If you are nervous about potty training your Poodle, don’t be. Poodles are highly intelligent and they are known to respond very well to training. Here are five great tips to ensure the potty training process is as smooth and enjoyable as it can be:
- Develop a feeding routine with your Poodle.
Building good habits is key to successful potty training. If you are able to build a regular feeding routine with your poodle, and feed it at the same time each day, it will learn to develop a behavior of going out when it needs to.
- Identify your Poodle’s potty location from the start.
Consistency is key. Your job is to make sure that you lead your Poodle to the exact same spot whenever you take it outside. By doing so, your Poodle will learn to associate that spot where it should do its business.
- Supervise your Poodle at all times, whenever possible.
Whenever you are at home, make sure to be around your Poodle at all times. This will allow you to watch for the signs when your Poodle has to go and give you time to take him or her outside before an accident happens inside the house. Common signs to watch out for when your dog is about to go is when it starts sniffing the ground and walking in circles.
- Praise your Poodle every time they do their business in the right spot.
Like most dogs, Poodles respond well to positive reinforcement. This can come in the form of a small piece of treat or a physical reward such as a belly rub. It doesn’t matter what reward you give. It’s the thought that counts. Rewarding is the best way to encourage your Poodle to repeat the good behavior in the future.
- Never scold your puppy for accidents.
As accidents do happen sometimes, it is important to be patient and be mindful not to raise your voice or punish your puppy. Instead, what you should do is introduce a verbal cue such as “Uh-oh”, “Oops” and “Outside” to catch its attention and send your dog the message that the behavior is wrong and should not be repeated again in the near future.
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