Potty Training Your Pets

Everyone loves puppies and kittens, but the hardest part about a new furry addition to the family is house breaking them.  It can be a tricky process (like potty training a child) but it doesn't have to be stressful or take months.  

Kittens/cats can be pretty easy to potty train at a young age.   When you first get a kitten/cat, it is usually good to keep the litter box in the room where you first have them getting acquainted to their new home.  After they have adjusted to their new environment,  simply put the litter box in a private yet easily accessible place.  Cats like to have a little bit of privacy and it is especially nice to have a litter box somewhere slightly secluded if you have kids.  Show your kitten where the little box is and let them get used to the new space.  Most kittens/cats will understand right away that this is their new 'potty place' and it should be smooth sailing from there on out.

Puppies are a whole different story when it comes to house training.  Here are a few tips we have used in the past that seem to be helpful.

1.  Remember the '15 Minute Rule' - Puppies are most likely to use the bathroom within 15 minutes of eating and drinking.  If you take your pup out in that time frame you will lessen your chances of an accident.

2.  Rewards are important!  -  Rewarding your puppy after using the bathroom outside is very important.  Praising positive behavior will help your puppy understand that using the bathroom outside is what he/she is supposed to do.

3.  Don't rely on puppy pads and newspaper - While using a puppy pad/newspaper may seem like a convenient option when your puppy is little, it can often get confusing for them as they get older and you are trying to train them to go to the bathroom outside.  

4.  Get out of bed - You can't expect your puppy to go all night without using the bathroom just because you can.  You might need to get out of bed once or twice in the middle of the night to let you puppy out.  This might sound frustrating but having a puppy is a big responsibility so make sure you don't mind midnight walks :)

 

House breaking new pets can definitely be a challenge, but in the end everyone benefits!

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