Potty training and kennel training… usually the most daunting part of raising a puppy. A family who got a puppy from us a while ago shared a YouTube video series they used to kennel train their puppy and said it worked incredibly well for them in less than 2 weeks. So, we checked out the entire “Dog Training” video library this YouTube channel offers, and we have been very impressed and our puppy families have seen great results! We highly recommend using these methods for potty training, kennel training, preventing chewing, and a handful of tricks (and don't forget the NéVetica™ Wet-a-way - accidents will happen!!)
While your puppy is with us, we begin pen and litter box training at about 4 weeks old, and by the time they go to their new homes they are great at it! It makes for super easy potty training at home because they have already learned the concept of going in a certain spot. We recommend setting up a litter box for them near the door where they would go out, and gradually move it outside to a spot for them.
While kennel training your puppy is usually first on the list, and is always a safe option, we actually recommend something a little different if you have the space. We recommend a rectangular pen setup with their kennel and bed at one end, and litter box at the other end (if you are not home to leave it by the door), with food, water, toys, etc. in the middle. This gives them room to move around and play, eat, drink, potty, etc. without forcing a young puppy to hold it in a kennel – they just don’t understand this yet and are too young to stay in a kennel for more than about an hour at a time. It’s like potty training a toddler, you have to wait for them to mature enough to understand what it means to be potty trained and know where they are supposed to go. You shouldn’t jump right into forcing them to hold it in a kennel too soon and scold them when they have an accident. They just don’t know yet. They definitely need boundaries and to be told “no” to learn, but you truly have to think of them at a toddler trying to learn the ways of the world! We have found that this works best for a young puppy's age and needs, and can be adjusted as they get older and are able to hold it longer and learn to potty outside, eat less frequently, etc.
We created an "amazon favorites" list for some of our tried and true puppy setup essentials: https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestminiaussies
