Are you a new pug puppy owner struggling with potty training? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Pugs are notorious for being difficult to house train, but with patience and consistency, it can be done.
In this article, we’ll provide you with practical tips and advice on how to successfully potty train your pug puppy.
The key to potty training any puppy is setting up successful potty breaks. This means establishing a routine, taking your pup out at the right times, and rewarding them for going in the right place.
It’s important to remember that potty training takes time and effort, but with these strategies, you’ll be on your way to a house-trained pup in no time.
Let’s get started!
Supplies You Will Need
Here is a small list of supplies that you should have when preparing to potty train your golden retriever puppy:
- Collar or harness
- Hands-free 3-4 foot non-retractable leash
- 15-foot non-retractable leash
- Two dog litter boxes
- Puppy pads
- Tasty small-sized treats
- Carpet cleaner for pet stains
- Mops and floor cleaner
- Love and patience!
How to Potty Train a Pug Puppy
There are many ways to potty train your pug. Some of the most popular include tethering, confining or crating.
Let’s explore these deeper:
Tethered
Keep your little furry pug friend close by and use a leash to help with the process of house training. Tethering your puppy to you while you’re home will keep them close and within sight, making it easier for you to notice when they need to go potty.
This method also helps prevent accidents from occurring in other parts of the house.
In addition to tethering, consider using puppy pads or crate training for potty breaks. Puppy pads can be placed in a designated area and can help your pug understand where they should go potty.
Remember to be patient and consistent during the process of potty training. With time and perseverance, your pug will learn the proper place to go potty.
Confined
As your furry pug puppy adjusts to their new home, it’s important to provide a designated space for them to feel safe and secure. This can be achieved by using a comfortable crate or playpen. Confined spaces can help prevent accidents and give your puppy a sense of security.
It’s important to gradually introduce your pug to the crate or playpen and avoid using it as a form of punishment. Start by placing their food and water in the crate, and gradually increase the amount of time they spend inside. Crate training can also be beneficial for potty training.
Pugs are known to be stubborn, but with patience and consistency, they can become successful at using puppy pads or going outside for potty breaks. Use the crate as a tool to help regulate their potty schedule. Take them out for potty breaks after crate time, meals, and playtime.
It’s important to never leave your pug puppy in the crate for extended periods of time, as they need to stretch their legs and play. By providing a designated space and using crate training, you can help your pug puppy become successful at potty training.
Crated
If you’re looking for a way to help your pug puppy feel secure while potty training, crate training can be a great option. This method involves confining your pup in a crate when you’re not able to supervise them closely.
The crate should be big enough for your pug to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably, but not so big that they can use one end as a bathroom and the other as a sleeping area. You can also use puppy pads inside the crate in case your pup has an accident.
When you’re crate training, it’s important to establish a routine for potty breaks. Pugs have small bladders and need frequent bathroom breaks, especially when they’re young.
Take your pup out for a bathroom break first thing in the morning, after meals, and before bedtime. During the day, take your pup out every 1-2 hours. When you take your pup out of the crate for a potty break, take them directly outside to their designated bathroom spot.
Praise them and give them a treat when they go potty in the right spot. With consistent crate training and potty breaks, your pug puppy will be on their way to being fully potty trained in no time.
Outdoors
So, you’ve decided to let your furry pug puppy experience the great outdoors, huh? It’s a big step in their potty training journey. Soon your pup will soon learn to do their business outside.
Here are some tips to help make the transition smooth and successful:
- Establish a designated potty spot in your yard. Take your pug puppy to this spot every time you go out for a potty break. The scent will help them associate this spot with the need to go potty.
- Take your pug puppy out frequently, especially after meals, naps, and playtime. Puppies have small bladders and need more frequent potty breaks than adult dogs.
- Reward your pug puppy with praise and treats when they go potty outside. Positive reinforcement is key to encouraging good behavior.
