Potty Training a Labrador Puppy

Potty training or house training is one of the first things that you will have to focus on after bringing home a Labrador Puppy. However, you must know what to expect when toilet training a Lab puppy, you must be prepared with patience and dedication since house training can be difficult in the beginning. Here are the house-training basics that you will need to follow to train your puppy. House training is done over time, and here is how.

Potty training tips you need to know:

Choose an area of your house or apartment as your dog’s “bathroom” this place needs to be easy to clean and in a place where the smells won’t upset the occupants of the house. You can also take your puppy into your yard if you have one. Teaching your lab puppy go potty in the yard is the best idea since Labradors produce a lot of waste when they are grown. 

If you live in an apartment you have no other option but to take your Lab outside to evacuate. But, don’t take your Lab puppy to potty out on the street or park until the vaccine schedule has been completed. Lab puppies love to go outside and explore new territories. but this could be dangerous for an unvaccinated puppy. So for apartment dwellers, the first months of potty training will happen indoors. Puppies can refuse to go potty on surfaces that they are not used to. For example, if your puppy gets used to evacuating on hard floors, going potty in the grass will feel awkward to your puppy, and will prefer to do it on the sidewalk. So, using an artificial grass puppy pad while you potty train your Lab indoors can help to transition to real grass when your puppy is ready to explore the outside world. 

How to toilet train a Labrador Retriever Puppy

Keep an eye on your puppy for signs like circling, sniffing, and scratching the floor. This means that your puppy needs to potty. Take your puppy outside or to the designated potty place in your house or apartment. Once there, give your puppy a command that it can associate with going potty like; “go potty”. This will help your dog know that is the place to go do the thing. If the activity is successful praise your puppy for doing a good job. You can also give your Lab puppy a treat for doing a good job, Labs are a food-motivated breed, so yummy treats help a lot with training. Positive reinforcement will help your Labrador to go potty in the right place.

Limiting the movement of your puppy will make it easier to keep an eye on during this process. Consider using baby gates to close an area of your house. The area must be big enough so that your puppy can move and play inside. It should be close to your yard or the area of your house where you want your Lab to go potty. Also, this area must be easy to clean, you can expect accidents in this part of the potty training.

If you catch your puppy going potty in the wrong place don’t ignore it. Interrupt your puppy by clapping and saying “NO” loudly. Then take the puppy to the potty place and let it finish there. Do not scare the puppy if you catch it in the act, the goal is to get its attention and let it know that it is not doing the right thing. Don’t punish your puppy either, dogs don’t know that peeing or pooping inside the house is wrong. This is something you must teach your dog. Do it patiently and be consistent with the training and eventually, you will get your Labrador fully house-trained.

If your Lab puppy goes potty inside the house it’s very important to clean the “accident” immediately. Use some white vinegar diluted in water or an enzymatic odor remover to thoroughly clean the area. If you don’t do this the odor of urine will make your puppy want to pee in the same spot again.

Related post: Labrador Retriever Puppy Feeding Guide

The essential training supplies and equipment:

Generally, a puppy is unable to control Its bladder and bowel until they are 12 weeks of age, so make sure you have all the essentials in case your new puppy decides to go where it’s not supposed to. For this period, you might need the following items to begin potty training your Labrador puppy. Make sure they are all pet-friendly and of a reputable brand name.

• Absorbent pee pad: Dog training pads mostly come in handy in the first stages of house training, before your puppy can go potty outside. The benefit of a pad is that the mess your puppy makes will be confined to just one place and it will be easier for you to clean up.
• Stain Remover: As a routine, accidents are bound to happen. And this is why having a good cleaner is extremely important. Along with a pet, cleaner make sure you also have ample small towels on hand.
• Dog poop bag and Pooper scooper: Having these is also very important. They will come in handy when you have to pick up and discard the mess your little friend makes. You can carry these in your bag or even in your pocket when you go out on a walk with your dog.
• Treats: Many dogs are motivated by food, and this is why you will need food treats that your Labrador puppy enjoys. After your dog listens to your commands and goes to the right place, give him a treat, so he understands that food comes after he goes to the right place.
• A leash and collar: This will allow you to show your dog where the right place is.
• Barrier gates: This is also an essential supply as it will confine your dog to a specific place. Barrier gates make it easier to keep your house floors clean.
• Pee finder: Finding and cleaning dried pee will help prevent future accidents.
• You might also want a car seat cover in case you have to travel somewhere with your little friend.
• An artificial grass pad to train your puppy for the outside.

