Potty Train Like a Pro

Potty training can be poopy, and its definitely easier for cat owners than dog owners, but following these recommendations will set you and your pet up for success.

Kittens & Cats

• Give them easy access to the litter-box and set them in it a few times so they know where it is.

• Kittens can have accidents, and if so, its best to move their waste into their litter box and set them back in it to help them understand that's where it goes.

• Usually cats pick up potty training super easily, and if they are struggling to get the hang of it then they may need to visit the vet to make sure they are healthy. When previously potty trained cats start to urinate or defecate outside of the box, they most commonly have a medical issue that needs to be appropriately diagnosed and treated by your vet.

Puppies & Dogs

• Puppies can usually hold their urine a maximum of 1 hour per month of their age. So a 2 month old may be able to hold it up to 2 hours, but not more.

• When potty training a puppy, its best to get them out to potty way more often than you think is necessary (every 15-30 minutes), which will help ensure that your pup has ample opportunity to potty outdoors rather than indoors, which helps prevent bad habits.

• Keep it simple, the potty place should initially be a single, specific outdoor area very close to the door.

• Train your puppy to use a "doorbell," or some kind of alert system to notify you that they need to go outside

• If your pet has an accident and you catch them in the act, its best to make a loud, startling sound and immediately move them outside, and then when your pet is doing what you want them to do, they should be praised with verbal and non-verbal love and be offered a small piece of a low calorie treat, or ideally, a piece of their own puppy kibble. Punishing your dog or using negative reinforcement will not work, it will just make your pup confused and fearful, so its highly not recommended. All accidents should be cleaned up immediately, ideally with enzymatic cleaners to remove any odors that could lead your pet back to the same spot. If your pet is frequenting the same area, its best to completely remove access to the area if that is practical, otherwise moving food, bedding, etc to that area will usually prevent them from going potty in that spot. For extra challenging pups consider keeping them leashed to you around the house so you can catch them in the act more easily and redirect their behavior.

• Some small dogs can be a lifelong challenge and can require greater patience. Many of them will refuse to go out in the rain, cold, snow, etc. and would strongly prefer going potty indoors. Most of these pets can be appropriately trained with extra commitment and consistency, but some may need to be trained to use potty pads or dog potties, etc.

*Accidents in trained pets are usually not behavioral, if your pet isn't making progress as expected, or your adult pet suddenly has changes in their urination or defecation behaviors, it would be best to consult with your vet.*

Kittens and puppies less than 4 weeks old need to be manually stimulated by their human or animal caretaker in order to urinate or defecate. Around 3-4 weeks old they learn to go potty on their own.

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