It is important to potty train your dog for not giving way to their nature’s call anywhere and anytime. Otherwise it will cause you a lot of embarrassment and trouble. Are there any effective ways on how to potty train your dog?

You may think that it is difficult to train puppies and older dogs to take your command to go to the bathroom. Most dogs can pay attention to repeated words, and they are able to associate the words to what you want them to do. For example, if you continue to say "go potty" when your dog is out there relieving itself, it will remember your word.

The best method on how to potty train your dog is by word association. You can make your dog associates the command "go potty" with relieving itself if you do this repeatedly over a period of time. If your dog relieves inside the house, you can say, "No, go outside," then bring your dog outdoors. Over a while, your dog will associate this command with something they should not do inside the house but outside.

In most guidebooks on "how to potty train your dog", it will never mention that you need to spank your dog while you’re doing word association training. Through repeated word command, your dog will link the word ‘no’ with bad conduct, and it will learn to go outside the house.

One important thing you must do is to bring your dog outside the house and tell your dog to go potty. You have to leave it outside the house until it has done with its business. Continue with this instruction to "go potty" until your dog finally does. You should credit your dog by praising it with a little treat for doing a great job. The dog will associate this command with what you want it to do so it can get a treat. After a while, your dog will learn that ‘go potty’ outside the house will make you happy.

You should pick a specific location for your dog to relieve itself as the dog will also associate this location with the command of "go potty". Be very precise and clear on your command when you train your dog on word association. Always be consistent. Do not use different command phrases to mean the same thing as your dog will not understand this and will become confused.

Please visit our Potty Dog Training Website for more helpful tips on how to potty train your dog within just 7 days.

One of the most frustrating elements of acquiring a new puppy is preparing for potty training. To assist with this nagging issue, we’ve outlined a few of our favorite potty training techniques. The three key components to successful potty training with a new puppy are: Be Prepared, Be Consistent and Be Patient.

Be Prepared

Establish a “Potty command”

This is the phrase you’ll use whenever you’d like your puppy to do his business. When taking your puppy to the designated spot where you want him to eliminate, you should stand with him and tell him “Go potty” or whatever phrase you’ve established as your “potty command”. Having one phrase you use repeatedly will help your puppy understand what it is you are asking him to do. Important tip: make sure everyone in the family is using the same phrase (this is very important so the puppy does not become confused).

Establish an “Elimination spot”

Choose a location not too far from your door to be the designated “elimination spot”. You can create a spot by outlining an 8x10 area with a clothesline. This will help to give your puppy a visual clue where you’d like him to go. Always take your puppy to the same area and give him his “potty command”.

Choose a “Praise” phrase

The easiest way to teach your puppy good manners is to wait until he does something you like and reward him with kind words and a treat. Choose a “praise” phrase to use whenever your puppy is behaving in a way you like; such as, playing with a toy, greeting visitors nicely, lying quietly or eliminating outside. The phrase can be something as simple as “Good Boy” or “Nice job, Duke.” Your puppy will very quickly associate the “praise” phrase with a positive experience and want to please you. Again, make sure everyone caring for the puppy is using the same phrase.

Select a “Confinement” Area

If your puppy is not reliable in the house, don’t leave him unattended. Whenever you cannot supervise your puppy, he should be confined to an area small enough he won’t want to eliminate there. It should be just big enough for him to comfortably stand, lie down and turn around in. This area could be a portion of a laundry room or bathroom blocked off by baby gates or a dog crate or kennel. Remember to immediately take your puppy outside to potty after spending extended time in his “confinement” area.

Be consistent

Be aware that young puppies physically need to eliminate every 2-4 hours. Establishing a consistent routine for your puppy is critical. Initially, you should take the puppy outside at least every 2 hours, immediately after he wakes from his nap or is released from his confinement area and about ½ hour after eating. As you get to know your puppy better you’ll recognize the signs your pup needs to relieve himself and can reduce the number of trips necessary. When your pup is playing in the house, keep a close eye on him. If he starts to sniff around or turn in circles – pick him up and carry him to the spot where you’d like him to eliminate, give him the “potty command” and stay with him until he relieves himself. Once he does, immediately congratulate him with his “praise” phrase and a tasty teat. Don’t wait until you’ve returned to the house. Immediate gratification reassures the puppy this is the behavior you want from him. If you aren’t able to attend to your puppy every 2-4 hours, enlist in the help of a local pet sitter. He/she can help visit your pup whenever you are not available and decrease the time it may take to get your new pup potty trained.

Be Patient

If your puppy does have an accident, don’t punish him or rub his nose in the waste, doing so will only make the pup afraid to eliminate in your presence. Your puppy didn’t make a mistake –you did! Remember, when your puppy is not confined, you should be supervising him. If you catch him in the act, carry him outside immediately and give the “potty command”. If he finishes outside, praise and treat him as you normally would. If you discover an accident after the fact, do nothing except clean the spot with a good enzymatic cleaner so it isn’t labeled as a “potty place” and supervise your puppy more closely.

If you make all the necessary preparations, remain consistent with your training techniques and stay patient with your pup –he should be potty trained in no time!

Potty training is one of the most important things to teach your child. If it's not your first child you will know the "secrets" of successful potty training. If it's not though, you are likely to need a bit of help. Here are the answers of the most common questions every mother has when trying to teach her child to use the toilet.

When the potty training should start?

Most children can be trained to use the toilet or a potty chair since they become 18 months old. However every child is different and you can try earlier. Some mothers start to teach their child to use a potty chair since the kid can sit. The key secret is to put it on the potty chair and keep it occupied until it urinates. Although little children cannot fully understand why they are asked to sit there, they quickly gain the habit to use the potty chair.

How to make my child sit on the potty chair?

This might be tricky especially for older children. Seating at one place might be quite boring for a child and it may be hard for you to make it stay on the potty chair long enough. Remember one thing never ever punish your child for not staying calm on the potty chair. This can cause a lot of stress and actually make the whole learning process more difficult. Make the potty chair interesting and funny by decorating it with stickers, ready your child a fairytale, bring its toys and play with it. Try to come up with a range of interesting activities that will keep its mind occupied. Of course if you see that your kid is reaching a point where nothing can make it stay on the potty chair it's better to have a break and try again later.

What is the right age for toilet training?

Usually a child that is 2 years old is ready to start using the toilet. Although this age if specific for every child, there are some other factors that should be considered. Is your child able to control its calls of nature? Is your kid ready to recognize when it's voiding? Is your kid able to walk to and from the toilet, to pull pants up and down, get on and off the toilet without help? Finally is your child willing to go to the toilet? If the answer to all of the above is positive, than you can start the toilet training.

What if my child pees and poops occasionally in its pants?Many parents come across the same problem. Although their child is already using the toilet or the potty chair without any problems, from time to time it "forgets". Do not worry this is quite normal considering the age of your child. Te more you make it understand the whole process and its purpose, the easier it will become for your kid to avoid such situation. Read books about going to the toilet, watch videos and constantly explain and guide your child.