Potty Training a Puppy

by Carey

I have a pit bull that is about 2 1/2 months old and she's very lovable but she still pees and poops in the house. I take her out regularly and reward her when she uses the bathroom outside but something isn't working because she still uses the bathroom in the house. And I have messed up and swat her butt or mouth and yelled at her but this is so frustrating. I dont know what to do.

Gale's Reply:

Hi Carey:

Some dogs learn more quickly than others. But at 10 weeks, I would not expect a puppy to be potty trained. I don't know how long you've been working with her, but it typically takes months to have a reliably potty trained dog. At this point, you should be looking for progress, not perfection.

The training will go more quickly if you are able to keep accidents indoors to a minimum. But this relies on you being watchful and taking her outside if you see she is getting ready to relieve herself indoors. When you can't watch her, she should be crated or confined to a small space in a bathroom or laundry room since dogs prefer not to soil their immediate area.

Be sure you clean up any messes thoroughly so that your pup will not be attracted to re-visit the area. White vinegar works well. So does a product you can buy at the pet store called Nature's Miracle.

You've got the right idea about taking her out frequently and rewarding her when she does her business outside. And I can tell that you already know that you shouldn't swat or yell at your puppy. It will only cause her to be confused and less trusting of you.

While this article on House Breaking a Dog was written in reference to training a 1 year old, the principles are the same.

I think you basically have the right idea. But you need to have more patience and deal with your frustration in other ways. Don't take it out on your puppy.

Good luck. Feel free to write back and let us know how it's going.