The no-tool puppy training program of doom!

Catalina from the muscle car litter. The fluffiest of them all

So, you’ve just gotten an American Dirus puppy.

He’s adorable.

The fluffiest little furball that has ever graced the planet.

I should know! *wink, wink

You’re pumped.

You’ve got a plan.

No crates, no gates, no pens.

Just free-range puppy paradise.

After all, who needs tools to train a dog, right?

You’ve got eyes, instincts, and—most importantly—love.

“I’ll just keep an eye on him,” you declare proudly, “and take him out before he needs to go!”

It’s a foolproof plan.

You’re absolutely killing it at this puppy-parenting game!

Or so you think.

It’s a Tuesday night.

You’re sitting back in your recliner—footrest up, feet kicked out—living the dream.

Your puppy is happily chewing away on a toy nearby, and you’re thinking,

Wow, this no-crate thing is easy.

He’s just too cute, isn’t he?

Those tiny little paws, the soft fur, the…

Wait, where’s he going?

Your eyes dart to the side as your puppy trots over to the water bowl.

Sluuuuuuuuuuurp!!!!!

Ah… he’s just thirsty.

You lean back as the running back scores another touchdown for your favorite team.

But as your fluffy angel trots back, he pauses juuuust behind the recliner.

And then…

Psssshhhh.

All over the floor.

But YOU don’t know that.

Nope.

You’re too busy basking in the glory of your perfect, tool-free parenting.

Puppy returns to his toy.

“Hmm,” you suddenly think, mid-commercial, “I haven’t taken the puppy out in a while. Better go before he needs to pee.”

Oh, if only you knew.

You casually rise from your recliner and head to the door.

Your puppy follows obediently, and you smile to yourself.

“Good boy,” you coo, giving him a loving pat.

You step outside into the yard.

The puppy sniffs, picks up a stick, and starts running around like a caffeinated squirrel.

You chuckle.

He’s adorable!

After a few minutes of him sniffing, zigzagging, and—oh look!—sniffing some more, your puppy FINALLY squats to pee.

You heap on the praise.

“GOOD BOY!” you cheer, like your team just won the Super Bowl.

You feel like a total dog-training genius.

You strut back inside, proud as a peacock.

Unbeknownst to you, you step right over the now-drying pee puddle behind the recliner.

Yep.

That one.

Back in your recliner, you snuggle your puppy, beaming.

You’ve got this all under control.

But then…

DUN DUN DUNNNN!

Your little furball wriggles out of your arms and trots down the hallway.

Curious, you peek around the corner. And what do you see?

Your puppy.

Squatting.

Pushing.

Right on your hallway carpet!

“NOOOO!” you shout.

You sprint over, scoop him up, and race to the door like a wide receiver trying to catch a Hail Mary pass seconds before the clock runs out.

But, alas, it’s too late.

Your poor puppy is frozen, confused, mid-poo.

“What did I do?!” the little puppy thinks, wide-eyed and trembling.

Outside, you place him on the grass, but now he’s not moving.

Nope.

He’s glued to your leg, looking up at you with the saddest, most confused eyes.

After what feels like forever (and a LOT of uneasy sniffing), your puppy FINALLY poos outside.

You shout praises louder than the halftime show. “GOOD BOY! SO GOOD!”

You triumphantly march back inside.

But wait…what’s that smell?

Oh. Right.

The hallway poo.

And so, the days go on, a repeating cycle of squeaks, squats, and surprises.

You watch your puppy like a hawk.

Except for that one time you turn your back for just a second, and he pees on the rug.

Or that other time when you’re sure he doesn’t need to go, but surprise!

There’s a little present in the corner of the living room.

You think you’ve got it under control, but accidents keep happening.

You’re starting to wonder why the house smells like a pet shop.

But you don’t give up.

No, no.

You’ve got this!

After all, you’ve read all the articles.

You don’t need no stinkin’ tools.

Just vigilance!

Constant, undivided vigilance.

Right?

Well… here’s the thing.

Without any tools, like a crate or a baby gate, your puppy doesn’t really get the whole “I need to potty outside” thing.

Why would he?

The whole house is free game.

He’s got no incentive to communicate to you when he needs to go—because, well, he can just do it wherever he wants.

But with a little structure?

A crate or an exercise pen?

Now you’ve got a system.

You can sit in your recliner, relax, and know exactly where your puppy is.

No need to peek around the corner.

No mysterious puddles behind the furniture.

And here’s the thing:

it’s actually easier for your puppy too!

He knows what’s expected.

He knows where he’s allowed to roam.

And when he needs to potty, he can tell you!

So, my dear Jody-Lynn, learn from our brave no-tool family above.

Sometimes a little confinement is exactly what you need to give your puppy—and yourself—the structure, guidance, and freedom to succeed.

Because after all… accidents happen.

Just hopefully not in your hallway!

Last Friday, we looked at why it’s important to use 100% confinement when you first get your new puppy.

Today, you’ll learn:

• EXACTLY how to potty train your new puppy.
• WHY puppies have accidents in the house.
• How to use your puppy’s natural instincts.
• All the tools you’ll need.
• What to do when an accident occurs.
• Suggested potty training schedule.
• The most common potty training mistakes.
• Troubleshooting fixes when the worst happens.

This is the most comprehensive guide on potty training that I’ve seen out there.

It’s literally a step-by-step way to train a puppy to communicate to you about its potty needs.

And… it’s FREE!

Just for being a Dire Wolf Project Inner Circle member.

I am definitely too generous to you guys.

I’ve often thought about putting this information together in a booklet and placing it up for sale.

I might just do that in the future.

Every time I reread it, I can’t believe how much value is in it.

But, I haven’t done it yet.

So that means, you are the lucky ones!

Click the link below to get access to this FREE (for now) potty-training mini-course.

https://direwolfproject.com/direwolf-guardians/puppy-training/potty-training/

Jennifer Stoeckl is the co-founder of the Dire Wolf Project, founder of the DireWolf Guardians American Dirus Dog Training Program, and owner/operator of DireWolf Dogs of Vallecito. She lives in the beautiful inland northwest among the Ponderosa pine forests with her pack of American Dirus dogs.