Toilet training
Toileting is a self rewarding behaviour. When behaviour is rewarded it is repeated.
What
Toilet training involves teaching your dog where to go and relieve themselves.
Toileting is a self-rewarding primal behaviour. It is also a sensory experience, so if you teach your dog to relieve themselves on a soft, fluffy surface like a Puppy training pad, they will start to look for a similar soft surface like a bed or a rug. Similarly, if your puppy learns to go on the grass, they will start to look for a grass patch or dirt to relieve themselves.
Why
- Mother dogs will lick their puppies to help them urinate and deficate, then they will often eat this to keep their living area clean and disease free. We take over the same role when we toilet train our dogs how to keep their new living areas clean.
- Once your dog is house-trained they can have more freedom around the house without worrying about accidents happening.
- You can travel with a toilet trained dog without worring about accidents in the car.
- Toilet trained dogs are more welcome in hotels, other accomadations, Additionally, you will be able to take your dog to other people’s houses and pet stores and not have to deal with a mess.
- Once your dog is reliably toilet trained, you can identify health concerns, such as digestive issues or urinary tract infections when they do have accidents inside.
How
Start on the right paw:
The best way to teach your puppy to use the toilet in the right place is to Consistently take it out to the right place before it has an accident.
First, decide where you want your dog to toilet (Grass, mat, pet loo or concrete), then proactively take your dog to your designated toilet area.
Young puppies lack complete bladder control. You can prevent accidents by carrying them to the toilet area when you think they need to go at the start.
Praise often and reward your puppy for going in the right area. This will speed up the process and create a great bond between you and your puppy.
Do not punish or yell at your puppy after the act; they will not understand. Instead, they will start hiding from you when they go to the toilet, making it harder to stop them. At the start, accidents will happen, just like with children. Your puppies are learning and need patience.
Interrupt your puppy if you see them in the act of toileting in the wrong place, and quickly take them to the right spot and wait. They may not go immediately, but give it time.
Clean up any accidents immediately using a Good Enzymatic cleaner that will break the mess down on a molecular level. Regular cleaners will only sanitise and mask the smell for us, but your puppy will still smell the enzymes in the area and return to the scene of the crime.
Time it right:
Good timing is critical. It's a great idea to keep a record. Apps like Puppy Potty Log can help you keep track of your puppy's toilet schedule, or you can use a paper log from Sam Ivy, Dog Savvy or Tails with Nicole. Every puppy is different, so the times they need to “go” will vary. Adjust the times as required for your puppy.
Here are the times most puppies tend to toilet
- First thing in the morning.
- Before they go to bed at night
- 15 to 30 minutes before and after a meal or after they drink water.
- Before and after play or training sessions.
- Before they meet visitors or returning family members
- Roughly every hour based on age (1 hour per month), e.g., a 4-month-old puppy usually every 4 hours. (this is only an estimation)
When leaving your puppy alone for long periods, please do not give them a run of the entire home. Set them up in a small area with water, a puppy loo or pea pads where they can't make bad choices. Check out this fantastic article from Dog Gear with tips on setting up a puppy pen.
Watch for the signs:
Here are some signs to watch for. all puppies are unique so try to observe your puppies unique tells when they need to toilet.
- Disengaging suddenly from play, chewing, or sleeping
- Sniffing the ground in familiar areas (sniffing in new areas is different)
- Going to areas where they have soiled previously.
- Whining or barking
- Circling or squatting
- Pacing around the room
- Licking or sniffing their genitals or rear end
- Going to or Pawing and scratching at walls or the door
- A panicked expression
Toileting is Serious Business:
Putting a puppy on a leash when it's time to go potty is a game changer. Take your puppy to their toilet area or training pad and stand still. Give your pup the length of the leash to sniff around until they decide to do their business. Once they do, praise and reward them with treats, then let them off for a sniff or to play.
If you take your puppy outside without a leash, they can often get distracted or think it's playtime; when you take them back inside, they will relax and toilet in the house instead. Using play and freedom as the ultimate reward when toilet training your puppy, at first, requires more patience on your end, and your puppy may try to fight the leash if it's not appropriately conditioned, but in the long run, it will pay off. Your puppy will start to understand that they get their freedom and the chance to play after emptying their bowels; before you know it, the leash won't even be necessary. You'll notice your puppy will toilet first when they are let out to start the fun or get their freedom.
You may need to retrain your dog during winter and when it rains. Most dogs, even when properly trained, will be more comfortable in the warm house and can have accidents indoors if they feel uncomfortable or put off going out until the last minute.
Walking or playing with your dog outside in bad weather and doing the Go Sniff exercise in your backyard can help teach your dogs to be more comfortable outside, even on cold and wet days.
Videos by other amazing trainers
More resources
Toilet training for homes without a garden
You can use a product like the Pet Loo for apartments and homes without access to the outside or natural grass. This can be placed in a bathroom or another area that is easy to clean, like a balcony or courtyard. The training steps are the same as those above. Avoid letting your puppy chew on or sleep on their Pet loo.
Once your puppy has developed bladder control, it is a good idea to walk it at least 2 – 3 times a day to allow it to relieve itself outside the house as well.
Keep the toilet area far away from the eating areas and clean it regularly with hot water. Avoid using strong detergents or chemicals with a strong smell, as this may make your puppy not want to go to the toilet in the area.
You can even try to teach your dog to use an appropriate indoor toileting area; some dogs have even learned to use the toilet bowl. Even Big dogs can learn to use a human toilet. Check out how by WAG
