Potty training a dog while you have an 8-10 hours day job can be quite a task. Understand that to successfully be able to housetrain a puppy requires patience, as well as close supervision.
Besides, your pup will not be able to hold it until you return in the evening. Therefore, you have to seriously think about potty training before you can get a puppy. Still interested in getting a dog? Then read on to discover how to potty train a dog if you work all day.
Make Potty Training the top priority.
Before we can proceed to tips to potty train a dog while you work every day, it is essential to think ahead. Remember, things like potty training should be the first things you address before you go on and bring a doggy home. Are you ready for a dog? While adopting a puppy from the shelter seems like the right thing, you must be prepared for a dog. Must your house be ready to accommodate a new four-legged family member?
What does it take to bring a new puppy home? Getting a puppy home is not the most excellent idea if you are always busy and cannot afford to monitor your dog closely. However, this does not mean that you should not get a dog.
Instead, you can adopt an adult dog who is entirely potty trained. However, this should not be a limitation if you are still interested in getting a puppy. You will have to accept that it might take a little longer to train your puppy how to potty wholly and appropriately how to potty properly.
Potty train your dog when you work full-time.
The idea of potty training your dog when you have to be at work full-time might seem quite tricky. This is true, but you can still manage to bring a puppy home and potty train him. Several methods will enable you to potty train a dog while you have a job.
Should I hire a Dog Trainer?
If you are desperate for potty training your puppy but rarely have the time to do so, don’t worry. You can hire a dog trainer to do this while you are away. While this might take some time, you should also0 chip in whenever you can.
The dog trainer will help you introduce your dog to house training. In most cases, this should not cost you a lot of money. During this training, the dog trainer will teach the page to go potty’ or ‘do your business.’ This will be very helpful as you can instruct your dog when you stay home.
Use a crate to potty train your dog (See crate prices on Amazon)
This is probably the most preferred method of potty training a dog. It works for all dog owners. However, you will have to understand how to correctly use this method to potty train a dog, primarily if you work long hours. It will be impossible to be there when your dog needs a potty break. Once again, he can only hold it for a short period before he ends up soiling in his crate.
You might, therefore, consider seeking help to ensure that your dog gets the potty breaks when you are away at work. For instance, you can ask a friend or relative to help you during the first stages of potty training a puppy. Considering that puppies will need to feed more often than adult dogs, it also means that they will need as many potty breaks. So if you work all day, having a friend help you is not such a bad idea.
Your puppy will need to be removed from the crate a few times daily, and then you can take over in the evening. For instance, after feeding, he should be taken out for a potty break every 30 minutes-hour. Well, you cannot manage to get so many breaks from work, right?
Will a Dog walker help?
When you finally get someone to watch your puppy for you, it is essential to ensure you keep everything within an everyday routine. This way, your dog will not be confused whenever he is commanded to go potty. If you do not have someone to take care of your dog, you can alternatively hire a dog walker. This way, you will ensure that your dog is always under supervision, and you will be able to work.
I am sure that the pet walker will be ready to leave by the afternoon. Therefore, you will need to get back home as soon as possible. This way, you can take him out for a potty break immediately. Remember that your dog may be unable to hold for so long in the evening. Therefore, don’t forget about him and go out for after-work drinks in the evening.
Daycare for your dog
You can also take advantage of a doggy daycare to help potty train your dog at work. Research and identify a good daycare before you can leave your dog in the hands of a stranger. You can either seek the opinion of other daycare members before committing. Once again, in the daycare, your dog is going to be under supervision at all times. In most cases, the doggy daycare employees are professional dog handlers. They will be able to assist you with the process of potty training.
Consider long-term confinement
Sometimes, you might have to consider a long-term confinement plan. We have previously mentioned that potty training a dog takes consistency and patience, which might take longer if you work. A long-term confinement area should be more significant than just a crate. You can get him a pen or keep him confined in your kitchen. You should use baby gates to keep him in the other room.
