In many ways, the coronavirus quarantine is a perfect time to get a new pet. More time at home means more time to devote to training and getting to know a new pet. 

However, even with more time, teaching a new dog or puppy to live in your home can be challenging. Potty training during Covid presents its own special challenges. Here are some tips to help you potty train your new puppy or adult rescue dog.

House Training a Puppy or an Adult Dog

Training your puppy to go to the bathroom outside isn't hard, but it does take dedication. Just because you're home more doesn't mean that it is easy to pay sufficient attention to your puppy. 

Before you bring home a new puppy or adult dog that isn't potty trained, be sure that you're ready for the commitment involved in potty training. Here's a tried-and-true technique for potty training a puppy or an adult dog.

1. Prepare Your Space

Your dog will have accidents. This is part of potty training. They won't be able to learn if they never make a mistake. 

To minimize the damage to your house, only allow your puppy to be places where there are hard floors that are easy to clean up. If you only have carpet, consider using the kinds of interlocking rubber mats that are used for exercise or children's areas to protect the floor.

Prepare a crate that is large enough for your puppy or dog to turn around in, stand up fully, and stretch out comfortably, but not large enough that your dog will be able to establish separate areas for sleeping and going to the bathroom. This crate is where your dog will go when you can't supervise them. Affordable two-door wire crates with a removable bottom work well for most dogs. 

Put a pee pad by the door where you will be taking your dog out to go to the bathroom. This is where you will take your dog whenever they start to have an accident. The right pee pads make everything easier. Here are some things to look for:

●      Bigger is better. Your puppy won't appreciate having urine soak up to their paws when they use the pad, and some puppies may even refuse to use the pad after a few experiences like this, so choose an oversized pad for your puppy's size. 

●      Affordable. You don't want to throw away a pad every time your dog uses one. Pee pads are also very convenient for cleaning up accidents. The plastic backing protects your hands, and the gel absorbs rapidly from hard floors and even carpet. You'll want to use and discard these pads as needed without worrying about the cost. 

●      Liquid to gel. Pads that turn liquid into gel keep urine contained much better and make it easier to dispose of without dripping. 

2. Maintain a Schedule

Potty training is much easier if you know when your dog is likely to go to the bathroom. Most dogs will need to go out shortly after eating and if they have been in their crate for a period of time. 

You should take your dog out as soon as they get up in the morning and if they have been crated while you were gone during the day. Take your dog out soon after they have eaten meals or when they have drunk a lot of water after exercise. 

Tie a command word to going potty so that your dog understands what you want on command. Say the command word as they go at the beginning. As you can predict when they are about to go, say the command word just before they go.  

3. Positive Reinforcement

Dogs learn potty training faster when they are trained with plenty of positive reinforcement. Give your dog lots of praise and tasty rewards when they go potty outside. Be sure to reward as soon as they're finished going so that they will associate their behavior with your reward. Rewarding promptly after your dog goes potty can also help to prevent your puppy from learning to delay going potty to extend outside time. 

Older dogs may rapidly learn what you are asking for with consistent positive reinforcement. Many times an adult dog will have some instincts or prior knowledge about going potty outside anyways, so a little bit of positive reinforcement may be all it takes. 

4. Supervision and Corrections

Potty training requires constant supervision. If you can't supervise your dog or puppy, they should be in a crate with a delicious food distributing toy or other chew toys to occupy them. Every time that your dog makes a mistake and you are not there to correct it, they more firmly internalize the concept that it is sometimes okay to go to the bathroom inside. 

Correcting the dog after the fact won't do anything to teach them what they did wrong. Corrections that seem random to your dog, especially harsh punishments, can break the human-animal bond. They may even teach your dog negative associations with going potty in front of you. 

Watch your dog and if they show signs of going potty, such a circling or crouching, quickly bring them to the paper and then outside. It's a good idea to attach a command word like "not there." There is no need for a stern correction. Being picked up or pulled over to the paper will be sufficiently startling to encourage your dog not to make the mistake again.

5. Be Patient

Every dog is different in how long they take to be potty trained. Some breeds are known for being more difficult to potty train than others. Toy dogs are typically a bit more difficult to potty train than larger breed dogs. Some breeds, like Italian Greyhounds, are very well-known for being difficult to potty train. 

The key to success is consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement. If your small breed dog is having a difficult time making the transition from going to the paper to going outside, you can consider litter box training. Some small breed dogs respond much better to this kind of potty training than having to go outside.

Have Fun with Potty Training

Potty training is generally not considered to be the best part of having a new dog, but it can be a very rewarding experience for both you and your new puppy or adult dog if you are dedicated and consistent. 

Establishing a routine with your dog is an important part of the bond that you share. Potty training is a big part of this routine. The satisfaction when your dog goes to the door to ask to go out is truly worth all of the commitment.