Why toilet training can fail

When puppies are so small with their small little bladders that can’t hold on, we carry them to their toileting area.

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 so it’s important that as soon as they have the bladder and physical strength that we ask them to walk to the spot themselves - you will often really need to encourage that even if you bribe them with a treat.

Foster puppy, Jason was carried for about 3-4 weeks and then he was bribed with treats to get there himself.

He’s always rewarded after toileting in the right spot but we never say anything until he’s finished otherwise he will stop.

He’s not 100% toilet trained yet, I think he was raised in a box or similar where he would have eaten, slept and toileted in the same area just like what happens at puppy farms and pet shops - this can make toilet training take so much longer.

✅ 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀

🔅 Don’t use puppy pads unless absolutely necessary - they are often used in place of actual training if the dog doesn’t live in an apartment or similar.

🔅 Watch your puppy like a hawk, so you can try and catch any accidents before they happen.

🔅 Accidents are your fault not the dogs so never yell at or punish a puppy for not understanding this behaviour that you haven’t successfully taught yet. Never rub their nose in it - this is disgusting and actual animal abuse - all it will teach them is to be afraid of you.

🔅 Don’t scare them dog when it has accidents as all it will teach them is to hide somewhere when they toilet.

🔅 Clean up accidents with a special urine cleaning spray otherwise your dog will return to the same spot to toilet again.

🔅 Make it a rewarding event - always have treats in your pocket.

🔅 Close off areas in your house where you aren’t so there are less chances for accidents.

🔅 After waking up, eating and sleeping, puppies typically need to toilet. Take them to their spot and say your cue word ie “Go Toilet” and then don’t further interact with them until they go. You may need to walk around a little to encourage them to move from your side. As soon as they go, say “good toilet” calmly but if you find that stops them mid-stream, wait until they have finished before giving praise next time. Giving a treat can really seal the deal but can cause them to do short wees to get a treat so watch for that trick!

🔅 Crate training is a valuable skill to teach a puppy and can really speed up toilet training so be sure to look up how to guides.

❇️ 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀.

Some puppies will need you to take them out 1-2 times overnight for the first month, others will sleep through. Planing your meal time’s and picking up the water bowl an hour before bed can be helpful.

👉 Generally most puppies will be toilet trained by 4-5 months but don’t slacken off your training, keep it going until there have been no accidents for 2 months.

👌 Buying your puppy from a good breeder who values the toilet training process as much as you is a fab idea because they'll get the process started! Dogs in foster care often have the process started too.