Puppy Training: A Practical Way to Teach Puppies to Toilet

Toilet training can be a very slow and stressful process. Dogs are very clean animals by nature – most dogs, even puppies after being shown that outside in an appropriate place to do his or her business, won’t need that many repetitions before getting it. However, that isn’t the case for all dogs. For some, it can be quite the challenge to say the least. Dogs in themselves are just as individual as people, and if your brand new puppy is a little slow on the uptake, unfortunately there is no changing that. However, with good sense, enough effort, and puppy training techniques, you can turn even the most stubborn puppy around.

The first thing to consider with toilet training your puppy is that you might be a problem. There are (at least!) six times where you should take your puppy outside per day, and often, an owner can misinterpret the needs of the puppy, causing him or her to mess where they’re not supposed to. As a general rule you should take your puppy outside as soon as he or she wakes up in the morning, before going to bed at night, every time he or she wakes up from a nap throughout the day, after playtime, when you return home, and straight after eating.

Additionally, such is only effective should you keep your puppy in the corner of your eye at all times, ensuring that he or she can’t sneak off without you knowing all about it. A puppy might feel the need to go and decide that a small and secluded corner away from where he or she sleeps or eats (and in the dog’s mind, where you won’t see it!) is the most appropriate place to go- and of course for you, that’s not appropriate at all. Most new dog owners make the mistake of letting the puppy outside and not being around, as well. A puppy is a baby – of course he or she is going to want to be near his or her parent. A puppy may very well hold in the urge to go should you not be around while the puppy is outside, meaning that an accident inside will likely occur later on when he or she cannot hold it any longer.

When your puppy does go in an appropriate place such as outdoors, be sure to immediately praise the puppy. Positive reinforcement works wonders in all aspects of puppy training – though the usage of treats as a reward should of course always be used conservatively.