I'm all too often quizzed about an effective of preparing a toilet training zone. Should it be outdoors or inside? It is not as foolish as it may appear.
Some folk reside in apartments but still need to have a place for their pups to relieve themselves. When you think about it, literally just about every cat owner has a cat litter tray in their house. Now I know that creating a puppy toilet area inside your home isn't perfect but many individuals situations mean that this is the only method available. It's pretty obvious that the area should be well ventilated.
Your bathroom might be the best option here as it'll probably have a hard washable floor too. You can get dog litter (just like the cat stuff but you need more of it!). Some people use regular newspaper but there might be an embarrassing side effect here. The most suitable stuff is unprinted newsprint paper which has similar absorbent benefits without the side effects. Why would you not use normal newspaper? Basically, the puppy tends to connect potty time with newspaper (any newspaper) and unfortunately could see every newspaper as a potential toilet (even though it has just come through the front door). This can be pretty embarrassing in someone else's house.
As soon as you get an area sorted out it is easy to start teaching your puppy the importance of it}.
The easiest way is to get them to associate going to that area with going to the toilet. This can be achieved by taking them to it each time they show signs of wanting to go. Be on the lookout for circling or sniffing the ground, abruptly stopping playing and walking away, spinning around in circle with their backs arched and (clear signal) sniffing at the scene of a prior accident. You'll think you've cleaned it away however the pup will still be able to smell it and will try to go in the same place.
You then carry them up to the doggie loo and let them do what they do. After this you praise them. Do this each time and they will rapidly learn that this is what you want. They'll not query why, they'll just associate going in the right place with fuss. This must be done in a calm manner because you don't want to get them too excited. If he or she get too excited, they become tense and then can't go. This naturally, defeats the point of the exercise. You need to therefore, retain a calm appearance to help your dog relax enough to relieve itself.
The time intervals will vary tremendously according to the puppy's age. For instance, when aged around say fourteen weeks, you will be looking at possibly eight to ten breaks daily. This can scale down to about half of that once the pup is aged about thirty weeks.
If they're young, they're not physically developed enough to hold themselves in for very long. That's why they should be taken outside perhaps every two hours or so. You should closely observe the period after eating or drinking as these tend to be common "toilet times". Realistically, they can only hold themselves for an hour or so for every month of age. Put simply they'll not really last through the night.
It sounds unusual but some owners maintain a written record of when the puppy "goes". This gives them a greater idea of the puppy's natural bodily rhythms. The main items to note are eating, sleeping and going to the toilet. Pet owners find it easier to work out the relationship between the events, which certainly makes sense. It may also identify certain medical problems if the puppy starts to break with these standard times.
Your next phase is when your puppy feels the need to go and realises that if they come to tell you (or perhaps go straight to the potty area) they get praise. Usually, this involves scratching the door, barking or whining. In time they will probably head straight for his or her potty. You're suddenly making big progress. Keep the praise going, even if there are a few accidents.
Should you shout at or scold the pup they will think you are cross about them going to the toilet, rather than going in the wrong place. A simple detail but a world of difference. In conclusion, find an area, take the pup to it when they feel the need and then encourage them to tell you when they want to go.
Author Resource:-
Learn more about potty training puppies take a look at www.puppy-potty-training.org
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