  Interrupt any mistakes.

11 a.m.        Dogs drink water.  Return to confined potty area and praise for proper

       toilet behavior.  Remove from confinement after proper potty.

12 p.m.        Baby gets ready for a nap.  Put dogs in kennel or confinement area.

1-2 p.m.        Dogs wake up from nap, remove from kennel and place in potty area.

3 p.m. Dog training or short dog walk.

3:45 p.m. After walk/ training/ play time, return dogs to confined potty area.

       Praise and treat for proper toilet behavior.

4 p.m. After dogs have used proper toilet, supervised free time in the house.

5:30-6 p.m. Husband returns home from work, greets dogs warmly for 1-2 minutes,

        then places both dogs in confined potty area.

6:30 p.m. Dinner time.  Dogs are confined to kennel or area while humans eat.

7 p.m. Feed dogs dinner.  Place in confined area with food.

7:30 p.m. Remove food bowls.  Release dogs for supervised free time if they have

        used the proper potty area.

9 p.m. Confined potty area.

10 p.m.        Give dogs 10 minutes in confined potty area, then crate for the night.

Crates

Dog crates come in various forms.  For all crates, the dog should have enough room to stand up and turn around with comfort.  Crates should NEVER be used as a form of punishment.  A dog must see his crate as a comfortable place that he enjoys going in.  A dog should not be left in a crate for too long of a time period.  Crates are helpful training tools for puppies and new dogs.  They can assist in prevention of potty training accidents and avoiding destructive behavior.










Airline crates have a wire door on the front with a solid plastic crate outside.  These are designed to acceptable airline standards, but can be used as a regular in house crate also.

Wire crates have an all wire construction on three sides and the top, with a hard plastic or metal bottom that is removable for cleaning.