New puppies are unable to know the right place to fulfill their physiological needs until their owners educate them to do so. Training to learn the right habits is an important aspect of puppy care. With some basic knowledge on how to train him, he can learn in no time.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Provide the Puppy with an Adequate Environment
Step 1. Take into account his view of the surrounding environment
Puppies are not aware of what is right or wrong like humans. However, they can learn to behave in different ways. A puppy does not understand that urinating on the carpet is "bad" behavior. For him, the carpet is simply an acceptable surface, just like garden grass. It is up to you to teach him the best choice.
Step 2. Reinforce “positive randomness”
The initial training to do his business outdoors is mostly the result of chance. Often taking him for a walk, the dog will begin to defecate and urinate outdoors more by coincidence than anything else. He will begin to understand the behavior you want him to take when you praise him for these "positive incidents", even if it will still take a long time and a lot of repetition.
- If you manage to catch the puppy in the act while it evacuates in the house, stop the action immediately. Use an interrupt command, such as "Out!". Don't yell and scold him, though, as you give him the command. It is enough to pronounce it firmly and calmly to interrupt the animal in its action and prevent it from continuing.
- Take the puppy and take it to the outdoor place designated for its needs. If he finishes doing them in the correct place, praise him and / or reward him appropriately. Make sure you take it to the same place every time. Keeping him on a leash is the best way to target him in the specific sector.
Step 3. Don't punish the puppy when accidents occur
He can't understand why you punish him. If you scold him and physically scold him, you can only instill fear in him. This may prompt him to try to evacuate to hidden areas around the house away from your presence. If you do not apply a training method based on positivity you could create serious behavior problems for him, beyond the question of physiological needs.
Step 4. Know your puppy's physical limitations
The age of the dog has a fundamental importance on its ability to learn where to go to the toilet and how long it is able to withhold them. Don't take accidents as failures. Imagine your puppy as a child who is still learning to control his bladder. If necessary, do a search on the internet to find out more about the timing.
- The period between 8 and 16 weeks of age is considered to be the primary socialization period for puppies. In this phase, the animal can control the bladder for about 2 hours. It is also the best time to start training him.
- At 16 weeks, the puppy can usually control his bladder for up to four hours. Before this age, the bladder can last for about 2 hours before it needs to be emptied.
- At 4-6 months, puppies are considered "half-trained" as they are still very easily distracted. They are still at the stage where they want to explore the world, and may be chasing a moth forgetting to free their bladder until it's too late. When the puppy is four months old it can last about 4-5 hours before having to pee, while at six months it can hold it up to 6-7 hours.
- When it reaches 6-12 months, sexual maturity can cause males to raise their paws and pee on furniture, while females can get into heat. They can hold their bladder for up to 7-8 hours before they need to empty.
- At 12-24 months the puppy may not be fully mature yet, depending on the breed. Probably, by the time he reaches this age, you have already trained him to go to the toilet outside the home but, if not, you still have time, even if the dog is now an adult. While it's not impossible, properly educating adult dogs that have developed bad habits takes a lot more energy and persistence than the work that would have been required when they were still puppies.
Step 5. Keep in mind the breed of the dog
It is generally easier to train larger dogs than small ones. The latter need to clear the bladder more often (as they have a smaller digestive system). They can also enter environments where they do not stand out to do their business and in this way they can develop a bad habit. Precisely for this reason, it is good to limit the dog's access to some areas of the house.
Step 6. Get a cage or "lair"
Just like people, puppies also don't like to evacuate near areas where they eat and sleep. Cage training is a great way to help him control his bladder. In addition, the pet carrier also gives a certain safety. When you are around, leave the cage door open to allow him to enter and exit freely. Leave toys, sweets and fabric inside to act as a dog bed to make the environment comfortable. The carrier should be a place where the puppy feels comfortable, not a place to suffer.
- Some dogs quickly get used to the cage, while others require a more gradual introduction.
- All dogs, sooner or later, must get used to the idea of entering a pet carrier. When you take him to the vet, when you go on a trip or take him to a grooming center you should always use the cage. It is best to get used to him right away, when he is still young.
