Facts

• Puppies, along with most other mammals, enjoy being told when they've done something correctly. This type of encouragement shows that they are appreciated and lets them know they have done the task right. If you think about it, how else will a puppy know that it has done what its owner asked unless they are praised for it? Praise helps a puppy associate an action with a reward, which encourages it to repeat that action so that it can receive the reward again.
  
  

Types

• There are a few different types of praise. The Perfect Paws website states that enthusiastic praise and rewards are often helpful in potty training. For example, when your puppy eliminates in the appropriate area, say "good dog" or "good job" in an excited manner and pet the puppy. You can also reward the puppy with a treat. This positive association helps the puppy know that you are pleased with it when it potties in a particular area. Clicker training employs another type of praise. Clicker devices make a clicking sound. When your puppy properly eliminates, click the device and give the puppy a treat. The puppy will associate the sound with a job well done. After many repetitions of rewarding the puppy for eliminating in the right spot, you can remove "clicking" since the puppy understands its "potty spot." Trainers advise dog owners to continue giving praise when it potties to reinforce the behavior.
  
  

When to Praise

• Praise your puppy whenever it obeys your commands. If your puppy avoided eliminating in the house and went outside, praise it immediately afterward. Even if your puppy walks to the door or sits in front of the door to indicate it needs to eliminate, give it praise to reinforce this behavior.
  
  

Cautions

• Do not unintentionally praise your puppy when it doesn't deserve it, as it will only provide confusion. For example, if your puppy eliminates in the home, do not pet it and say "it's OK." Instead of comforting the dog, you are showing it that when it goes potty inside, you pet it, which can lead to more undesired behavior. Only give praise when your puppy has done what you want it to do.
  
  

Praise vs. Punishment

• Puppies simply do not understand punishment, but they do understand praise, which is why it is an effective training technique. There are no acceptable forms of punishment. Hitting a puppy is not only abusive, but creates fear in the dog which may ultimately turn into aggression toward you. Similarly, rubbing your puppy's nose in its waste is only confusing for the pooch. The Dog Owner's Digest website states that pushing a dog's nose it its waste will not discourage it from doing so again, as it does not understand the reasoning behind this odd behavior. Praising your dog gives your dog something to strive for. A puppy will respond faster to praise for a job well done than punishment for an accident.