Puppy Toilet Training Tips
New puppy owners often ask me, “what is the best way to house train a puppy?” Puppy toilet training is something that I cover in depth in my Puppy Consultations, but I thought it might be helpful for new puppy owners or puppy owners-to-be to post a few tips. Toilet training your puppy should start from the moment you bring your new puppy home.
Here are a few puppy toilet training tips to help you make training a success:
Take your puppy out to the toilet regularly, every 1-2 hours, after meals, sleep and playtime to avoid accidents in the house.
If you are using a crate or playpen, it can help to utilise this when you cannot watch your puppy.
It can help to take your young puppy out to the toilet on a lead to prevent them becoming distracted. If you have a designated toilet spot then take your puppy directly to this spot each time and stand with them until they have gone in that area. You may wish to attach a command to the action of going to the toilet. Don’t forget to praise them when they go!
It is normal for your puppy to want to go to the toilet where they have been previously, whether this is in the house or the garden. If your puppy has an accident in the house, be sure to clean the area thoroughly to prevent them wanting to go back to the same spot.
Don’t bother with puppy training pads. They may seem convenient but all puppy pads really do is prolong the training process and teach your puppy it is ok to toilet indoors.
Learn to read the signs that your puppy is about to go to the toilet. Some puppies might sniff or circle.
Give your puppy plenty of opportunities to get it right and do not wait for them to ask to go out. A little bit like with potty training children, by the time they ask to go it may well be too late!
Do not get angry with your puppy for making mistakes. They are learning and cannot hold their bladder for long. If there is an accident in the house it is most likely to be your fault!
House training a puppy doesn't need to be complicated and it is normal to have an accident along the way, but by helping your puppy get it right and giving them every opportunity for success, it shouldn’t take them long to get the hang of it!
House training or toilet training is covered in depth in Puppy Consultations and one to one puppy training.
For more help and advice on toilet training, please get in touch.
Dog training and behaviour sessions take place in my service area of Haywards Heath, Horsham and surrounding areas in West, Mid and East Sussex, as well as online, depending on your needs.