Three tips to help solve toilet training problems

© kym dunbar -  Soul Wolf Journey™

Are you struggling with toilet training your new puppy or dog? You have followed the training consistently yet still you find wet puddles throughout the house?

This can be frustrating, particularly when you think you have done everything right. But think about it. Have you really? Have you always used the same word, taken your dog to the same toilet spot or listened when your pup asked to go outside? These are all things that can distract from solid results when toilet training a puppy or adult dog.

If having toilet training problems, go back to the basics. Here are some things to help you train a pup (the same applies to training an adult dog).

Back to basics

Puppies learn at different rates so it is important to design toilet training to suit your puppy. Set boundaries and have a schedule to help avoid those nasty accidents in the house.

Puppies and dogs do not want to mess up their house. Pups raised in a den environment naturally move away from their environment to do their business. It is up to you as the pack leader to guide your puppy along this natural process in its new home.

Forget the old newspaper on the floor in the laundry our ancestors used to use for accidents. This actually teaches your dog to use the floor and your house as a toilet.

If your puppy is having accidents in the house, remember to take puppy outside:

• at least once an hour until puppy is 3 months old
• when puppy wakes up
• when puppy finishes playing
• after any excitement
• after every meal
• last thing at night
• first thing in the morning.

It takes commitment and time during the puppy stage, but the rewards are endless.

Things to do and not do

What makes training a puppy harder?

1. Rubbing puppy’s nose in its mess. All this achieves is fear of you.
2. Punishing puppy for accidents in the house. If you catch puppy using the house as a toilet, use a sharp no to distract it and take puppy outside. Punishing puppy for toilet accidents in the house for this can teach it to be secretive and only go to the toilet behind your back. This you do not want as you will forever come across nasty surprises.
3. Ignoring puppy’s pleas to go outside. This will teach puppy that there is no point asking and it will relieve itself wherever it can.

What makes training a puppy easier?

1. Consistently give your puppy toilet opportunities by taking it outside.
2. Give your puppy a toilet spot and teach it to relieve itself on command. Choose words like ‘toilet’ or ‘go potty’ and use it every time you want puppy to go potty. And, remember to lavish praise on your dog when it responds to your command.
3. Always positively reward good behaviour.
4. Do not punish if your pup does not get it yet. Be patient. Use your command when puppy actually relieves itself, reinforce the command and praise. Be consistent and soon puppy will associate actions with your words.

Consider when and why accidents happen

Accidents in the house are frustrating, but they may mean more than a naughty puppy or dog. Watch for the following to help you assess your problem:

• Your dog may be sick. If your puppy frequently needs to go and there is not much urine each time, it may have a urinary tract infection.
• Your dog may be anxious and urinate out of fear at loud noises or when you come home. This can be a behavioural problem so talk to your trainer for help.
• Does your dog come into the house and lift his leg anywhere and everywhere? This may be marking his territory and is another behavioural problem you may need help to correct.
• Confusion. Maybe your pup does not understand what you want so you may have to go back to the basics and start again.

Using love, persistence, consistence and patience when training a puppy will give the results you want.

If you are worried about your pup’s health see a vet or have other problems, contact your trainer for help.

photo by Glen Bowman