Toilet Training Your Puppy
Toilet training your puppy may sound daunting but it isn’t as scary as you think if you establish a routine and are patient. Dogs will naturally do the toilet away from where they sleep so it’s important to ensure you allow them the opportunity.
Toilet training can take from 4–6 months as puppies have poor bladder control when they are young. An 8 week old puppy will need to urinate every 1-2 hours during the day and can go every 4-5 hours during the night. As your puppy gets older they will need to go to the toilet less often and by about 4 months old they should be able to hold it for the whole night.
Indoor Toilet Area
Carpets & Rugs
These are spots where your puppy will naturally relieve themselves, the carpet will be soft under their paws and feel like grass, therefore establishing a routine and a toilet area will be important to preserving your décor. Never punish your puppy for doing the toilet inside as they may then associate this with doing the toilet even outside.
If your puppy has an accident inside then you need to clean the area thoroughly, although this may sound obvious so your house doesn’t smell it also means that their scent isn’t in the area and they then don’t associate the area with going to the toilet.
Training Pads
Training pads are an ideal solution to use while your puppy isn’t able to go outside, but they are only a temporary solution. While you are training your puppy to use them you can move them from within their cage or pen to being closer to the door and then the move outside won’t be as big an ordeal and they will then associate being at the door to going out to the toilet.
It can be helpful to use a dog cage or pen when training your puppy, this provides an area where they feel secure, and by dividing the area so their bed is in one part it allows you to use the rest in case accidents happen.
Outdoor Toilet Area
If you can’t walk your puppy outside yet then you should establish an area where your puppy goes to the toilet in the garden, but remember there should be no distractions around. You should be aware that as puppies are creatures of habit, once you introduce the garden as their toilet area then they may only want to do the toilet in your garden, so as part of your training you may want to have another area established along a walk route.
Always take your puppy to the same area. You need to take your puppy out so you can see what they have done and also to praise them for going to the toilet, it isn’t simply opening the back door and expecting your puppy to go to the area. Remember, whenever your puppy does a poo, it is your responsibility to pick it up and put it in the bin.
If your puppy doesn’t go to the toilet then walking them about may stimulate their needs but if this doesn’t work then take them back inside and put them in their bed area and try again a short while later.
Be Consistent
There are key times when your puppy will need to go to the toilet.
- Immediately when they wake up
- After they eat (their last meal should be at least 2 hours before bedtime)
- Before you go to bed (always make sure they go before bed)
- After they have a nap
- Sometimes puppies can urinate spontaneously when they get excited, so take your puppy out frequently if it has been active, playing or exploring.
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