PUPPY TOILET TRAINING

The secret to successful toilet training is to focus all your efforts on maintaining his perfect record, preventing him from making that first “accident” for as long as possible. If he already has been going in the house, resolve to keep him from making the next mistake. Decide to follow the principle of confining the dog when you are not able to watch him. By confining the dog you also confine the problem.

Confinement takes two forms: Long term, and Short term. Long term is for periods of time greater than three to four hours during the day. This would be a small, easy to clean, “puppy safe” area. His den/crate would be kept in this area along with chew toys, and food bowl. Confinement overnight and for periods less than 3 or 4 hours should be in his den/crate.

The role confinement plays in training is to help the puppy learn to hold on. This is because he does not want to soil his “den.” Equally important will be rewarding and praising him every time he gets it right. Rewards let him know this is the place you want him to go, he got it right and you are pleased with him.

When you are home and able to keep an eye on him, the puppy can stay with you in whatever room you are in. A good house rule for the whole family to follow is, whoever has the puppy with them in the house is responsible for his direct supervision. If he makes a mess while under your supervision, it’s his accident but it is your mistake. Whoever he is with also has the responsibility to get him outside as soon as he has to go.

The following program usually works quickly and is the standard program we suggest:

• 1. Have your veterinarian do a stool check for worms. Parasites not only would effect his health but would completely interfere with his toilet training.
• 2. Feed at set times. Remember, what goes in has to come out and if we know when it went in we will have some idea when he will have to go. During this period of toilet training, do not vary his schedule even on weekends, and do not “free feed.”
• 3. No food or water for 3 hours prior to bedtime.
• 4. Watch the stools - if they are loose, you may be overfeeding.
• 5. Take the puppy out on a regular schedule and stay out with him. Praise and reward him when he goes and let him know how pleased you are. Take him out after he eats or drinks, when he first wakes up from a nap, after he has been playing or when he begins to act agitated or sniffs in a circling pattern.
• 6. When you take him out, go straight to his toilet area and stand there. Do not walk with him or pay much attention to him until he goes, then praise and reward him. This will teach him that this is the time and place to relieve himself. Once he has relieved himself you can go for a walk together or he can have some house time under your supervision.
• 7. If he does not go within ten minutes take him back inside and place him back in the crate for fifteen to thirty minutes then try again. This will help avoid the scenario where you have the pup out for forty-five minutes and he does nothing until you bring him inside and then he promptly uses your carpet as a toilet.
• 8. Clean accidents with white vinegar and water or with a cleaner designed for urine odour. Do not use an ammonia-based cleaner. Urine contains ammonia and such a cleaner would attract your dog back to the spot.
• 9. If you catch your dog in “the act” in the house say “STOP!!” Do not let him finish but pick him up and carry him straight outside to the proper area. Wait with him until he goes then praise.
• 10. Keep a chart of exactly what the dog does, including accidents, and at what time. You should discover a pattern and be better able to plan his schedule.
• 11. Under no circumstances should you drag the dog over to the accident to show and scold, punish or rub his nose in it. If you did not catch him in the act, say nothing. Put him in another area where he cannot see you while you clean it up. Remember, you are his leader, not his maid. Do not let him see that your sole purpose is to look after, care for and clean up after him.