The excitement of having a new dog joyfully welcomed to your home can be quite the experience, for you and your dog and your family.
The new environment and learning curves can be full of unexpected surprises…including potty accidents! Because the first few days are critical, it’s essential you begin housebreaking your pup immediately. We have a helpful guide for you to learn how to potty train a dog in 7 days.
Day 1
Establish a regular feeding schedule. You want to make sure that you’re consistent with the schedule you create and that you don’t deviate from it. Puppies need to have three to four small meals a day and a constant supply of fresh water available to them. Dogs work best with routines. This is how to potty train a dog in 7 days best.
Day 2
Create a consistent schedule for when you’ll take your pup outside to relieve herself. You’ll see that consistency is key the first 7 days and beyond. As a general rule, you should always take her out the first thing in the morning and right before you go to bed at night.
Young puppies need to be taken out every hour or so during the day. This should include about 30 minutes after each meal. Puppies sleep a lot, so when she awakens, take her out immediately.
Skip the treats for now and reward your dog with praise when she relieves herself. She needs to know that she’s doing a good job and that this is actually an enjoyable experience.
Day 3
Learning how to potty train a dog in 7 days is doable with, you guessed it – consistency! Today is the day to reiterate exactly where your pup should be doing her daily eliminations. Take her to the same spot each time. She will eventually learn that this is her elimination location and will instinctively go there when you’re on a walk or outside.
Day 4
On this day, you’ll be doing a lot more work. You’ll be required to closely monitor her for signs that she has to go outside. Pay attention to behavioral changes. She may rise from a nap and walk into another room. She may even walk towards the door which you normally exit. Other signs to look for are whining, barking, sniffing, or circling. If you see something, do something!
Day 5
At this point, your pup’s accidents should be fewer, with your help, of course. Accidents are natural and will occur. Learning how to potty train a dog in 7 days involves correcting her accidents properly. This doesn’t include any forms of punishment. If you catch her having an accident, clap loudly and immediately take her outside with a gentle tug on her collar or harness. Once you’re outside and she’s finished what she started at her elimination location, praise her!
Use an enzymatic cleaner to minimize odors, versus any cleaning agents containing ammonia. Its strong scent is attractive to her and may encourage her to go there again.
Day 6
You’re almost there! She should be making fewer and fewer accidents and making strides in her progress. You’ve been keeping her feeding and walking schedules consistent and rewarding her when needed.
Day 7
At this point, you’re able to detect when she needs to go out and she should be having fewer accidents. Congratulations! You both have learned how to potty train a dog in 7 days!
