Pet care: Simple steps to toilet train your puppy

Like all good things in life, achieving success in toilet train your puppy comes with patience and a great deal of hard work. It aids in building affection and encourages good behaviours with your pet. Below are some basic instructions on how to toilet train your puppy.

Bringing a puppy home is such an exciting moment but what you need to know is, that training a puppy is the most essential aspect of being a successful pet parent. Stay patient and consistent with your puppy and you will have a toilet-trained puppy in no time. No pet parent can avoid experiencing dirty homes and unpleasant odors. Here are a few tips and tricks that can help you to effectively toilet train your pet.

1. Establish Feeding and Toilet Schedule

Puppy feeding should be done on a set timetable. With a regular routine, their intake translates directly to scheduled output. Always feed your puppy at designated times and take them outside regularly, more so after meals, naps, and playtime, but at minimum every 2 hours.

2. Morning and Hourly Breaks

Take your puppy outside right after waking up and then every 30 minutes to an hour, based on their age. This creates a schedule and helps prevent accidents inside. Puppies have tiny bladders and need to go out often.

3. Designate a Bathroom Spot

Take your puppy to the same place outside every time. The smell will make them know where to go. Being consistent is very important. Saying a word or phrase like “Go potty” can help them learn better.

4. Reward Success Immediately

When your puppy goes potty outside, give them a quick praise and a treat right away. Giving them a reward helps them learn that going outside is good. It’s important to give the treat right after they’re done so they connect the action with the reward.

5. Avoid Punishment

Never punish your puppy when they have an accident. Yelling or scolding might make them scared or confused. Instead, clean the area well with an enzymatic cleaner to get rid of the smell. Stay calm and keep up with your routine.

6. Use Crate Training Wisely

Crate training can be a useful method. Dogs usually don’t want to soil where they sleep. Make sure the crate is the right size — not too big — and never use it as a way to punish them. Let young puppies go out often to pee and poop.

7. Watch for Signs

Learn to spot signs that your puppy wants to go potty — like sniffling, circling around, whimpering, or walking toward the door. Act fast and take them outside right away.

8. Keep a Toilet Log

Tracking your puppy’s bathroom habits can help you notice patterns. This makes it easier to know when they might need to go outside and helps avoid accidents inside the house. .

9. Be Patient – Every Puppy Is Different

Some puppies and certain breeds might need more time to learn how to go potty inside. It’s okay if your pup isn’t keeping up with others. Be kind and happy with every small success you have.

10. Clean Up Accidents the Right Way

If an accident happens inside, use an enzymatic cleaner to get rid of the smell. Don’t use cleaners with ammonia, because they can smell like urine and make more accidents happen.