Puppies and kittens aren't like human babies. You can't
wait 2 years to start potty training. "With a puppy or kitten you say,
"Oh it's just a little mess." But when that puppy is a 70-pound dog,
it's not as cute," says Bernadine Cruz, DVM, associate veterinarian at
Laguna Hills Animal Hospital in California.
Start
getting your pet into the habit of going outside or in a litter box as
soon as you come home from the shelter or breeder. "Puppies and kittens
like routines, just like human children," Cruz says. "They may not catch
on immediately, but they will learn." If you're lucky, your pet will
have already picked up a few training tips from mom and dad before
coming to live with you.
Don't give your new family member free rein of the
house until you've established some training routines. Set up a space
where you can confine your pet -- and their messes. For puppies, a crate
is ideal. "Often people think of crates as being somewhat cruel, but it
can be a secure area for them," Cruz says.
