Carrie’s Canines Puppy Guide to toilet training
Are you having trouble with teaching your dog to go outside to toilet?
Were they doing really well to begin with and you feel you taken steps back?
Getting frustrated and feel like you must be doing something wrong?
Don’t worry!
It takes time to toilet train your dog, it doesn’t happen overnight!
Every dog is different, so just because the dog down the road got it within a week (I’d be surprised!) doesn’t mean your dog will.
Being patient with your new puppy will go a long way.
Remember we need to show them what to do, just like you do with a child! Young puppies, up to 4 months old, just don’t have a big enough bladder or have developed enough to physically be able to hold it in!
- Take them outside after play, when they wake up, after training and after eating – you will soon see a routine of when they need to go.
- Keep an eye on them! If you can’t pop them into their crate or a puppy pen with a tasty chew to manage the situation.
- Watch their body language – they will soon show when they need to go – such a spinning!
- Take them out every hour and wait for them to go until you notice a routine – less if needed!
- Reward every time they go outside with verbal praise, physical praise and a treat (this can be kibble from their daily feeding amount)
- Put them toileting on command – every time they go for a wee ‘hurry up Henry, hurry up’ this will make them associate the word ‘hurry up’ with going for a wee. Always remember to reward after!
- You need to go out in the garden with them (and I don’t mean stand inside at the back door!)
- Have a pen in the garden – so they know when they go in the pen its time to toilet and it stops them pottering around the garden!
- Don’t ever shout or tell your dog off for toileting inside – as they may end up being frightened of toileting in front of you.
- Accidents happen! Just clean it up with an ammonia free cleaning product and keep a closer eye on your pup!
Sorry just one more!!
- DO NOT rub their nose in it! this teaches them nothing!!!
Need further guidance? Come and join our puppy classes where we cover toilet training and many other issues that may arise when bringing up your new addition! Contact us at info@carriescanines.co.uk
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