If you have just purchased a puppy, now is a great time for you to start them with their training. This is because they are “virgins” and you can be the first to start them on the right track.

It is easy for anyone to learn how to potty train a puppy if they do not stray away from some simple guidelines and put in the time and consistency. Even children have the ability to train puppies.

Everyone knows that dogs are very faithful and easy to please. They also adore attention, love, and praise. In many ways they are like people. As people, we also need attention and affection and we are more motivated to do things if we know we will get praised and rewarded for it.

There are some good tips for anyone who wants to learn how to potty train a puppy or a grown dog should know. These tips are practical and very necessary to get the process started.

1) Exercise. All dogs need exercise (just as people do). You need to be certain your dog is getting the right amount of exercise. Some bad behavior in dogs is caused by him not getting enough exercise. A bored dog that isn’t getting exercise will act out, destroy property, bark way too much, and not be able to learn very well.
Plus if he is already outside, he is going to relieve himself anyway.

When learning how to potty train a puppy you should keep in mind that a dog that has received a good exercise will come home ready to obey and have a good, restful sleep. He will not go around destroying property, disturbing the neighborhood barking or urinating all over the place.

Be certain he gets plenty of exercise starting as a puppy. Take him on daily walks or jogs or let the dog outside to run around and play ball in the backyard. A properly exercised dog will be much easier to train.

2) Start off early. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is a well known old saying and although there is not much merit to that, it is a whole lot easier to potty train a puppy than to teach a full grown dog to do anything. Puppies will learn much quicker. Old dogs may take a lot longer or not be able to learn at all if they are too stubborn.

3) Be Consistent. Humans can easily be inconsistent so a non-focused person will not learn how to potty train a puppy very well. If on Monday it is okay for them to relieve themselves indoors then on Tuesday it is not okay and it is okay again on Wednesday, your pup will become very confused and may regress from the stage you have already brought him to. Make the rules, set a routine and stick to it for as long as necessary.

4) Positive Reinforcement goes a lot farther than aggressive punishment. Just as people, dogs respond better to positive actions than they do to negative aggression. Dogs do not like to be hit, scared, or punished. They react much better to praise and affection. When they do something wrong ignore them or show them the right way. When they do something right, tell them Good boy or Good girl. Remember to never hit a puppy. This can cause them harm and they may become aggressive themselves as a result.

If you follow these tips you should have no problem learning how to potty train a puppy and implementing the techniques effectively.