Potty Training Pups the Clicker Way

Cassi Colvett
Jun 19, 2023
3 min read

Welcome to Maintenance Monday, where we share valuable insights and tips to help you maintain a happy and well-trained pet. At Social Petworking, we believe in the power of positive reinforcement and clicker training to shape your dog's behavior. Today, we're diving into housetraining, a very hot topic in the pet community. Whether you're training a new puppy or an older dog that's new to you, you can use these tips to help remedy the problem of pottying in the house.

Choosing the Potty Spot

Selecting a designated spot for your pup to eliminate is crucial. Always use the same door and take them to the chosen potty spot consistently. This helps establish a routine and aids in their understanding of where they should eliminate. Until they get the routine down, take them out on a leash and harness for potty time. Avoid any play, attention, or free-roaming until after they've gone potty. This will help them to do their business first, avoiding the problem of lollygagging.

Clicking and Treating

When you take your dog to the designated potty spot, be patient and observant. As they begin to eliminate, quietly say your potty cue and immediately click the clicker once they are finishing up. Timing is key—click while the behavior is still happening but not too early to interrupt the process. Follow the click with a treat to reinforce the association between eliminating in the right place and receiving a reward.

Paw-lease Let Me Out

Teaching your pup to signal when they need to go out can be a valuable addition to potty training. Hang a bell on the door leading to the potty spot. Whenever someone goes in or out of that door, the bell rings. Encourage your pup to touch the bell with their nose or paw. Click and treat them when they do so, and then promptly open the door and take them outside to their potty spot. This helps them understand that touching the bell leads to going outside for elimination.

Crate Training

Using a crate can aid in housetraining, as most dogs naturally avoid eliminating in their sleeping area. If your puppy is small, create a comfortable space in the crate that allows them to stand up, turn around, and lie down. Use the crate at night and during periods when you cannot closely supervise your pup. Remember to take them out as soon as you wake up in the morning to avoid accidents.

Responding to Accidents

Accidents are a normal part of the learning process, so it's important to remain calm and avoid getting upset with your dog. Using punishment for accidents indoors will not teach your dog what to do, but it will teach them to be sneakier about going in the house. If you catch your puppy in the act of eliminating indoors, quietly pick them up and take them to the potty spot. Use your potty cue, and if they finish eliminating there, click and reinforce them with a treat. When cleaning up any accidents, leave the paper towel from cleaning in the appropriate potty spot. This will help them associate the appropriate potty place in the future. Follow up by using white vinegar or an enzyme cleaner to eliminate the odor.

Continuous Supervision

Always keep an eye on your puppy during the housetraining process. You can tether them to you using a leash or use puppy gates to confine them to the room you're in. This allows you to closely monitor their behavior and take them to the potty spot when needed. Additionally, establish a consistent feeding schedule, and remember that puppies typically need to eliminate shortly after eating, playing, or any moments of excitement.

By incorporating clicker training, establishing a potty spot, bell training, and crate training, you're well on your way to housetraining success. Remember to be patient, consistent, and always reinforce the desired behavior.

Stay tuned for our next Maintenance Monday, where we'll explore more exciting topics to enhance your bond with your beloved pets. Keep clicking and enjoy the journey of positive reinforcement training!