Welcoming a fur baby into your home is nearly as stressful as welcoming a human baby.
There will be crying, and night wakings, and a really long adjustment period wherein you will probably have poop and pee on parts of your person you didn’t even know were accessible by another soul.
It’s a commitment that should not be made lightly. And, it’s a whole bunch of work. But worth it. You know, like pretty much always.
We welcomed Baby Dog Daughter (now more commonly known as The Beast), into our home when Dude #3 was two.
I told DudeDad that I wanted another baby. He said hell no crazy lady he wasn’t really on board with that plan and proposed a dog baby instead.
She came to us by way of a family with puppies, not a puppy mill, not a breeder, just a family with some puppies.
We adopted her at 10 weeks…
because her mother got a mean case of mastitis and she and her siblings had to be weaned early.
She was exactly what my empty womb needed.
She was tiny and clumsy and sweet and perfect.
Accept for when it came to potty training. Because, just like kids, potty training and the ability to hold it for a reasonable amount of time, is one of those things that develops with age.
Meaning, 10 week old puppies take a little extra time to “get it”.
Even if you take her out a bunch. Even if you silently scream when she fails. Even if you break down and cry because she peed inside of your diaper bag. How did she even get inside of the diaper bag?!
She will get it eventually if you stay the course and do it right. Sorta just like your kid.
In addition to potty training boys, you can call me the dog whisperer of puppy potty training. Not really, but here are some tips to help…
How to Potty Train a Puppy
1. Crate train your fur baby. No lie, it works. They don’t make where they sleep (because, ew, that’s just dirty, even dogs know that). Plus, they learn to love having a place of their own, like a den or whatever (you’re not required to climb in there with them for a cuddle, but if that’s how you like to get down; no judgment). Throw some softness in there (we use old t-shirts for dog comforting), give them a toy or two, and let them spend time in there when you aren’t home or otherwise can’t be on top of your dog watching game.
2. Take them to their spot. Same spot, every time. That way, they’ll know what you want from them when you’re standing there pointing at the snow covered ground and jumping around like a buffoon in your jammie pants and Uggs (side note: don’t get a puppy during snow season, that’s just silly).
3. Make it a routine. Get the leash from the same spot and make them sit and wait. Always exit through the same door. Give them a hearty “way to go champ” when they finish. Every time. Same thing. Dogs are all over repetition because it helps them learn.
4. Get some I peed here erasing spray. You know the stuff that gets rid of their scent so they do think that your fancy shag rug in the playroom is “the spot”.
5. Don’t shove their little puppy face in it. It. Was. An. Accident. No need to be ugly about it. You don’t shove your baby’s face in their Pull-Up when they have an accident so why would you want to do that to your dog? It doesn’t help, it just hurts. Reward their good deeds, ignore the bad ones (and, by ignore I mean swear under your breath while you clean it up).
6. Be patient. I know, it’s hard, and if you have to clean up another runny deuce from your white carpet you’re gonna lose it. Ummm, why do you have white carpets? Your human babies can’t be easy on that either.
7. Don’t give up. Because if you do, you will have a dog that handles her business inside of your house. Sure, no big deal now while her puppy turds are tiny and manageable. Whole other story when they are all big and buff.
8. Give ‘em treats. And a hearty pet. And all kinds of silly love words when they perform as you desire. Dogs love love. And, Fresh Pet makes refrigerated, fresh treats for dogs too! Win some for yourself…
*This post was brought to you by FreshPet. All opinions are my own and they did not potty train my pooch. Jeez, I wish!
