Toilet Training Puppies

Toilet Training Puppies

Toilet training puppies.

Hey there everyone! Omega here, I’m back with more super advice on being a great pet owner. Last month I talked about training your puppy, we looked at crate training, chewing, walking and recall.  This month I thought I’d take a look at the big one – toilet training.

Feeding

Before we get to that end of things though, we first have to talk about the other end. What goes in must come out, so let’s take a minute to chat about feeding your puppy. (Oh yummy, yummy dinner!)Puppies grow 20 times faster than an adult dog, so they need a balanced and nutrient rich diet to help support them as they get bigger. They have little tummies, so they need to be fed often. A good guide is to feed a puppy 4 times a day up until they are four months, then three times a day until they are six months, and twice a day after that. Obviously, dogs are all different sizes, some are big active dogs, like me, and some are small lap dogs, like those incy-wincy chihuahuas, how much you feed them will depend on their weight, breed and activity. But all good puppy food will have guide to tell you how much your new family member should be eating. If you feed your puppy too much, or the wrong food, toilet training them can become very difficult. There’s lots of different types of dog food out there and some are better than others. You must ensure that you are feeding your dog a complete food, so that their needs are being met. When I was a puppy this was my favourite food https://mutts.ie/product/red-mills-go-native-puppy-organic-salmon-12kg-4kg/ and now that I’m a big girl I get to eat this one https://mutts.ie/product/ownat-grain-free-dog-food-chicken/ it’s delicious! It’s important to remember not to feed your puppy scraps or tidbits while you’re sitting at the table, some types of people food are not good for puppies’ tummies (and upset tummies = lots of accidents!) and it teaches them to beg or bark at the table.

Toilet training puppies

You can start to toilet train your puppy as soon as he arrives, but most dogs don’t have full bladder control until they are 12 weeks old, so if your puppy is younger than that, you’ll need to forgive any little accidents. A good guide for how long your puppy can hold on for is to judge by his age up to nine months or a year. So a four month old puppy should be able to hold on for four hours, a six month old, 6 hours. Just keep in mind though that every puppy is an individual, so timings will vary.When you start to toilet train your puppy consistency, patience and understanding are key. Remember last month when I talked about using a crate like this one https://mutts.ie/product/savic-dog-crate-cottage/ to keep your puppy feeling safe and secure? Well, that crate is a vital part of toilet training. You can house train your puppy without a crate, but it’s a much easier process if you have one. Dogs naturally don’t like to soil in their living area, so if your crate is the right size, your puppy will try his best not to go to the toilet in it. You can also use puppy training pads, like these: https://mutts.ie/product/puppy-training-pads/  So that if your puppy needs to go when you’re not around, they won’t ruin your carpet.The first thing you’ll need to do is create a schedule for your puppy, when you will bring him outside to go. This will need to be:

First thing in the morning

After playing inside

After eating

After drinking

After waking up from a deep sleep

After chewing on a toy or a bone

Last thing at night.

Yes, it sounds like a lot of running in and out, but it will help your puppy to learn where he is allowed to go to the toilet (and it will keep your floor clean!).
You will also need to watch out and learn the signs that your puppy gives when he needs to go. These could include scratching or whimpering, and if he is telling you that he wants to go, then you need to move quickly. When it comes to toilet training, prevention is key.

Praise your puppy when he does his business in the right area in order to reinforce this wanted behaviour. If your dog has an accident or makes a mistake, there is little point in giving out to him after the fact. They don’t understand what they have done and contrary to many owners’ beliefs, they do not feel guilty.  Make sure you clean it up well and remove any odour, if your puppy can still smell the pee, he is likely to go there again.

Toilet training some dogs can be quick and easy (especially super smart ones like me!), but others can take longer, especially if they are rescues or come from a difficult situation. Just remember that they are learning and they aren’t making mistakes to annoy you, be patient, consistent and reward good behaviour and you will see results.

That’s all from me for now. I’ll be back next month with some tips about keeping other pets happy and healthy. But now I’m off for some cuddles with Dad.
See you next time

Omega xx