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Toilet Training your Puppy
Toilet training a puppy or even an older dog that is used to being able to go when it needs to can be time consuming but if you remain consistent from the start, you’ll be rewarded with a long happy life together.
Key Toilet Training Tips
1. Restrict Access
Generally, a puppy that is contained in a smaller space while they are not being supervised is more likely to hold on to their bladder. Containing them also prevents them from having free reign of the house and making undesirable choices such as having an accident on the carpet or chewing the furniture. Set up a puppy pen for them to be contained to when they are not being supervised. Furnish it with a bed and some toys to keep them entertained.
2. Be Consistent
Have a schedule and be consistent with it. Take your pup out first thing in the morning, after every meal and naptime and then once every 1 – 2 hours in between (as your puppy gets older you can reduce the frequency).
Don’t leave food out for your puppy to graze on during the day. Give them a window to have their meals and then remove any unfinished food.
Try and find a quiet area for your pup to go to the toilet and stay with them outside until they go. Add a cue here like ‘go toilet’ or ‘potty time’ to get them used to eliminating on cue in the future. They might get distracted and want to play but try and remain as calm and boring as possible until they have gone to the toilet.
When your puppy does eliminate outside, praise them and give them a treat to make it a rewarding experience.
3. Supervision
Make sure they are always supervised when out of their enclosed area. If they start to whine, sniff the ground or circle an area, take them out immediately.
If you are unable to take your puppy out often or need to leave your puppy for longer periods of time, consider setting up an area with some puppy pee pads to give your pup an acceptable area to go to the toilet.
4. Clean Up
Accidents are bound to happen to puppies up to a year old. This can happen simply because your pup forgets or if there are changes to the environment or their schedule.
If you see it happening, bring your puppy outside immediately and praise them for going outside. If you simply find the accident after your puppy has gone, DO NOT reprimand your puppy. After the moment has passed, they won’t understand what they are being reprimanded for.
Clean the area with an enzymatic spray to remove the stain as well as the odour so that your pup is not tempted to eliminate there again.
If you find that after several months of consistent scheduling and management, your puppy is still struggling with house training, it’s worth consulting a vet for a health check or a trainer for some additional advice and support.
Remember to continue to reward successes and be patient with your pup, after all, they are still learning and go through a lot of changes during their first year!
