TOILET TRAINING

Toilet training is another important aspect of raising a dog. You definitely don’t want to be spending your time cleaning up your dog’s mess for the rest of his/her life. Puppies learn fast by forming habits. Toilet training is solely based on helping your puppy create this habit. If you have a garden then make that your pets’ toilet area permanently but, if you don’t have a garden then you can pile up some old newspapers in one area and that should be designated as his/her toilet area.

It would be useful to keep a record of when your puppy eats sleeps, urinates and defecates so that it becomes easier for you to make sure when to let your puppy out into the garden or when to take him or her towards the pile of newspapers. If you don’t have a garden and you don’t feel comfortable with using a pile of newspapers you can take your puppy for a walk after he/she eats. Puppies tend to urinate a lot (every 1-2 hrs) and additionally also may urinate when they get excited. Dogs usually urinate around 15 mins after food and defecate around 30 mins after food.

How to toilet train your puppy: common errors

Source: - See more at: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog-or-puppy/general-advice-about-caring-for-your-new-puppy-or-dog/toilet-training-for-puppies/#sthash.3wyBh2Ds.dpuf

Unfortunately there are many reasons why 'toilet training' might not go as smoothly as it could, so make sure you do not make any of the following mistakes:

Over-feeding.

Feeding an unsuitable diet or giving a variety of foods.

Not feeding at regular times. Feeding at the wrong times (which could cause overnight defecation).

 Punishing the puppy for its indoor accidents (which can make it scared of toileting in front of you - even outside).

Feeding salty foods (e.g. stock from cubes) which makes them drink more.

Using ammonia based cleaning compounds (which smell similar to urine).

Expecting the puppy to tell you when it needs to go out; this is unrealistic, so it is better to take them out at regular intervals.

Leaving the back door open for the puppy to come and go as it pleases (a puppy will think that the garden is an adventure playground, rather than a toilet area.

Also, what is a puppy meant to do when the weather gets cold, and it is faced with a closed back door?). Leaving the puppy on its own too long, so that it is forced to go indoors (which sets a bad precedent, or even a habit of going indoors).

Mistakenly associating the words 'good girl' or 'good boy' when they toilet, as opposed to the specific cue words. Guess what could happen the next time you praise your dog? Access to rugs or carpet (which are nice and absorbent - just like grass).

Laziness on your part, resulting in more wees indoors than outdoors.

Leaving the puppy alone in the garden, so you are not there to reward it for going outdoors… how is it meant to learn that it is more popular and advantageous going outdoors, if you are not there to show your approval?

Submissive or excited urination on greeting (if this occurs, take your puppy outside before you greet it and tone down your greeting so it is less exciting or overwhelming).

It is unfair to expect your puppy to go right through the night when it is very young.

Making the puppy in a crate or puppy pen can help with house training but you should let it out in the garden to relieve itself during the night.