This article will explain how to potty train a stubborn puppy. Potty training a stubborn puppy can present unique challenges for dog owners; if you struggle to get your adorable but headstrong furry companion on board with potty training, fear not! This comprehensive guide explores effective strategies and tips to help you navigate the potty training journey with your stubborn puppy.
From establishing consistent routines to using positive reinforcement, we’ll empower you to create a supportive and encouraging environment that fosters successful potty training. Let’s embark on this rewarding adventure together, ensuring your puppy learns the ropes and becomes a well-trained and happy family member.
How to Potty Train a Stubborn Puppy?
How to potty train a stubborn puppy and how to potty train a puppy are very challenging questions. Potty training a stubborn puppy requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. Start by establishing a regular schedule for potty breaks, taking your puppy to the designated spot after meals, naps, and playtime. Use a cue word like “go potty” to associate with the behavior. Reward your puppy with treats and praise when they go to the right place.
Avoid scolding or punishment for accidents, which may cause fear and setbacks. Instead, stay patient and encourage good behavior. Crate training can also help prevent accidents when you can’t supervise. With time and dedication, your stubborn puppy will learn to go potty in the appropriate place, creating a happier and cleaner living environment for both of you.
10 Best Tips for How to Potty Train a Stubborn Puppy
It’s high time to explore how to potty train a stubborn puppy. This section contains 10 guides about potty training a puppy efficiently. Following these guides, you will be able to eliminate the anxiety of how to potty train a stubborn puppy from your mind. This guide will help you on this journey to potty training your dog. So, let’s check it out below!
Tip#1. Maintain a routine
Are you concerned about how to potty train a stubborn puppy? Proper potty training is crucial for maintaining a healthy digestive system, especially in young puppies. When a puppy cannot predict when to go outside to potty, it may struggle to hold it in, leading to accidents indoors. Establishing a potty routine is essential for their development. Taking your puppy for a potty break every one to two hours helps them learn when and where to eliminate. Their need for frequent potty breaks will naturally decrease as their bodies mature. Consistent and effective potty training sets the foundation for a well-behaved and healthy adult dog.
Tip#2. Extrude anxiety or health issues
Non-responsive potty training could indicate potential anxiety or underlying health issues in your puppy. As a responsible owner, addressing and eliminating these possibilities for your pup’s well-being is essential.
Specific medical problems can manifest at a young age and lead to potty issues, such as bladder or kidney stones, urinary tract infections, liver disease, or parasites. If you notice persistent difficulties in potty training or any changes in your puppy’s bathroom habits, it is crucial to consult with a veterinarian to rule out any medical concerns.
By being proactive and attentive to your puppy’s health, you can ensure a safe and comfortable environment for them to learn and grow, promoting successful potty training and overall well-being.
Tip#3. Provide crate training Until They Learn to Go to the Correct Spot
Limiting your puppy’s access to the house is a crucial step in their potty training journey. Ensure the crate is placed on solid flooring, avoiding carpets or rugs. Select a crate size that provides ample space for your puppy to stand, sit, lie down, and stretch comfortably.
During the first four months of your puppy’s age, leaving them in the crate for up to one hour at a time, with a maximum of four hours, is advisable. This strategy helps them understand their potty needs and learn how to control them effectively. By associating the crate with a comfortable and clean space, your puppy will naturally avoid soiling it and become more adept at potty training.
Tip#4. Reward with a Tasty Treat
Effortlessly teach your stubborn puppy essential potty training by incorporating a simple ‘go potty’ command. Using a neutral and calm tone, deliver the command to avoid disruptions during the process. Repeat the command when needed, reinforcing your puppy’s understanding and encouraging them to respond accordingly. With patience and consistency, your puppy will grasp the ‘go potty’ command, making potty training a smoother and more successful experience.
Tip#5. Reinforce positively
Establishing excellent potty etiquette in your dog is best achieved through positive reinforcement. After your puppy finishes going potty, offer a treat or praise to make them aware of the positive outcome. Conceal the treats until the process is complete, or consider providing a treat after a short interval. This approach helps your dog associate successful potty training with the process itself rather than solely with treats. By using positive reinforcement, you create a rewarding and practical potty training experience for your furry friend.
Tip#6. Devise a Feeding and Napping Schedule
Consistency is the key to successful potty training for a stubborn dog. If you have a strong-willed dog breed accustomed to following their schedule for eating and napping, they may assume they can relieve themselves whenever they please. Devising a well-planned schedule will help you gain control over your dog’s bathroom times.
Puppies typically need to eat at least three times a day, while older dogs should have two mealtimes. Until your dog is fully housebroken, it is crucial to regulate their napping and overnight sleep times carefully. Adhering to a consistent schedule sets clear expectations for your dog and facilitates more effective potty training.
Tip#7. Avoid using a puppy pad
While puppy pads can be convenient, they are not recommended for potty training your puppy. Relying on puppy pads might lead to your puppy getting used to eliminating indoors and hinder their learning to go outside for potty. Instead, focus on establishing a reliable routine that only encourages your puppy to associate peeing with the outdoors.
Keep a pee pad on hand for emergencies, but guide your puppy to follow a consistent schedule and reinforce the idea that potty time should happen outdoors. This approach will help your puppy develop proper potty habits and avoid confusion between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Tip#8. Stay Consistent
For stubborn dogs, consistency in schedules and boundaries is essential. Older dogs can be easily trained if you remain consistent. Potty training requires patience, routine, and rewards. Predictable human behaviors help puppies learn quickly. Remember these tips for successful potty training.
Tip#9. Clean Up Accidents Immediately
A dog’s nose guides them to their potty spot; they may think it’s acceptable if they smell previous accidents. Ensure to take any accidents to their designated potty pad or outdoors and leave them there. Certain breeds like terriers, pointers, setters, or Chihuahuas can be stubborn with housebreaking, requiring extra consistency in their sleep, eating, and potty walking schedule. A single mistake can undo all progress, so staying on track is crucial for successful potty training.
Tip#10. Practice Patience & Kind Words
Using harsh words or physical punishment is counterproductive when dealing with potty mistakes; dogs learn better through positive reinforcement. If a previously potty-trained dog starts having accidents, it’s essential to consider possible medical issues. Visiting the veterinarian can rule out any physical problems.
With dedication and understanding, your stubborn dog will eventually become fully potty-trained, leading to an accident-free home!
Final Thoughts
It’s time to break free from discussing how to potty train a stubborn puppy. Potty training a stubborn puppy may seem challenging, but it is achievable with the right approach and patience. Consistency is the key to success in this journey. By establishing a regular schedule for potty breaks, using positive reinforcement, and avoiding punishment, we create a supportive and encouraging environment for our furry friends to learn.
Remember that accidents may happen, but staying patient and consistent will yield the desired results. We can teach our stubborn puppies the importance of pottying in the appropriate place through crate training and other techniques. Ultimately, we can transform our headstrong pups into well-trained and happy companions with love, dedication, and understanding, leading to a harmonious and joyous life together.
