Potty training your bulldog is going to be hard, frustrating, and annoying… if that’s how you make it. That is exactly how we made it, harder than it had to be, until we wised up and really buckled down on ourselves and Winston… mostly ourselves.

Here are a few tips on how to make potty training a little smoother AKA The Things We Should’ve Done Sooner To Save Ourselves the Trouble:

1. Watch your dog If they are out and about in your home, make sure that you can see them at all times. During this training period it’s going to be tiresome always having to pay attention to them (but hello! they require constant attention), and if you’re all into your video game or movie or phone call, then you won’t notice little Fido behind the couch making puddles. By the time you notice his mess, it’s going to be too late to discipline him. Instead, keep a close eye (maybe even use a tether leash) on your dog, and when you see them sniffing: One, pick them up and take them outside immediately, or two, (if you catch them in the act of peeing), sternly tell them ‘No!’ and again, take them outside immediately.

Note: Disciplining your dog even 30 seconds after they’ve made a mess doesn’t work, because by then they’re already distracted by something else. If you yell at them twenty minutes after the fact, they won’t associate why you’re mad at them. Only discipline (saying, NO!) in the moment that you catch them, otherwise take them outside and clean up the mess.

2. Know your dog’s limit Every dog is different on how long they can hold their bladders. Puppies typically need to go out fifteen minutes after drinking, and thirty to forty-five minutes after eating. Also, take them outside when they wake up from naps, and after any vigorous playtime activities. Basically, what we’re saying is: you will be taking your puppy out quite a lot. You cannot give your pup or grown dog bowls and bowls of water and expect them to hold it all day. Stick closely to that timeline (and it will vary slightly depending on the dog, so pay attention!) and you will drastically reduce accidents that occur in your home, while simultaneously getting your dog used to going outside.

3. “Go Potty!” Or some similar phrase should be used to encourage them when using the bathroom outside. We tell Winston, “Go potty!” and he will immediately start sniffing around on the ground for a place to go. It took months for the command to finally click, but now it works like a charm. This command is important to teach for a couple of reasons: first, not every trip outside is to play; they need to understand when they are outside to do their business and when they are outside for playtime. Second, a lot of dogs like to linger, and sometimes we don’t have twenty minutes to wait while they sniff out prime location.

4. Positive Reinforcement Bring treats along on your walks and everytime they potty (seriously, every-single-time) give them a treat or have a big celebration with them! As they are doing their business, in a clear, encouraging voice say, “Go potty!” It is important to say your command as they are doing it because you want them to begin making that mental connection. However, don’t get too overly excited when they are going, as you don’t want to startle them and have them stop. Also, I wouldn’t suggest saying something like, “Go Pee!” because when indoors, you may say, “I’ve go to go pee…” and then your dog may think that you want them to go inside, which we don’t want.

5. DO NOT TEACH YOUR DOG TO POTTY INSIDE I don’t think there is a font bold enough to fully express that. Do not teach them to pee on newspaper, puppy pads, towels, tshirts, those stupid Potty Patches or anything else—- just don’t. Dogs only know one thing: I have to pee. We think we’re teaching them It’s okay to potty inside as long as it’s on this,but really all we’re teaching them is that It’s okay to potty inside. It just confuses them. And ultimately, if you ever need to discipline them for having an accident off of their “designated area” they’re basically thinking Why am I getting punished for peeing? If you’re paying attention to their habits, you will be able to tell when it’s time for a potty break outside—- teaching them to pee inside is just going to make your life more miserable than it has to be.

6. Consistancy If you do not stick to training, your dog will never be trained. It is a tremendous amount of work, but if you stick with a schedule or regimen, you can have a housebroken dog. House training is as much (if not more) about you than it is about your dog. Don’t try to take the easy way out, because it really just becomes more work in the long run. Eventually, it gets tiresome picking up wet newspapers or cleaning stains off the floor. Everyone wants a housebroken pet—- you will eventually have to retrain your pet when you could’ve done it from the beginning. 

Note: I know a few of you are probably asking, well, what about when I am not at home? That brings us to Bully Tip Number Two, and your Number One Ally in the fight against potty training…

Stay Tuned.