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Puppy toilet training tips are easy to come by, but what actually works? Puppies and their potty time is so darn sweet at first. A tiny piddle, a tiny amount of poop – you say, “It’s OK, puppy, you’ll get it next time!” Pretty soon, you find yourself in a tornado of paper towel and natural cleaning products.
At eight weeks old, you should immediately begin your puppy toilet training. Although it can take up to a year to fully master, your pup should be 99.9% trained within 4-6 months!
These five puppy toilet training tips will have your little one using the world as its toilet in no time! The outside world that is…
1. Set A Designated Area
In the animal kingdom, wolves always leave their place of sleeping and eating to find their “bathroom.” Take advantage of this natural instinct and always bring your pup to the same general area to go potty. They will smell where they have gone and know that this is the place to do their business.
2. Recognise Playtime Triggers
Something every puppy does after a game of chasing slippers is pee. I swear, it’s like clockwork. Running and jumping really gets their body moving, as well as their bladder. After your pup plays for a bit, take them out to their spot immediately.
3. Scheduled Feeding
When puppy toilet training with a younger pup, you’re feeding them two or three times a day. If you can schedule these feedings, you can almost guarantee they will pee and poop right after they’ve finished eating or at similar times. Don’t let them trick you by peeing right before eating – they will still need to go after they eat.
4. Praise! Reward! Congratulate!
People used to think the best puppy toilet training tip was to rub their nose in it. That is terrible thing to do to a young pup. Positive training is faster, gets better results, and gives your puppy confidence.
Every time your puppy pees or poops outside, give them a treat and a round of applause. Make that puppy believe they have done the greatest thing imaginable, and they will remember it and love it.
If you catch them going inside, say “AH!” loudly, then run them out and praise them. Don’t hold a grudge; five minutes after your puppy has had an accident, they’ve already forgotten about it.
5. Crate Train
Of all the puppy toilet training methods, crate training rates at number 1. As mentioned in the first tip, wolves do not do their business where they sleep or eat. Puppies carry this instinct deep down inside. A puppy will not use the bathroom in its kennel unless they’ve been left too long or have a medical issue. Take your puppy to his or her spot before being kennelled, and do the same immediately after. Have the leash ready ahead of time so you can be quick to make it outside.
If you do crate train your puppy, don’t leave them longer than their body can handle. For age three months, three hours; four months, four hours; from five months to a year, try not to make them wait more than six hours, as their bladder is still developing.
There will be accidents, but with consistency and these
Do you have any puppy training tips to share? Share in the comments!