- Puppies under 6 months of age should never be left in the carrier for more than 3-4 hours, regardless of their ability to control their bladder. They need more interaction. If you have to work during the day, find someone who can walk him appropriately.
- When you come home, after your puppy has been in the carrier, take him outside immediately and don't give him a chance to pee around the house.
Step 7. Get a properly sized cage
Make sure it fits the size of the dog so the puppy is able to stand up, turn around and lie down. However, it must not be too big to allow the animal to evacuate in one corner and sleep in the other. The purpose of the carrier is to take hold of the natural instinct of the animal, to prevent it from sleeping in its own excrement and thus help it learn how to free the bladder outside. If you have a large puppy, know that there are cages designed to "grow" with the puppy, so you do not waste money by buying larger and larger carriers as the dog grows. If you can't get a cage, you can use part of the bathroom by finding a way to fence it.
Step 8. Choose a specific area where your puppy can "go" for his needs before taking him home
It could be somewhere in the backyard, next to a structure that offers shelter from the wind, or some other suitable place in the garden. Wherever it is, keep the commitment that it is always the same even before taking the dog home. You don't have to send him inconsistent messages by moving his "toilet" to different areas while deciding on the right place.
Part 2 of 3: Developing a Routine
Step 1. Establish a feeding schedule
By planning its feeding you can achieve more success in your training endeavors. If you allow your puppy to eat when he wants it becomes more difficult to teach him to go to the toilet outside the home. Furthermore, organizing an established program makes your pet management and care easier. Always take your puppy out on time within 15-20 minutes after meals.
Step 2. Develop a schedule to get him to do the needs
The most important thing of all, when you want to train a puppy (or an adult dog) in this regard, is consistency. If you behave consistently, always do the same thing and expect the same reaction every time, the puppy learns very quickly. If, on the other hand, you change your behaviors and expectations, the puppy gets confused and most likely makes a mistake. Create a predictable and consistent routine. Take the puppy outside:
- When he wakes up in the morning, or earlier, if you can get up earlier than him.
- After every meal. Puppies usually need to clear their bladder within 20 minutes after eating.
- After each nap.
- After every moment of play.
- Before going to sleep in the evening. If your puppy is between 8 and 14 weeks of age, he probably still needs to pee at night. The best solution is to keep it in the pet carrier in your bedroom so you can hear it if it moans and can then take it outside. Keep your leash, slippers and robe close at hand.
Step 3. Start training him immediately to relieve himself
Once he is introduced to his new environment, give him a sip of water and immediately take him out to the place you have intended for this purpose.
Step 4. Pay attention to its signals
The puppy may begin to understand that he should go out for his own needs before he knows how to make you understand. It is important that you pay attention to the signs that reveal if you have a full bladder. Check for barking or scratching at the front door, squatting, restless, and sniff around or in circles. If you notice one of these behaviors, especially if you haven't taken it out for a while, it's probably time to go out.
Step 5. Associate a command with evacuation
In addition to always taking the puppy to the same designated place, it is a good idea to find a specific command that the puppy can associate with his toilet time, such as "Let's go to the bathroom" or "Move" or whatever other word you decide.
Step 6. Only ever use this command consistently
Make sure you say the command set for this specific circumstance only. Use it whenever you take your puppy out for this purpose. In doing so, the dog associates the act with the exact command. This will also help in the future when you go on a trip, take it to friends or relatives, etc.
Step 7. Praise him as soon as he finishes
To associate praise with the action he took, reward him immediately after he has relieved himself before returning to the house.
- Praise him only when he's done and don't interrupt him during the "flow". Some puppies are so sensitive that they may stop in the middle of the process if you praise them too soon. They might think you just wanted them to squat down in order to get a prize. It is important to find the right moment to praise him.
- Keep in mind that freedom is also a reward. Take some time to play with the puppy once its physiological functions are over. He must not think that the fun stops when he does his business, but he must believe that it continues afterwards, so that he quickly fulfills his needs to get back to doing good things.
