What I Learned From Potty Training My Dog

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How will you know they’re ready?

Even the words stressed me out — potty training. After trying (and failing) to potty train our nine-year-old son, Max, I was hesitant to try again. Yet, in my heart, I knew it was time. So, Todd and I summoned up our courage and decided we were going to dive back in — we were going to potty train our dog.

First, let me give you some background. Bentley, our adorable border collie, had just turned two. Now, this is an important distinction to point out — every dog is different. Not all dogs are going to be ready to potty train at two. I think much of our success in potty training Bentley came from the fact that he was ready.

So how do you know they’re ready?

Well, pay attention to their behavior. Is your dog collecting old, dried-up poops from outside and dropping them in your toilet? Are they pooping in trash cans? Do you ever find them crawling up on the toilet — just to see how it feels?

If so, it might be time to start. But before you begin, let me pass along some advice:

Ok, I’ll admit it, this one caught us off-guard. But let me tell you, after one time chasing Bentley through the living room and having to replace all our downstairs carpets and that off-white sofa, I’ve learned my lesson. The last thing you want is to run out of toilet paper! Keep a double-supply on hand when you’re potty training. True, your dog (or you) may not like the wiping at first, but try to make it — if not fun — at least tolerable. And don’t worry, they’ll do this part on their own eventually.

In the film Babe, there is a talking border collie named Fly. Bentley loves Fly. So we knew from the start that “Even Fly Goes Potty” was going to be a hit with Bentley.

But, if your dog isn’t a fan of Fly, don’t worry. There are many great dog potty books to choose from, such as: “Lulu The Labradoodle And The Magical Potty Throne”, “Even Working Dogs Go To The Bathroom”, and for the sheep-lovers out there, “Little Ewe Has Taken A Poo!”

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