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How do I house train my puppy?<\/h2>\n
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To toilet train your puppy, you\u2019ll have to follow the same logic their mother has already taught them.<\/p>\n
No not you, their other mother (the one with four legs). Especially when born inside a home-reared environment, puppies\u2019 mothers have already done the first steps of toilet training for you by teaching that the toilet is not the same place they sleep, so they\u2019ll need to move their bums from place to place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When they arrive at your home, you\u2019ll simply have to start off with the same lesson. Before your puppy gets home, make sure you decide on your puppy\u2019s sleeping area and toilet area and we need to continue with that process as soon as we get them home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Check out our full guide to toilet training a puppy<\/a> for more detailed information on getting started.\u00a0<\/p>\n As you may have already realized, house training a puppy will be quite an adventure. And like any respectable adventure story, the suspense from the multiple things that can go wrong makes it rather exciting, frankly.\u00a0<\/p>\n What we\u2019re trying to say is that at the end of the day, your puppy\u2019s accidents are part of your story together. They\u2019re also opportunities for improvement!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n PRO TIP:<\/strong> Keep a record of mistakes on your planner, to be more aware of what needs work.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n For puppy house training, it takes two to tango. The fastest way to succeed is to keep both of you on\u00a0a strict routine\u00a0based on sleeping, eating, playing, and exercise, and toilet breaks.<\/p>\n Relax, we know it sounds like the army, but it\u2019s not.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a few things to keep in mind for your routine.<\/p>\n Toilet training is based on this simple idea: what goes in must go out.<\/p>\n Puppies have small digestive systems, so getting their feeding times on\u00a0a regular schedule<\/a> is key for more regular trips to the loo. For you, this might make it a lot easier to plan your day ahead for toilet breaks and playtime.<\/p>\n Give them twenty minutes to eat. If they eat, splendid. If they don\u2019t, then no large snacks until their next meal.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s not that you don\u2019t trust them yet. Well, maybe it is. But it\u2019s totally fair.<\/p>\n Watching your puppy the entire day to succeed in house training might be a bit much to ask, but in case you need to place your attention elsewhere, make sure your puppy is:<\/p>\n Basically, anywhere you can see them from the corner of your eye. That way you can jump into action faster than Bond.<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n PRO TIP: <\/strong>For everyone\u2019s good (including your shoes and soft carpet floor) don\u2019t let your puppy wander around the house if you\u2019re not watching them. The day will come where you’ll be able to live together in full trust. For now, staying in a crate or playpen is the best idea.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n A cue word, sometimes called a command, is a set phrase that reminds your puppy that you want them to go to the toilet.<\/p>\n It can be pretty much anything \u2013 \u201cNeed the privy?\u201d, \u201cLet\u2019s go for a wee\u201d, or \u201cPee pee time\u201d are quite popular. But feel free to let your creativity run loose, perhaps you can think of a better one.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n No matter what your cue is, ensure everyone in your household uses the same phrase so that it\u2019s reliable for your puppy.<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n PRO TIP:<\/strong> Try saying the cue AS your puppy is about to go, or going into the toilet area. This will clear things up even more.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n You\u2019ll see, it\u2019s only a matter of time until your toilet cue works like a magic word.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Before we waffle on about everything you need to know about your training schedule, take note of these three points you\u2019ll need to follow to to make it through:<\/p>\n Let\u2019s give it a go then.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Yep, it\u2019ll be an early one.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n PRO TIP: <\/strong>Jotting down your puppy\u2019s toilet habits is a good way to work out when they\u2019ll need the toilet next. With time, planning your daily routine will become an easier task.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Feed your puppy their breakfast out of an activity feeder. These are great for puppies to:\u00a0<\/p>\n Kongs\u00a0<\/a>or\u00a0puzzle feeders<\/a>\u00a0are good choices \u2013 trying out both could be a good way to see which they like best.<\/p>\n Take them to their toilet area and go through the toilet training process: \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Cue word \u2013 wait \u2013 success \u2013 reward!\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n After breakfast and toilet break, spend some quality time together by playing or working on a few training exercises. Five to ten minutes should do just fine, no need to have the Full Monty.<\/p>\n Chasing\u00a0toys on the floor, practicing handling or grooming exercises or working on crate training<\/a> exercises are good examples of activities you can do during these times throughout the day.<\/p>\n We weren\u2019t joking. Remember:\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Cue word \u2013 wait \u2013 success \u2013 reward!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n After you\u2019ve brilliantly fed, entertained and taken your puppy to the toilet, a nap sounds about right. Not for you silly goose, for your puppy, of course.\u00a0<\/p>\n Place their crate or bed next to you, and let them doze off.<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n You know how it goes:<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Cue word \u2013 wait \u2013 success \u2013 reward!\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n PRO TIP:<\/strong> If your puppy doesn\u2019t look like they fancy the toilet after 10 minutes of waiting, have a round of play to get their insides moving.\u00a0 Starting to sound a little like a poop factory by now. As soon as they go, you know what to do: Cue word \u2013 wait \u2013 success \u2013 reward!