If you’re looking forward to bringing home a new fur baby, you might have rose-coloured glasses and forget that it will be a messy, stressful job. Don’t get us wrong, it’s worth it, but it will take work to make sure that you’re not cleaning dog mess out of your carpet for the rest of this beautiful relationship. We’re giving you a one-stop, covers-all, guide to puppy toilet training that will ensure that you don’t have to buy any more Mr Muscle carpet cleaner. Read on for all the details.
- Establish a Routine
The most important part of puppy toilet training – or just about any other dog training – is consistency. It’s important that you set a schedule for your dog and stick to it. Now, dogs can’t tell time, so you might want to equate your new puppy’s private time with an activity so that they can pick up on prompts and not bother you the rest of the day. For instance, try first thing in the morning, after meals, playtime, after all naps or before bedtime. If you stick to “after dinner”, for instance, don’t be surprised if your dog notices when you put down your fork.
- Supervise and Recognise Signs
However, you should also recognise when your dog is trying to tell you something outside of these designated times. It might be an emergency! Puppies will be excitable so it’s harder to spot when they are warning you that something messy is about to happen, or they’re just pleased to see you. Keep a close eye on them, especially during the first stages of training, for circling, sniffing, and standing near the door.
- Practice word association techniques
Incorporate some word association whenever you see these signs. Introduce a simple command like ‘busy busy’ or ‘pee pee’ when you see your puppy showing the signs they may need outside. In this way they learn to associate the sound with going outside when their body tells them they need to eliminate Once your puppy has done their business outside no reward is necessary It is about you getting your puppy to make the connection in their head that the need to eliminate is done outside using too much praise and treats can easily confuse them and sometimes they come back inside and toilet thinking they will get a treat.
- Incorporate Crate Training
Crates are supposed to be a dog’s safe space, so it’s also an effective tool for puppy toilet training since they’re not likely to go where they sleep. You can help make it a positive space for the puppy by setting guidelines, Puppies need masses of daytime sleep otherwise you start to get lots of bad behaviour when they are tired. You can schedule regular periods of sleep in their crate as you would a baby and young child. Take them out instantly when they wake up as they will need to go toilet. However. Crates should never be used for long periods beyond the puppy’s ability to hold their bladder. For example, puppies under six months should not be crated for more than 3-4 hours at a time.
- Cleaning and Odor Removal
But accidents happen, and you should be ready for some trial and error. It’s important to clean everything right away, both because it’s likely to damage your furniture and floors but also because it indicates to your puppy that that wasn’t supposed to happen. Use enzymatic cleaners to remove odours that can attract the puppy to the same spot.
- Remember Patience and Consistency
Remember that toilet training takes time and consistency, and setbacks are normal. Most puppies become fully potty trained within typically 4-6 months, so it will take time. Remain patient, and celebrate small victories.
- Seek professional help
Sometimes you simply need another hand, a real professional, to help you out. Some puppy toileting training stories end with issues that need to be navigated, like underlying medical conditions or behavioural issues. Behaviour training and puppy toilet training go hand in hand, so if you’re having trouble with one, you’ll have trouble with another. Contact us at Pawsitive Solutions for advice to help you get your puppy’s toilet training under control.