You can even use the kitchen to potty train a dog while you work. In addition, you can purchase a puppy pen which will help you in this process. Well, you will have to place paper pads all over the floor of the confinement area. This way, it will be relatively easier to potty train him. Alternatively, you can use litter boxes when potty training your dog in a long-term confinement area.
Using this method, it will be pretty rare for your dog to have accidents in the house. He still does not have access to the rest of the house. Ensure that you place the litter box far away from your dog’s bed and feeding station.
However, one main downside of this method is that your dog will potty whenever he feels like it. While this is a good thing, it also means that your dog will not learn how to hold it for a little longer. He may never be able to keep it; thus, you risk house accidents when you let him roam freely around the house.
Spend time with your dog
Spending time with your dog should be included in your daily routine. While spending time with him, you should engage in play and also exercise him. For instance, starting the day with a long but refreshing walk is advisable before you get to work. I mean, this way, you will be able to help burn his extra calories.
As a result, your dog shall stay at home and remain calm or probably fall asleep. While this is helpful, you should consider when you will be away from home. It will be difficult for you to get a break to come back home and take him to the potty; I mean, getting all the leaves needed to train a dog is impossible to train a dog.
When you spend enough time with your dog, you will also be assisting with easing anxiety. This is quite common in dogs, especially when your dog has to spend the entire day alone. Playing with him will make him happier and even help him adjust to the new environment.
No punishment
While housetraining a dog can be very frustrating, especially when he keeps soiling the house. However, it is also important to mention that it is inevitable. However disappointing it is, you should never punish him. Some dog owners may feel like the puppy needs a lesson.
However, punishing him will only add up to his anxiety. Instead, clean up the soiled areas in the house. You may want to use an enzymatic cleaner to ensure that you get rid of the stains as well as the urine smell.
Punishment also includes yelling at your puppy for house accidents. As we mentioned, you must practice calmness and patience with him before he is entirely potty trained.
Tips to Potty Train a puppy while you have a full-time job.
As we have discussed above, it is not easy to potty train a puppy if you have a full-time job, and neither is it easy to raise the puppy entirely. Raising a puppy will take a lot of time and effort. However, monitoring your puppy when you are home is key to solving this problem. For instance, you can have your friend check up on your puppy now and then. However, this does not guarantee that he will be okay. Below are some tips you may take advantage of when raising a puppy and working full time.
Leave your pup tired.
While getting a new puppy is fun, it also means that you have another obligation. You will spend considerable time with your dog before he can get used to your new home. Consider taking long walks to reduce anxiety and leave your dog at peace. This way, you can ensure that he is tired when you work. This means that he will spend most of his time sleeping and resting.
Have a Friend check in every few hours
While you have a job to go to every morning, you also must ensure that your puppy is well looked after. Well, at least look out for him for the very first few days in your house. You can talk to your friend, or a neighbor you are sure will spend most of their time at home. Ask them to check on your dog every few hours while you are away. Assuming you have a 9-5 kind of work, they will only need to check on your puppy twice before you return. On average, your puppy will need to potty every 3 hours maximum.
Provide plenty of toys
When you have a job, it means that you do leave your puppy all alone for a few hours every day. And when you are away, your dog is prone to boredom. He has no one to interact with and is probably in confinement. Therefore, leaving him some toys is an excellent way to keep your dog occupied all day.
Teach your dog how to use the toys. This will keep him occupied and thus unlikely to soil the house. You should also include chewing toys and food puzzles which you can fill with treats.
Prevent anxiety
Anxiety, particularly separation anxiety, is a common issue in dogs. If you have a dog, he might start acting up due to anxiety. Unfortunately, dogs are pretty prone to anxiety. For instance, your dog might start house soiling because you have left him alone. Take measures to treat existing anxiety as well as prevention measures.
Conclusion
Potty training your dog can be challenging if you work full-time, but that does not mean potty training your dog if you work full-time, but that does not mean that it is impossible. Use the above-discussed methods to introduce house training to your puppy. You may need help with potty training when you are away at work. Ask a friend or neighbor to check in on your dog. You can also get a pet walker to walk and help with the training. Spend enough time playing and exercising your dog to tire him up before leaving for work.