When to start house training your Labrador puppy:

On a general note, younger Labrador puppies have very short attention spans. However, you can expect them to begin responding to simple obedience commands such as “sit”, “down” and “stay” when they are at about 7 or 8 weeks of age.

At what age should a lab puppy be potty trained?

House training should begin as soon as your Lab puppy arrives at your home. Which is normally at 7 to 9 weeks of age. So, if your little Labrador puppy is a few weeks old, you might begin with basic command words to get familiar with the house routine and also your voice. You can use this time to show your new Lab puppy the areas of your house it is allowed to be in, and close off any part of your house that is off-limits to your dog.

The best moments to train your Lab puppy are:

• After a nap
• After eating or drinking
• Post playing
• If they are sniffing the ground or going in circles
• When they seem excited

How long does it take to potty train a Lab puppy?

Every puppy is different, some learn very quickly, and others take some time to learn where is the correct place to go potty. According to training experts, Lab puppies need from 4 to 8 weeks of training to be fully potty trained. However, if it is your first-time potty training a puppy it might take even longer, so don’t be discouraged if your Lab puppy is a slow learner.

Are labradors easy to potty train?

Labradors are smart dogs and love to please their owners, this makes Labradors very easy to train. This also applies to potty training a Lab puppy. However, you will need to put in time and dedication to successfully house-train your Lab. 

Using a crate for house training a Labrador puppy:

Using a crate for potty training your new Labrador puppy can be a useful idea in the short term. Especially if you have to leave the house or can´t keep watching your puppy for some time. Crate training will teach your dog to hold it in until you open the crate and let him go outside, this is because your puppy will think of the crate as its home, and will be reluctant to go potty inside. Here are some tips for using a crate:

• If the crate is being used for more than 2-3 hours at a time make sure you also give your puppy fresh water. You can get a dispenser and attach it to your puppy’s crate for your convenience.
• Don´t keep your puppy inside the crate for more than 4 hours at one time. 
• Make sure the size of the crate is large enough for the puppy to stand, turn and lie down. But, not large enough for your puppy to go potty on one side and sleep on the other side. 

Relates post: Labrador Puppy Training Essentials

Choosing the right place for your puppy to go potty:

To train your puppy to go potty in a specific place, use a verbal cue such as “go potty” and keep your dog in that area until he does his business. Give him a treat after and some verbal praise. Make sure the treat and praise are only given if your dog uses the spot that you want him to.

Setting a suitable routine:

Consistency is the best way to teach your puppy some essential housetraining. Take your puppy to go potty in the same spot at the same time every day. Remember to use the command word, and praise your puppy when it evacuates successfully in the right place. Start by taking your puppy out first thing every morning, and before bedtime. Also, puppies usually need to go after eating or drinking water, so take your puppy to its potty place after every meal. Some puppies also need to go potty after playing and when they wake up from a nap. 

To achieve a potty routine for your Lab puppy is best to know; how often lab puppies pee and how many times a labrador puppy goes potty. Well, in general, Labrador puppies can hold it for an hour per month of age. So, an 8-week puppy needs to go every two hours, and a 12-week-old puppy every 3 hours, and so on. Of course, every puppy is different and the best way to potty train your puppy is to observe how frequently, it needs to potty. Keeping a regular feeding schedule will help a lot in this process. 

Deal and prevent setbacks:

• Don’t punish your puppy
• Clap loudly if you catch him
• Your reaction matters to your puppy
• Clean up with enzymatic cleansers rather than ammonia-based cleaners
• Stay outside with your puppy for long periods as this may help him to curb incidents. It will also allow him to explore and get familiar with the places that he will be regularly using.

Time to start potty training your Labrador Puppy

Now that you have a complete guide for your puppy make sure you act with kindness and love and allow him some space to explore and discover. Good luck!

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