Step 8. Help him behave correctly without scolding or punishing him
Whenever you take him out at a suitable time, if the puppy can get his business done within 3-5 minutes, praise him and place him in a large enclosure around his cage giving him more freedom. If he doesn't pee within this time, put him in the carrier and close the door. Leave it there for 15-20 minutes while staying nearby. After a short wait, take him out again and, if he does his business, at that point offer him more freedom in a larger area. If it still doesn't produce anything, put it back in the cage once more.
Pay attention if the puppy is complaining and does not want to enter the cage, as you can help force a correct behavior, which will eventually allow you to reward the puppy and offer him more freedom thanks to his proper behavior
Step 9. Involve everyone present
If you live alone with your puppy, this step is easy. If, on the other hand, there are more people in the family, make sure that all members take the appropriate measures to make puppy training quick and easy. The more all family members adhere to the training process, the faster the animal will progress.
Step 10. Take his water away early in the evening
About 2 and a half hours before going to sleep, remove the bowl of water. In this way the puppy will feel the need to pee for the last time in the evening just before going to bed, and should be able to resist all night. Most puppies can sleep for about seven hours without needing to free their bladder, so if you deprive them of water early enough before lying down, the puppy should have fewer accidents during the night.
If he wakes up during the night because he needs to go to the bathroom, make sure it is a quick exit and always in the same place. If you turn on too many lights or start playing with him, your puppy may think it's time to have fun and may be led to think it's okay to wake up for this rather than for his physiological needs. For this reason, it's important to just take him out and put him back to sleep right away
Step 11. Clean quickly and thoroughly if it gets dirty in the wrong places
Wood and tile floors should be cleaned and washed with a disinfectant. If it has soiled on a carpet, it must be washed with a specific product. This is probably the most important thing, because dogs have a very keen sense of smell. If they still smell urine or feces, they will continue to use the same area for that purpose. This is also the reason why the dog must remain on a leash inside the house for many months before allowing him access to all the rooms.
- Many people get ammonia-containing cleaners in supermarkets. However, this substance smells like dog urine. So, if your pet pees on the carpet and you clean it with an ammonia-based product, the pet will keep repeating the behavior thinking that a strange dog has already done it on the carpet, and will try to cover the smell with your own urine.
- Some products on the market indicated for cleaning dog manure contain special enzymes capable of completely eliminating the smell of urine that causes the puppy to dirty again in the same place. You can buy these products at pet stores, online, at the vet, and in large supermarkets. They are the most effective means to to remove the smell and not just cover it.
- Some people claim that distilled white vinegar diluted in water is also effective when followed by a treatment with baking soda.
Part 3 of 3: Integrating Unsupervised Time
Step 1. For the first time, keep the puppy in a few confined areas
Do your best to train him successfully and minimize the chances of "accidents" with the use of pet carriers, fences, fenced areas and leashes, so as to control the areas to which he has access.
The area surrounding the cage shouldn't be much larger than 1.5-2 feet when the puppy is still small. This will gradually increase as the dog becomes more trained and physically grows. The greater the control of bodily functions that the dog demonstrates, the greater the "freedom" it gains
Step 2. Let the puppy roam freely around the house while dragging a short leash under your supervision
Give him longer periods only when you are sure he will let you know when it's time to go out and do his business. This strategy shouldn't take more than two weeks to learn.
Step 3. Don't be surprised if it has "relapses"
Sometimes he may come back to dirt in the house even when you think you have trained him perfectly. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as when she reaches sexual maturity, if there is a change in routine, an overwhelming curiosity stronger than the need to go out at the usual time, and so on. When this happens, resume the constant routine to teach him to go out. You will see that it will quickly return to obey the learned habits again.
Step 4. Install a flap lift for your puppy
A cat flap is an excellent solution if you have an adequate fence (that the puppy cannot climb over or through which it cannot pass under) and a gate. Even if you have a suitable enclosure, be aware that if you live in an area with wildlife, such as foxes, wolves, or stray dogs, they may bite your puppy.
