Toilet Training Your Puppy

Overview:

One of the first things a puppy owner will want to do is house train their puppy. There is a vast amount of information on how this can be achieved, which we will outline in this article.

Starting out:

Setting aside some time in the first few days of your puppy’s arrival is important in helping to establish good toilet training. A common method used by dog owners is crate training. Dogs by nature are den animals & a crate provides a safe & secure environment for your puppy & also limits access to the house, avoiding accidents.

Crate Training:

The concept of crate training as an aid to housetraining is to keep your puppy confined to a crate with regular trips outside to allow the puppy to go to the toilet. The idea being that dogs don’t like to soil in areas they sleep in.

To accustom your puppy to the crate you need to make sure it has a positive association with it. This can be achieved by;

Providing an adequately sized crate for your dog. It should be large enough for your dog can stand up & turn around in.
Introducing him to the crate & giving him small treats when he’s inside & also heaping him with praise.
Place the crate in rooms where your family is. Don’t confine him to his crate in a room where he will be alone.
Provide him with a comfortable blanket that can be easily washed (in case he does have an accident).
Give your puppy some toys in the crate.

Naturally, a puppy can not be expected to hold their bladder for 8 hours while you are at work. As a rule of thumb, the age in months is approximately the time in hours they can hold their bladder. Ie; a 2 month old can hold their bladder for 2 months, a 4 month old for 4 hours etc. If you out of the house for work etc., then it is a good idea to either come home during your lunch break if possible or have a friend, neighbour or dog walker come over & give your dog a toilet break. Don’t keep him confined to the crate for extended periods of time. Also, if you are going to be away for an extended amount of time, consider providing your dog with a larger but secure area such as a laundry with a baby gate. This will provide your dog with a greater amount of space, but minimize damage should they have an accident.

Opinions seem to vary on weather to put food & water into the crate. I personally wouldn’t leave an animal for any time without water, but if you are home with the pup and can offer frequent drinks then maybe that would suit you better.

Provide a specific area in the garden for your dog to use as a toilet (this will also help you keep the rest of the garden free of dog feces). Once outside, give your dog 3-4 minutes to go to the toilet. If he does go to the toilet heap praise on him & offer him a the occasional treat as a reward also. Your puppy can then be given some time outside his crate for 15-20 minutes. Until your puppy is fully housetrained, he should be supervised at all times while out of his crate/room. If he hasn't been in this time take him back inside & put him back in his crate & try again in 30 minutes.

If you do catch him in the process of going to the toilet in an inappropriate place, tell him "outside" in a commanding word. The use of verbal cues can help your dog understand more easily.

How long can your puppy hold on for?

The younger the puppy, the smaller the bladder. It is unreasonable to expect them to be able to hold on for extended periods of time.

Praise & punishment dos & don’ts:

Do heap praise on the puppy when he goes to the toilet in the designated toilet area.
Don’t punish the dog if you don’t catch him in the act. He won’t know what he has done wrong & this can lead to long term behavioral issues.
Don't ever rub your dog's nose in any mess. This is not only ineffective but it is cruel. If you don't actually catch him in the act then punishment will do more harm than good.
Do scold the dog if you catch him in the act. Use your verbal cue & tell him "outside".

Watching for signs:

Being aware of cues can also be of help. If you notice your dog sniffing the floor or circling for example. Also try to observe their toileting habits. Most dogs will want to go to the toilet first thing on a morning, last thing at night and after a meal. Routine, consistency & patience can go a long way to housetraining your puppy.

Feeding:

Feed your puppy at the same time every day & after he's eaten take him outside to the toilet. Don't feed him late at night.