- Be patient and consistent. It may take some time for your pug puppy to learn to hold their bladder and understand the routine, but with persistence, they will get there.
Remember, it’s okay to use puppy pads or continue crate training as a backup while your pug puppy is still learning. But gradually reducing their reliance on these methods can help them become fully potty trained and ready to enjoy the great outdoors.
Supervision
It’s essential to keep a close eye on your furry friend when they’re outside to ensure their safety and well-being. Pug puppies have a small bladder, which means they need frequent trips to the bathroom.
Make sure to supervise your puppy when they’re outdoors and take them to the designated potty spot. Additionally, ensure they have access to a water dish to stay hydrated during their playtime.
Establish a consistent routine by taking your pug puppy outside frequently, especially after meals or naps.
Praise and reward them when they successfully go potty in the designated area. If accidents happen, clean them up with an enzymatic cleaner to eliminate any smells that may encourage them to go in the same spot again.
Remember, patience and supervision are crucial when it comes to potty training your pug puppy.
Setting Up Successful Potty Breaks
To make potty breaks successful, it’s important to follow a few guidelines:
Take Your Puppy Outside Every 30 Minutes
You’ll want to make sure your little guy gets plenty of chances to go outside, so try taking them out every half hour or so.
During the potty training process, frequent trips outside will help your pug puppy establish good bladder control and learn to associate going outside with doing their business.
Set a consistent schedule that works for both you and your puppy, and stick to it as closely as possible.
Remember that accidents will happen, especially in the beginning stages of the training plan. Don’t scold or punish your puppy for accidents, as this will only confuse and upset them.
Instead, praise them when they do go outside and gradually increase the amount of time between potty breaks as they become more successful in holding their bladder.
Wait 5 Minutes While Watching Your Puppy
If you want your furry friend to learn good habits, wait just five minutes while keeping an eye on them. This waiting period is an essential part of the potty training process.
During these five minutes, your puppy will become more aware of their surroundings and will start to sniff around. This is a sign that they might need to go to the bathroom.
When waiting for a few minutes, you’re giving your puppy the chance to communicate their needs and you’re also teaching them to be patient.
To make this waiting period more effective, you should be consistent and create a routine. Take your puppy outside every 30 minutes and wait for five minutes while watching them.
By doing this, you’re providing your puppy with plenty of opportunities to go to the bathroom outside. Also, you’re creating a consistent routine that will help them learn positive behaviors.
Once your puppy goes to the bathroom, make sure to praise them and give them a treat. Don’t forget to provide them with fresh water after they come back inside.
Praise or Offer a Treat If Your Puppy Uses the Bathroom
Now that you have waited patiently for 5 minutes while watching your pug puppy, it’s time to offer praise or a treat if they use the bathroom successfully.
This is an important step in the potty training process as it reinforces positive behaviors and encourages your puppy to continue good bathroom habits.
To help you keep track of your puppy’s progress, here is a table that outlines some examples of verbal praise and treats you can use to reward successful toilet training:
| Verbal Praise | Treats |
|---|---|
| “Good job!” | Small piece of chicken |
| “You’re such a good boy/girl!” | Piece of cheese |
| “I’m so proud of you!” | Piece of carrot |
Remember to use a consistent tone and phrase your verbal praise in a way that your puppy will understand. It’s also important to not overdo it with treats and to gradually phase them out as your puppy becomes more accustomed to successful bathroom habits.
Reward With Off-Leash Time
Once your furry friend successfully uses the bathroom, reward them with some off-leash time to play and have fun. This will not only serve as a positive reinforcement for their good behavior but will also help them associate going potty with positive outcomes.
During the potty training process, it’s crucial to reward your pug puppy with positive behaviors that will help them learn quickly. However, make sure that the off-leash time is in a safe and secure area where your puppy can’t escape or get into any trouble.
Don’t forget to also use verbal praise and treats to reinforce the positive behavior. Always remember that potty training is a gradual process that requires patience and dedication.
