Toilet Training

1. Toilet Training TOP 10 POINTERS • Get your puppy into a regular routine for eating, drinking, sleeping, activity and rest - toilet is related to eating and sleeping time • Choose a “toilet area” for your puppy – inside, outside, on paper or another surface, on paving or on the grass? Dogs bond to a particular surface as being a toilet area, so choose one you prefer! • Having established a routine, give your puppy the opportunity to go in the right place at the right time. Puppies develop more control as they mature, and will need to go less often. • Take your puppy to the selected toilet area immediately after waking up, after she has been up and about for a while, after eating and drinking, after playing and exercise, and whenever she is sniffing as if she is looking for something. • Put some urine or faeces in the selected spot so you can enhance its attractiveness. • Reward the appropriate behaviour with a treat. Praise your puppy as soon as she starts to squat as long as this does not stop the flow of urine. Play with your puppy after it has toileted appropriately. • Do not punish your puppy for “mistakes”. A puppy will not understand his mistake by having his nose rubbed in it. Instead startle him with a noise (clap, whistle) or water pistol (than can’t be linked with you) if you catch him in the act. • Then take your puppy to a preferred place and reward him for appropriate toileting behaviour. • Clean soiled areas with Bio Z laundry powder or bicarbonate of soda and spray Bac to Nature to eliminate the odour (available at veterinary clinics). Avoid household cleaners that contain ammonia, as they may smell similar to urine to your puppy. • If your puppy is paper trained then gradually move the paper towards the door when you are not in attendance. When you are supervising then follow the rules above for training the puppy to toilet outside. The most important rule is to be consistent and patient.