\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Time for their second meal of the day<\/p>\n And yes. Repeat the cycle you\u2019d just done a few hours before:<\/p>\n Toilet break, play time, toilet break, nap time, toilet break.<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Dinner or lunch is sometimes the best time to give them their largest meals of the day because they\u2019re more likely to go for a poo before bedtime \u2013 and not during.<\/p>\n Nope, you\u2019re not done. Go ahead, and repeat the house-training cycle.<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n To reduce the chance of middle-of-the night toilet visits from happening, schedule supper at 7:00 pm at the latest. In between supper and bedtime, they\u2019ll have enough time to go through the last round of their house-training routine before zonking down for the night.<\/p>\n This time, as we get closer to bedtime, it will be much better to skip playing games, and instead, relax and start winding down to get into the right mood for a deep sleep.\u00a0 Follow that up with a final toilet visit, and Bob\u2019s your uncle.<\/p>\n All that\u2019s left is bedtime.<\/p>\n Jolly good.<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Did they sleep through the night? Marvellous.<\/p>\n If not, there\u2019s nothing to worry about. Is there a puddle of wee somewhere that isn\u2019t the toilet? Try your hardest not to get the hump. There will be plenty of opportunities to improve!<\/p>\n What we\u00a0can\u00a0<\/i>advise you for future successes, is to carry them to the toilet as soon as you hear some shuffling around at any point during the night. It\u2019s highly likely that they\u2019ll struggle to hold it in until they reach the toilet, so avoid any delays by giving them a ride on the toilet-training express.\u00a0<\/p>\n After all that\u2019s done, well, let us say good morning. Welcome to Day 2.\u00a0<\/p>\n Now, just carry on the same routine as Day 1. Good luck!<\/p>\n Here\u2019s one more thing. Don\u2019t worry, it\u2019s not more than you can chew.\u00a0<\/p>\n Just make sure to take them to their toilet area every half an hour when they\u2019re awake, as well as the key times we mentioned earlier:<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Hello again.<\/p>\n Follow the routine in the same order as Day 2, and you may perhaps start noticing how you and your puppy are seeing more eye to eye about your daily routine.\u00a0<\/p>\n On your part, you\u2019ll be getting more used to the nightly and early morning wake ups. Your puppy will be more accustomed to the midnight potty express ride when feeling like going to the loo.<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n PRO TIP: <\/strong>In your midnight visits to the loo, make sure that interactions are kept to the minimum. No fun allowed (til morning, of course).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Have you been checking your planner? Can you start to see patterns? Not inside the poo as if you\u2019re telling the future, but in terms of when (and where) they\u2019re going? Is it immediately after eating or does it need more time to brew?<\/p>\n Asking yourself these questions is important to become more strategic in your toilet training game plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n On Day 4, you\u2019ll want to keep doing the same as Day 3. By now, you may notice your puppy getting more engaged at playtime or training, as he becomes more comfortable with their surroundings.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hurray! You\u2019re succeeding in making your puppy feel truly at home. Adorable.<\/p>\n As this happens, keep practicing crate or confinement training exercises. We agree someone should work on their design to look less like prisons but until the day that comes, working hard to associate them with positive emotions is just what we\u2019ll have to do.<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n Well done!\u00a0<\/p>\n Your puppy should be well on its way to having the ultimate good manners and polite toilet etiquette.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve probably surpassed the Queen\u2019s Corgis\u2019 at this point.<\/p>\n So here we are.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the end of this terribly long (but marvellous) house training guide.\u00a0<\/p>\n The question you\u2019ve probably asked yourself \u2013 can you toilet train a puppy in 7 days?\u00a0 \u2013 is technically for you to answer based on how well the training goes.<\/p>\n Ooh didn\u2019t see that one coming, did you?<\/p>\n Just kidding. The number of days, until it gets done right, doesn\u2019t really matter in the end. All we can say is that by sticking to our advice, tips, and guidance, you\u2019ll be well on your way to a house-trained puppy.<\/p>\n We know you can feel defeated, challenged and tired, but you\u2019ll be surprised how quickly your puppy learns. Someday, it will all make sense.\u00a0<\/p>\n Until then, you know what they say \u2013 every dog has its day.<\/p>\n So now you know how to toilet train a puppy in 7 days! Looking for more great training tips and advice<\/a>? Check out our week-by-week puppy training schedule<\/a>, next.<\/p>\n \n\n\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Be aware: Mistakes sometimes happen!<\/h3>\n
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Getting started with house training your puppy in 7 days<\/h2>\n
Feeding times<\/h3>\n
Supervision is key<\/h3>\n
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Teach a cue word<\/h3>\n
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\nHow to use cue words for house training:<\/i><\/h4>\n
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How to toilet train a puppy in 7 days<\/h2>\n
Day 1\u00a0<\/h2>\n
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5:00 -6:00 am: Wake up\u00a0<\/i><\/h3>\n
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6:00-7:00 am: Breakfast time\u00a0<\/i><\/h3>\n
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Toilet break\u00a0<\/h3>\n
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Play time<\/h3>\n
Toilet Break, again.<\/h3>\n
Nap Time<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nToilet Break, once more.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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11:00 am: Brunch<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3:00 pm: Dinner time<\/i><\/h3>\n
7:00 pm (latest): Supper<\/i><\/h3>\n
Day 2<\/h2>\n
5:00 -6:00 am: Wake up\u00a0<\/i><\/h3>\n
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Day 3<\/h2>\n
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Day 4<\/h2>\n
Day 5, 6 and 7<\/h2>\n