6 Tips To Ease Up Puppy Potty Training

Getting a new puppy is an exciting time in you and your family’s life. They are absolutely adorable and can bring an instant smile to your face. That said, they are also a lot of work and you need to start training them as soon as they arrive in your home. One of the first things that they need to learn is toilet training. It can be a stressful time with a lot of mess and accidents however there are a few things that you can do or use which will make your job a lot easier.

1. DESIGNATE A SPOT: Designate a specific spot for your puppy to go to the toilet. If you have an outdoor area, make it the garden. If you are live in an apartment, place puppy training pads or news paper on a tiled area such as a balcony, laundry or bathroom.

• TIP: A good tip is to ‘scent-mark’ this place. Place a bit of fabric with the puppy’s urine in the designated spot the first time you take them there. This will encourage your dog to go there.

"Puppy Pads"
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2. USE TOILET TRAINING PADS: If you do not have an outdoor area or need to keep your puppy inside while you are out, a great way to minimize mess is to use toilet training pads such as the below. Puppies prefer to pee on something soft and absorbent and these pads encourage them to use the same place again and again. These toilet training pads make your job a lot easier. They offer maximum protection, are made out of high quality non-woven fabric and are extremely absorbent. They neutralize odours, are tear resistant and easily disposed of so perfect for your new puppy.

3. THE WAITING GAME: When you think your puppy needs to go, take them to the designated area and wait for them to do their business. If they do not go within five minutes, bring them back inside and try again 15 minutes later. If they do go, give them a treat and lots of praise so they know it’s a good thing.

Signs a puppy needs to go potty.

• After a meal or nap
• If they are sniffing
• If they are circling (looking for a place to go)
• Coming to a sudden halt
• Dropping his bottom

4. ROUTINE ROUTINE ROUTINE: The most important thing for you puppy is creating a routine. Take them to their designated potty area as soon as they wake up, after a feed or when you get home from work. They’ll soon learn to hold until these times.

5. DISTRACTION: Distract your dog if you think he’s about to go in the house and quickly take him outside or to his designated area.

6. DON’T PUNISH: Don’t get angry if your puppy forgets where to go to the toilet as they won’t understand what they have done wrong. Clean up the mess with a paper towel and take it, along with your puppy to its designated area, then let them sniff the towel. If you then praise them, your puppy will associate the area as good place to go to the toilet.

About the Author: Melanie has 2 dogs and loves blogging about tips and tricks to make their lives easier and more fun! When not blogging, Melanie is a reviewer for Real Smart Dog Products.