TOILET TRAINING YOUR PUPPY OR OLDER DOG








KEY POINTS

  • Start your training early
Initially this is quite labour intense but once the routine is set there is less involved


Ideally when you get a new dog, being able to spend a week a home full-time is great to get the toiling routine set up.
During good weather it is much easier to take dogs out very frequently.

Toilet training a puppy is easier that toilet training an adult dog. However it should be possible to toilet train a dog of any age.
  • Be consistent
Get into a good, daily routine of feeding, exercise and toileting

Tips:
Take him out regularly.
Keep him on a lead so he cannot run away.
Have a word that your dog will associate with going to the toilet.

When and how often to take a dog out
-first thing in the morning
-after play/excitement, you could also a have break halfway through a play session and take them out then too
-and at least every 1-2 hours during the rest of day
-just after each meal
-when he shows you cues

The more frequent you do this, the quicker the correct routine is established

Why do I have to take him out so often?
-Puppies have small bladders
-Before they were weaned they did not learn to hold their urine/faeces. They went whenever they needed to!
-The are often you take them out, the less likely they are to have "accidents" in the house. They do not get into the habit of toiling in the house.

It is a lot of work initially but it pays off!
Also as they get older and they will need fewer toilet breaks

  • Reward good behaviour
Puppies like treats and they like to please us.

Lots of fuss, attention and high value treats should be given when your dog goes to the toilet outside.
Your puppy will know that you are happy with them, it will make the experience fun and they will continue to do it.

  • Give them a suitable place to go to the toilet.
Dogs like to urinate on grass, on concrete their urine may splash.
They like to go somewhere quiet where they feels safe, away from other dogs and noisy roads.
  • Get to know your dog
Watch for the clues/cues that your puppy needs to go to the toilet. Some will sniff the floor, some will walk to the door, some will walk in circles.

  • Be patient, some dogs are quicker learners than others
Some will pick up toilet training within a few days but others will take longer.
  • Don't get angry, most dogs will have some accidents 
Clean up well after accidents
Never punish accidents
Learn from the accidents; what cues did you miss? did you not take the pup out frequently enough? Is your dog unwell?



House training older dogs

Older dogs can also be house trained: and the technique is very similar to the puppy case

Take them outside every hour and reward and praise the dog for toileting outside.
Never punish them for soiling in the house
increase the frequency of trips outside if they are still having accidents in the house.

Gradually, the time between trips outside can be increased.
You may need to give them opportunities to toilet during the night, until they develop a routine, most dogs will learn very quickly.

Keeping to a regular schedule of food and exercise can also help to house train older dogs.





WHY DO DOGS GO TO THE TOILET INDOORS?
They could have a medical issue
They may not understand that they are not supposed to go to the toilet indoors
They may not have been given the opportunity to go outside

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