Training your puppy or dog is all about patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. The goal is always to install good habits and develop a loving bond with your puppy or dog.
Usually, it takes between 4-6 months for pups to be fully trained while for some it may take up to a whole year. While a dog is much more difficult to toilet train than a cat but with a good management plan and lots of patience, it can be easily done. Size is a major predictor as smaller breeds have higher metabolisms and smaller bladders so they require more trips outside.
Common errors faced by pet owners when toilet training puppies
While you’re training your pet, always expect a few setbacks. As long as you have a decent management program which includes taking your puppy outside at the first sign and offering them rewards, it will learn easily.
Here are some of the common mistakes you make during puppy toilet training.
- Over-feeding
- Feeding at unusual times and giving them an unsuitable diet
- Punishing them for indoor accidents
- Feeding them salty food items which makes them more thirsty
- Expecting the pup to tell you that it needs to go outside, instead, it would be better to take them out at regular intervals by yourself
- Leaving the pup on its own for way too long such that it is forced to go to the toilet indoors
- Access to carpet or rugs as they are a nice absorbent just like grass
- Being lazy and not taking them outside usually results in more indoor incidents
How to toilet train a puppy?
Toilet training a puppy usually takes some time as it isn’t the same as training a cat, who learns very quickly. However, you can easily train your puppy if you shower them with lots of love, rewards, and show some patience. Here are some of the tips that’ll help you train your puppy.
- Commands
Irrespective of the weather, you should take your puppy outside after they wake up or they’re given something to eat or drink. Once they are outside, give them commands like ‘Go Now’ so that they know it is ok to relieve themselves. Once they go, praise them, but ignore them if they fail. If you find a puddle in the house, don’t tell the pup off unless you’ve caught them in the act otherwise they won’t have an idea why they’re being punished.
Retraining adult dogs
When training an adult dog, start by having them wait in a designated space. Also, make sure to take them outside on a regular basis and give them a lot of love and praise. Similarly, if there is an indoor incident, clean the area thoroughly to prevent them from going there again.
Dealing with an indoor incident
In case your pup has an accident, never tell them off. Telling them off or punishing them will scare them. Remember to clean the spot thoroughly to remove the odour otherwise they will continue going to the toilet at the same place.
Teaching them to wait
Create training is a decent method to train your pups as they are taught to wait in their special space before they are allowed to go outside. The key to this is to give them a chance to relieve themselves once every 2-3 hours, especially after sleeping, eating, or playing.
- Sticking to a routine
An important part of general puppy training is toilet training. You should be critical of the way it is handled as it will have a major impact on the relationship you have with your puppy. Sticking to a routine will help your dog develop good habits and making the learning curve easier.
Village Vets – Training your puppies and giving them the best care when you’re away
At Village Vets, our aim is to give your pets the best possible care and love to see them grow into good boys and girls. We have a special team of vets and nurses who are experts in puppy toilet training so you can be assured that we will always give the best possible advice for your pets.
If your pet is giving you trouble during the training phase, you can contact one of our clinics and receive special advice that will definitely prove to be helpful.