3 Mistakes you may be making when potty training your new puppy

You recently brought home a new puppy, so now what? Obviously, there are a lot of things we must do when we have a new puppy in our lives, including training them new things such as walking on a leash, how to go to the bathroom outside, and more.

And while some things may seem obvious when it comes to training puppies, there are some very common mistakes that are often made during potty training as well. So what are those mistakes? What are we doing wrong when we try to teach our pups about doing their business outside?

Housetraining might seem relatively easy, but as the Chewy Blog points out, there are some things we should be paying attention to, especially in those early days. And perhaps one of the biggest things is being consistent with scheduling those outdoor times.

Potty training mistakes we often make with our puppies

When it comes to being consistent with taking your pup out to potty, it is important to remember that dogs do their best when they have a routine and that includes taking them outside to do their business. Taking your pup outside to go to the bathroom at the same time every day is the key to teaching our puppies that being outside is a clue that they need to go.

It is often suggested that you play with your puppy before taking them outside so that they know that this is their time to do their business.

The second mistake that is often made when it comes to potty training is not cleaning up properly after any accidents. If you use the wrong products, it can leave behind a scent that actually attracts your dog back to the same spot to keep marking the area. Getting the scent out is the key to stopping your puppy from continually going back to a spot to pee or poop. Most experts recommend enzymatic cleaners as a way to completely kill those bad odors.

For the third mistake that new pet parents should pay attention to, it is how we react to accidents. You really can't get angry, loud, or even upset with a puppy who is still learning. If you wouldn't react this way with a baby, why would you do it with a puppy? Anger can lead to anxiousness and fear in your puppy that will cause them to struggle to go to the bathroom where you want them to. It is best to ignore the accident in terms of how we react and instead just clean up the mess and take them outside.

Instead of getting angry if a puppy has an accident inside, reward them when they actually do go outside as wanted. Positive reinforcement is the key to success here.

Honestly, getting a new puppy has its challenges, but at the same time it is highly rewarding. And one thing we have to get through is the potty training.