Do not leave the dog unattended outside for long periods of time
Step 5. Spread out newspapers for the puppy to do his business in
If you don't have a yard, a flap door, or someone you can leave your puppy with while you are out of the house, you can still train him to evacuate on paper to a certain designated location. This is just an extra precaution in case your puppy needs to clear his bladder but can't wait for you to return. Place newspaper or a small box in an accessible place for the puppy. Since he will want to do his business in a place where he smells urine or feces, you can keep in that area or in the box some rags you used to clean where he had previously soiled.
- Some people argue that if you hang newspapers around the house, you communicate to the dog that it is acceptable for him to dirty inside. So they feel it is wise to avoid newspaper and deal with any accidents. But everyone has to start somewhere. If that means cleaning up some messes, it's probably best for your dog and family.
- Using newspapers may delay the training process a bit, but if you gradually reduce the area in which he is "allowed" to do his business on the papers and clean thoroughly in areas of the house not designated for this purpose, you will still be successful. in your intent. You should limit the spaces to which it can access to prevent it from getting dirty throughout the home.
Step 6. Find someone who can look after your puppy
If you have to go on a trip, it is important to find someone to take care of the animal. If you live with family or friends, they will take care of it. If you live alone, ask someone who knows puppies to come and look after yours. Tell him about the schedule you have established for the animal, where he sleeps, what to feed him and what not to give him. Eventually you can go to a kennel or dog daycare center, a place where they can take care of your furry friend while you are away.
Keep in mind that if the puppy is "forced" to evacuate to the kennel following the schedule established by the center, you will have taken a big step back in the training process. Both alternatives have advantages and disadvantages that you need to take into account in the specific situation
Advice
- Control your pup like a hawk at all times, especially in the early stages of training. Keep it on a leash or tie it to a heavy piece of furniture and keep it close to avoid losing track. If you can't keep an eye on it for some reason, put it in a safe place (e.g. a cage or some other small room that has an easy-to-clean floor, such as linoleum, closed with a gate so that you can check it depending on the needs).
- When teaching him to go out for his needs, make sure you only take him to a certain spot. This will be considered his "bathroom" and the training process will be much faster.
- Always reward her good behavior with sweet words and caresses. Ignore bad behavior as best you can, so he will soon learn that good behavior gives him more time to be with you and will try to repeat it as much as possible.
- Initially, rewards and praise help him feel confident and learn correct behavior. As this stabilizes more and more, you can get him used to reducing premiums, while still praising him. This way the dog will not just behave well just to get treats.
- If you maintain consistent behavior right from the start of training, especially when it is uncomfortable for you (late at night, while you are watching your favorite TV show, etc.), you will really help your puppy learn to warn you when he needs to go out..
- Most dogs learn to associate a specific door with going outside. As he grows up, he usually starts going to the door of his own accord to make it clear that he has to get out. Over time, each dog develops a habit of his own to get what he wants. For some it may be barking, for others it may be running to the door and then returning to you, for still others it may be scratching the door (this should be discouraged if you don't want to replace the door soon).
- If he cries a lot at first, try not to encourage him further by paying him too much attention. Eventually you can move the cage next to the bed and use a radio that plays soft music to help him hear background noise. You can also be able to distract him by putting his favorite toys in the crate.
- Know that the first few nights are a time of adjustment for both of you. For you it's like having a new baby in the house, so be prepared because initially you will never sleep the whole night.
- Leaving him the bowl of food available all day and filled to the brim is not the best way to train him (or keep him fit). His correct dietary requirements are highly dependent on the breed. Consult with your vet to find out the right amount of food to eat and limit his meals to these specific doses and only at the recommended times.
- Someone proposes to tie a small bell with a rope to hang on the door handle. Approximately every hour, bring the puppy to the door and make him ring the bell with his paw, saying "bathroom" each time, then take the animal to the designated point to relieve himself. In no time he will learn to ring the bell to go out.
- Don't get mad at the puppy. Remember to take him for a walk regularly, be nice to your new little friend and you will see that you will find yourself a trained puppy in no time!
- Always accompany the puppy to the same door.
Warnings
- Remember that he will get used to your routine. So even if it's your day off, you still need to get up and take him out at the same time as usual. Dogs are animals of habit by nature.
- If you choose to train him in the crate, make sure you do it in a way that is not cruel. You can find more information on this topic by reading this article.
