Intricate Dog, dog behaviourist for Puppy training, Dog Training and dog behaviour modification - THE INTRICATE DOG

How To Toilet Train A Puppy

Puppy toilet training can be frustrating but with patience and consistency you can expect fast results.
Toilet training can begin as soon as you get your puppy. Just remember, puppies are very active. They eat and drink more than adult dogs, and also get fed more frequently.

What you’ll need
puppy pads or newspaper
paper towels
enzymatic stain cleaner
really yummy treats
dog lead
play pen

Use the puppy training pads when you can't be around to take your dog outside. They are an effective way of showing your puppy where they’re allowed to do their business and are easy to clean up as you just throw them away and replace them with a new one! Limiting your dog’s access will also help. Use a puppy playpen or a fenced off area when you can’t supervise your puppy.

If you puppy does have an accident, cleaning it up is soo important, if you don't clean it effectively your puppy will smell and seek out that area and will use it the next time he needs to go. The most effective way to clean the area and remove the smell is to use an enzymatic stain cleaner. These can be purchased at pet stores, vets, on-line and in some cases your local supermarket. They eliminate the stain and break down the odours. Household products DO NOT WORK, they may take the smell away for a short time but they do not remove it completely. As soon as you get a warm day, the smell will return and your puppy will find it!

How to react when your dog does the right or wrong thing

The most important thing when toilet training is not to punish your puppy. Puppies have no bladder control, they just go when they need to so it's up to us to help them make the right choices. Getting angry at your puppy won’t help, and can in fact set your training back. They don’t know what they’ve done wrong and believe that you have shouted at them for peeing not for where they have gone. If this happens the chances are that the next time they need to do, they will make sure you are not around to see them, which can result in accidents happening all around the house.
The best way to react is to calmly clean up the mess.

Reward your puppy when it goes on the area/ surface you want
Always reward your puppy immediately (within 3 seconds) and with enthusiasm when it finishes its toileting outside. Use treats your puppy loves and have them handy near the area you want your puppy to toilet.

Make sure you take your puppy outside:
after a nap, or after resting,
after play and training,
after being released from confinement

Your puppy will need to poo around 20-25 minutes after eating. If you see your pup walking around in circles while sniffing the floor, there’s a pretty good chance something’s about to happen. When you see this behaviour, take your dog immediately to its toilet area and reward it for doing its business there. Best is to take your puppy on a lead and guide it to the right spot as carrying him/her wont teach it how to get to the right toilet spot. If you are in doubt if your puppy will need to toilet, assume it will. Dogs learn through repetition, the more they toilet outside and get rewarded for it, the more they will learn that this is the right spot to do their business.
Take your puppy for a final toilet walk just before you go to bed.