Top Puppy Potty Training Aids

Potty training a puppy can be one of the hardest things that you do for your pet. It is however very crucial and something that you should try to accomplish just as soon as possible. There is nothing worse than owning a dog that just “doesn’t get it” and it is usually not the fault of the dog.

If you find yourself having a hard time with potty training your pup, or if you just financed a new puppy and want to get it done as quickly as possible, we can help. Take a look at our top 5 list of puppy training aids.

1) Clickers

The clicker is a classic dog training tool that has been used for years. It is simply a small plastic device with a metal clicker inside of it, usually just a bent piece of metal strip. When you press the button on the device, it simply clicks.

If you are unfamiliar with the clicker, you might be wondering how a simple clicker can help. Simple, it emits the same noise every time. When your pet does something good, you click the device and give them a treat. This is far more effective than saying “good boy” or giving them some other form of verbal praise.

A clicker is consistent where our voice is not. Every time we talk our tone changes just a bit and the dog is less likely to recognize our words as praise. The clicker takes the error out of rewarding them by sounding the same every time.

So, when you take your pet outside and they potty in the right place, you give the device a click. They then immediately no that they did a good thing. No guesswork.

You can purchase a clicker online or at most pet stores for just a few dollars. Attach them to your keychain so that it is always handy.

2) Bells

Most pets will eventually “get it” and realize that they are supposed to go and do their business outside. If you can instill that in them, good work. The problem is that they have small bladders with poor control. Once they realize that they need to go out, they really need to go out.

Enter the bell on a rope. Attach it to the doorknob and teach them to wack it with their paw when they want to go potty. Most dogs will pick this up very quickly and learn to alert you very loudly. That will significantly increase your chances of being able to let your pet out to potty before an accident happens.

3) Walk Thru Screen Doors

Even better than a bell is the walk thru screen door. It is essentially a divided mesh panel that you can attach to your back door. It will allow you to simply leave the back door open while keeping the bugs out.

When you install one, your dog can simply go out on their own whenever they feel the need to go potty. This, of course, works best in mild weather but if you own a home with a yard and the weather is decent, give it a shot.

Walk thru screen doors can be found at places like Amazon and come in a variety of sizes to fit any door. Pick one up for around 20 dollars.

4) Wee Wee Pads

This one is a last resort for me, but if you have a stubborn pet, they can do the trick. Wee wee pads, as they are known are basically plastic squares with an absorbent material on top of them. They give your pet a place to go potty and will hopefully spare your floors. They are often lightly scented to attract your pet to them.

If you decide to go this route, be sure to use these pads as an overall part of a training plan. Gradually move them closer to the door with the goal of eventually eliminating them. It is very easy to get hooked on the pads and not progress your potty training. This is especially common with small dogs like smaller Bulldogs and the like. Don’t let your training come to a halt.

Wee wee pads cost around 20 to 30 dollars per package, similar to baby diapers. You can see where this can get expensive over time, so try not to depend on them. Again, they should be used only as a stop gap and you should plan on weening your dog off of them.

5) Natures Miracle

Natures Miracle is a pet stain cleaner that contains enzymes that digest urine and pet waste. When your pet has an accident, you can use it to remove as much of the odor as possible.

This is a great product that works well when used as directed. I consider it a pet potty training aid because it helps to eliminate the odor. If your puppy has an accident in the home, you need to try your best to remove the odor. If your carpet continues to smell like pee, they will think it is acceptable to continue to potty on it. Remove the odor and remove the temptation.

Find natures miracle at just about every pet store in the country. Be sure to follow directions as it is not just a spray it and wipe it up product. It needs time to work.