Puppy Toilet Training 101

Toilet training should begin as soon as your puppy joins your family. Below are 10 tips on toilet training your puppy - hope it helps!

Tip #1 - Be prepared

Place covers over your floors and furniture, for example, plastic covers, newspaper, blankets or training pee pads.
You will need to prepare puppy-safe detergent and rubber globes.
Allocate a designated area for toileting in your house.
Decide on cue words or phrases, as well as rewards you intend to use during your puppy's toilet training.
Plan your route well in advance if you intend to take your puppy out for a walk.

Tip #2 - Be patient and gentle towards your puppy

Puppies respond best to kind and calm handling. You should never lose your temper or get frustrated if your puppy does not perform or behave as you expected him or her to. You must understand that such situations are perfectly normal.

Always wait patiently with your puppy during toileting as your puppy may well be inclined to follow you if you do happen to walk away.

Tip #3 - Pre-empt your puppy's needs

It is almost impossible for your puppy to tell you when he or she needs to urinate or defecate. Therefore, you should take your puppy to his or her designated toileting area as soon as your puppy wakes up in the morning, after each meals, after your puppy wakes up from a nap and before your puppy goes to bed every evening.

Your puppy probably will not urinate or defecate at every single opportunity, but at least you are giving them the option to do so. Always remember that eating stimulates your puppy's digestive system. Therefore, your puppies will usually urinate within 15 minutes into a meal, and defecate within 30 minutes.

Tip #4 - Reward your puppy

It is always recommended that you employ a rewards-based training system. Be sure to use cue words just before toileting, and praise your puppy after the event. Praising and petting are great rewards!

Each time your puppy goes for toileting, stay with your puppy but avoid any interaction. After your puppy toilets, give him or her lots of praises or a treat combined with 'good girl' or 'good boy' (or the usual manner in which you call your puppy). You can then give your puppy a few minutes of play with his or her favourite toy.

Tip #5 - Maintain good hygiene measures

When your puppy accidentally urinates or defecate at the wrong place, always be sure to clean up thoroughly. Safe, enzyme based cleaners are generally ideal as they remove rather than mask odours. Avoid strong scented fabric fresheners as they can irritate your puppies' sensitive skin and eyes.

Tip #6 - Consistency is key

Training will most likely be much easier for your puppy if everyone at home sticks with a routine and the same set of rules. Puppies can easily become confused, and if one family member is employing a different approach, this may lead to unwanted setbacks.

Make sure you are not getting complacent and forgetting to reward your puppy because puppies need a lot of approval!

Tip #7 - Be prepared for potential setbacks

It is not uncommon for accidents to happen. Factors such as a change in routine or a simple case of your puppy not being able to wait are common reasons for a setback. Other contributing factors could include environmental distractions and getting over-excited, anxious or overwhelmed.

Tip #8 - Pay close attention to your puppy's diet

During your puppy's stage of early growth, his or her digestive system is at its most sensitive. It is therefore important for you to choose a very highly digestible food that will ensure balanced intestinal flora, and a regular intestinal transit resulting in firm stools.

Lower quality puppy foods are not as calorie dense and involve higher feeding portions. This can potentially result in increased stool volume and/or increased frequency of passing them.

Tip #9 - Having a routine but being flexible if things aren't going as planned

Sometimes, toilet training fails to go according to your plan despite our very best efforts. Ask yourself these questions: Are you allowing enough time for training? Are you keeping to a routine? Are you using consistent cue words? Are you rewarding your puppy's good behaviour? Are you taking our puppy out enough?

Try keeping record of the timing and circumstances of each accident to help you identify the causes and take the necessary steps and measures to address them. Sometimes, it can help to take a few steps back before you can move forward again.

Tip #10 - Learning how to toilet on walks

Once your puppy has been vaccinated and is old enough to learn to toilet on their walk, get up early in the morning and take your puppy out before he or she has the opportunity to urinate or defecate at his or her usual spot. This may take some time as your puppy may prefer to use his or her familiar toileting area or become distracted by investigating his or her surrounding. Allow plenty of time and repeat until your puppy has learned what to do. Further, always ensure that clean drinking water is available and never restrict your puppy's access to water.