Tips for Potty Training your Puppy

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Potty training is one of the toughest things in a dog mom’s life. When I first got Schmidt, he made it too easy for me. He would howl and cry every time he needed to go outside, so he very rarely had accidents. He was an angel dog.

When I got Fiona, it was a different story.

Fiona was more focused on playing than using the bathroom every time we would go outside. She would eat leaves and run around in circles, but I could never get her to pee or poo!

After months of trying, we are finally on an upward path to being completely potty trained! She even gets to sleep in the bed now because we have made great strides.

Here are my potty training tips if you are on the struggle bus with your new pup! PLUS, how to deal when accidents do happen with STAINMASTER® Carpet Pet Stain Remover!

Crate Training

Crate training is not for the faint of heart. You have to see quite a few sad puppy faces and some howling – but it is so important in order for potty training. In the beginning, Fiona was only allowed to be free in the house when I was present.

If I was gone or asleep, she was put into the crate.

In her crate, I left a few toys and her bed. In order for her to feel more comfortable in her crate, I began to feed her there. This made being in her crate a more positive experience. She also began to go to her crate when she was sleepy or she wanted a break from Schmidt.

I didn’t start weaning her from crate life until she was 6 months old. She still is in the crate when I am away, but she is allowed to sleep with me.

Frequent Potty Breaks

When you first get a puppy, it’s good to take them out every hour. I would set an alarm to go off after every hour.

To be honest, there was a lot of wasted potty breaks. However, the effort is so important in order to get your puppy to not have accidents inside!

Once your puppy is a little older, you can space out the timed potty breaks a little bit more.

Create Reward System

If you really want your furbaby to become an expert in the bathroom situation, you have to reward them when they do a good job.

I usually bring a handful of training treats while I bring Fiona outside. If she potties, I tell her she’s a good girl and give her a treat. It is amazing how much this encourages her to pee the minute she goes outside.

Be prepared for accidents with STAINMASTER® Carpet Pet Stain Remover

Now for the part that is inevitable in the potty training process – the accidents.

It is so important to thoroughly clean all messes in order for your puppy to not smell the scent and potty there AGAIN! This is where STAINMASTER® Carpet Pet Stain Remover comes in.

I picked up STAINMASTER® Carpet Pet Stain Remover at my favorite Waco, TX Target! Of course, I ended up buying dog treats and toys along with the spray, but hey, that’s just how Target works.

(CLICK BELOW TO 25 PERCENT OFF STAINMASTER® Carpet Pet Stain Remover AT TARGET. The offer is good from 2/5-3/4)

You can find STAINMASTER® Carpet Pet Stain Remover in the cleaning aisle at Target!

To use STAINMASTER® Carpet Pet Stain Remover

1. SPRAY: Spray product liberally and directly on affected areas.
2. WAIT: Wait 3-5 minutes to allow solution to penetrate the stain.
3. BLOT: Dampen the spot with water and blot with a clean, colorfast paper towel or cloth. Repeat as necessary to remove the stain. For best results treat stain immediately.

My favorite part about this cleaner is the scent goes away! I am so sensitive to smells, but this destroys all odors! Most cleaners I use only mask the smell.

The ODOR REMOVE™ does more than just eliminating odor, but in addition to cleaning, it protects carpet. It creates an invisible shield to repel dirt to protect against re-soiling, making it easier to clean next time.

But the best part is there is no sticky residue that other cleaners leave behind! The carpet continues to be as soft as ever.

Plus, it’s a versatile cleaner, so on top of taking car of your pet messes, it takes care of everyday stains like coffee, grape juice, jelly, chocolate syrup, ketchup, dirty motor oil, and soil.

STAINMASTER Carpet Pet Stain Remover is not available at all Target locations, but is available online. Click here to find STAINMASTER Carpet Pet Stain Remover, or have it shipped for free, to your local Target store.

What are your tips for when you get a new puppy?