Tips To Speed Up House Training Your Pug
Here are a few pro tips to help speed things up:
Keep Track of Your Puppies Potty Habits
Make sure you’re paying close attention to your new furry friend’s daily routines and behaviors, so you can start to recognize when they may need to go outside and use the bathroom.
Keep track of the times and locations where your puppy goes to the bathroom, and try to establish a routine for them. For example, after drinking water, most puppies need to go outside within 10-15 minutes.
Understanding the digestive systems of your pug puppy will help you be more successful in potty training. (1)
Creating a puppy potty training schedule is a great way to keep track of your puppy’s progress and ensure you’re not missing any opportunities for positive behaviors.
You can use a training crate to keep your puppy contained during the times when you aren’t able to supervise them. Be sure to praise your puppy when they go outside and use the bathroom, and avoid punishing them for accidents inside the house.
Take Them Potty During the Habitual Times As Well
It’s important to keep a consistent routine and take your pug puppy out during their habitual times, as this will help establish good potty habits.
Many puppies have a tendency to relieve themselves after meals or playtime. Take advantage of this and take your puppy outside during these times.
Be sure to establish a regular schedule, so your puppy knows when to expect to go outside. If you stick to a bathroom schedule, your puppy will be less likely to have accidents inside.
Also, make sure you’re taking your pug puppy outside frequently throughout the day. Young puppies have small bladders and may need to go outside as often as every 30 minutes to an hour.
As your puppy gets older, they’ll be able to hold it for longer periods of time. However, in the beginning, it’s important to be patient and take them out often.
By doing so, you’ll be setting your puppy up for success and avoiding the frustration that comes with accidents inside the house.
Get Your Puppy on a Feeding Schedule
You can establish a consistent routine by getting your furry friend on a feeding schedule that works for both of you. Feeding time is an essential part of your puppy’s potty training journey, and it’ll help them develop healthy habits.
Here are four things to keep in mind when creating a regular feeding schedule for your pug puppy:
- Determine the appropriate portion size for your puppy’s age and weight. Overfeeding your puppy can lead to health issues, including obesity and digestive problems.
- Choose a designated feeding area for your puppy. This’ll help them associate that area with mealtime and reduce the risk of accidents throughout your home.
- Stick to a consistent feeding time every day. This’ll help your puppy establish a routine and make it easier to predict when they need to go potty.
- Use a training crate during mealtime. This’ll help your puppy understand that mealtime is not playtime, and also aid in their potty training as they’ll need to go potty after eating.
When establishing a regular feeding schedule, you can help your puppy develop healthy habits and make potty training a smoother process. Remember to stick to the routine, and your furry friend will thank you for it!
Clean Up Accidents Thoroughly
Cleaning up accidents thoroughly is an essential step in ensuring your home stays clean and odor-free, even if accidents happen during the potty training process.
When your pug puppy has an accident, it’s important to clean the area thoroughly to remove any trace of urine or feces. Use an enzymatic cleaner specifically designed for pet accidents, as this will break down the molecules and eliminate any odors that may attract your puppy back to the same spot.
In addition to cleaning up accidents promptly, it’s important to prevent future accidents by closely monitoring your puppy during the potty training process. Consider crate training your puppy, as this will help them learn to hold their bladder and avoid accidents inside.
Remember, accidents are a normal part of puppy potty training. Don’t get frustrated, and don’t forget to reward your puppy for their successes.
Conclusion
Congratulations on taking the first step towards potty training your pug puppy! With the right mindset and approach, you can successfully teach your furry friend where and when to do their business.
Remember, consistency and patience are key. It may take a little bit of time, but your pug will eventually learn and develop good potty habits.
As you continue with the training, keep in mind that accidents may still happen. Don’t get discouraged or frustrated, as this is a normal part of the process. Be prepared to clean up any messes and continue with your training routine.
Keep up the positive reinforcement and praise your pug for a job well done. With your dedication and effort, your pug will soon be a potty-trained pup!