Potty training your pet advice from Helen Woodward Animal Center
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – A lot of people bring home new pets over the holiday season and many pet owners struggle with potty training and how to best keep their pets from going in the house. Here are some tips on how to approach this issue from Helen Woodward Animal Center.
Bringing home a new pet:
Whether you adopt a young animal or an adult it’s important to consider their potty training as a part of their transition into your home. The first thing to do is not allow them access to your entire home. Section off an area to keep your new pet and do not allow them to roam freely. With cats, make sure their litter box is in this area of your home where they’re allowed and make sure to show them where the box is. For dogs, it’s best to keep them in an area you’ll be able to monitor them while you’re home and an area they cannot get away from you and go to the bathroom. This way if you catch them going to the bathroom you can immediately you can correct the behavior.
Crate training:
Crate training is another good way to potty train your pet. Many owners find crates helpful for pets who are destructive or anxious or even if they need to travel with their pet frequently. The idea behind crate training is you’re providing them with a space they feel like is their own. This space should be big enough that they can stand up and turn around in but not so large that they can go to the bathroom in it and still sit or lay a distance away from it. This way pets will alert you to get out of their crate when they need to go to the bathroom. This is most helpful for overnight training or if you’re gone during the day for short periods. Pets should not be left in their crate for long periods of time until their bladder control has been established. Familiarize your pet with their crate by making it a fun and safe space. This can mean feeding them meals in their crate, giving treats, or putting their favorite toys and bedding in it.
There is no one perfect way to potty train every pet. The key is patience!
