| Potty training your dog | | | | and especially when the pup is in the actual process |
| Toilet training, or as it is sometimes referred to, | | | | of toileting. This will assist the pup to associate the |
| potty training a dog or a puppy is generally thought | | | | command with the action of toileting. In a short |
| of as being a difficult, onerous task. It is common for | | | | amount of time with this routine the puppy should be |
| new dog owners to resign themselves to the fact | | | | able to toilet on command, at that location. |
| that their puppy will toilet inside on a regular basis until | | | | Praise your puppy |
| it is old enough to know better. | | | | The most important part of the puppy toilet training |
| A few simple considerations when toilet training | | | | process is to ensure that the pup is praised, every |
| In fact this does not need to be the case. Dog potty | | | | time that it toilets in the desired area. This is essential. |
| training is actually very simple. There are two major | | | | This positive reinforcement will speed up the puppy |
| considerations to consider for dog toilet training to be | | | | toilet training process immensely. Always take your |
| successful. They are: | | | | pup to that exact spot, always use the same |
| 1. Eliminate opportunities for the puppy or dog to | | | | command and always praise the pup when it is |
| toilet inside. | | | | toileting there. |
| 2. Praise the puppy or dog on every occasion that it | | | | Housebreaking your puppy |
| toilets outside. | | | | If the pup ever does toilets inside, do not discipline it |
| Inside or Outside? | | | | and certainly do not ever rub its nose in the mess. |
| If the puppy is allowed inside - contain it by using a | | | | Many people think that rubbing the puppy's nose in |
| dog containment pen, in an area where it can be | | | | the mess will stop it from toileting inside. Nothing |
| observed. There are numerous dog pens available at | | | | could be further from the truth. |
| pet stores or on the internet. If possible contain the | | | | Simply take the pup outside to the same spot, and |
| puppy next to an open door so that he has the | | | | issue the command to toilet. If he toilets there, again |
| option to take himself outside to toilet. If given the | | | | lavish him with praise. Whether or not he does toilet |
| choice between indoor and outdoors, a dog will | | | | there is not important - the important fact is that |
| naturally toilet outdoors. By containing the puppy in | | | | you have reinforced to the puppy where it should |
| this manner, the opportunities for it to toilet at will | | | | toilet. |
| inside the house are all but eradicated. Every time the | | | | If you yell at the pup, hit him or rub his nose in the |
| pup wakes up ensure that it goes outside (you will | | | | mess, you will only compound the problem. This will |
| have to take it outside if it is not contained next to | | | | not stop the pup from toileting inside; it will only |
| an open door). | | | | complicate things by making the puppy toilet inside |
| Establishing a routine when toilet training | | | | where you can't see him! |
| When you do take the pup outside it is important to | | | | Keep it consistent |
| take it to the exact same spot in the garden to | | | | Simply put; eradicate the pups opportunities to potty |
| toilet. This will encourage the puppy to potty at that | | | | inside, take him to the same spot outside, repeat the |
| location due to the fact that there will be scent left | | | | command and concentrate on the positive, which is a |
| from previous toileting. The pup will soon associate | | | | lot of praise when he toilets there. |
| this area with toileting. | | | | In no time at all the puppy will happily take himself to |
| Give the puppy a command such as 'toilet' or 'be | | | | that spot because you have provided a lot of |
| quick' every time you take it to that area. Continue | | | | positive reinforcement and made the whole ordeal |
| to repeat the command when the pup is in the area | | | | very simple for both of you. |