It is important to remember that toilet training a puppy is a gradual process. It is rare to achieve results overnight.
Some breeders do begin toilet training at a very early stage, which makes your job as mom and dad a lot easier. However not all breeders do this.
LEARNING AND PATIENCE
For your pup to fully understand the desired behaviour that you want, it can take some time. Be patient and consistent in your approach and avoid scolding your beloved four-legged friend.
WHEN NOT USING PUPPY PADS
For fast, effective results try the following:
- Wait until your pup is in position and begun to relieve themselves in your garden.
- Give 2 seconds of happy encouragement in a clap and squeak with big smiles, but don’t overdo it. Going beyond the 2 seconds is likely to stop your dog toileting due to being overly excited.
- Now that you have anchored 2 seconds of praise on to the action you are encouraging, remain silent and break off any eye contact and facing in your dog’s direction.
- Once your dog starts to proceed to your back door, face your dog and give lots of excitable praise and at least 3-5 treats to make the action even more rewarding.
- Repeat the process until your dog is doing it all the time. Now start to cut down on the treats and begin to faze them out. Keep praise on-going after treats are no longer given.
Remember that with a small stomach and bladder comes the odd accident.
When toileting takes place inside your house do not react, nor say anything. It is important not to feed the unwanted behaviour.
USING PUPPY PADS OR TRAY
Try the following:
- Dab a sheet of kitchen paper into your dog’s wee. Now press the damp area of the paper on to the artificial grass on the tray, or in the middle of the puppy pad. This will encourage your dog to sniff the area and will recognise the smell.
- When you spot the signs your dog is about to relieve him/herself, (which could be circling to find the right spot to toilet) encourage and guide your dog to the tray or pad. If urgently needed pick up and carry your dog over to the toilet area and place on the pad/tray.
- You will need a bit of patience. Learn from your dog’s behaviour and watch for the give-away signs.
- When your dog relieves on the puppy pad/tray, praise with words of encouragement and reward with treats once complete.
- Repeat until this happens frequently, you can now start to phase out the treat rewards.
- If using puppy pads start to move the pad/s in stages over several days closer and closer to the doorway where you want your dog to go outside toileting.
- You are aiming to get the pad out in to the back garden or out on to your balcony if living in an apartment. Make sure to weigh down the pad to stop it blowing away or flipping over.
Don’t be tempted to scold him/her if there is an accident indoors. Doing so may confuse your pup and set back their progress.
Reward to reinforce and encourage the desired behaviour you want.
