posted 11-29-2003 03:53 AM         

Toilet Training Your Puppy

A young puppy needs to urinate and defaecate frequently as he has a very small bladder and bowel. This gives you as a puppy owner plenty of opportunity to praise your puppy for performing in the right area, allowing him to learn quickly. Do not punish your puppy for doing wrong. It is your responsibility to ensure that you take your puppy to the chosen toilet area as frequently as he needs to go, generally as soon as he wakes up, after every meal and at hourly intervals. Take your puppy outside, wait with him until he performs and then praise him by giving him a snack or playing with him. Whilst he is learning, it is essential that you wait with him, so that you can praise him at the correct time. Young puppies will inevitably have ‘accidents’. It is important to ignore these, and to clean up well so that the smell does not linger, as this may encourage him to repeat the performance on the same spot. Do not scold your dog for mistakes, but rather reward him when he is correct and he will soon want to go outside.

It is also possible to train your dog to urinate and defaecate on command. As he performs, add the words that you choose such as "be quick" or "busy". Your dog will then build up an association of the word with the action. It is important that you only say the words as he is actually performing. Toileting on command is very useful, as dog owners have a duty to prevent their dogs from fouling indiscriminately. Teaching your dog to toilet in your garden before you leave your home can help to prevent accidents in parks or pavements. Additionally, always ensure that you carry a scoop so that if your dog does defaecate in a public place, you can clear up.