Puppy toilet training

Toilet training is one of the first things you'll work on when bringing home a puppy. It can also be one of the first things to test your patience.

The good news is that puppies generally want to get it right. They just need time to learn where they're supposed to go and enough opportunities to get there before it's too late.

Expect a few accidents along the way. They're a normal part of raising a puppy.

Start with a routine

The easiest way to toilet train a puppy is to give them plenty of opportunities to go in the right place.

Young puppies have small bladders and need to toilet much more frequently than adult dogs. When your puppy is awake, take them outside regularly rather than waiting for them to ask.

There are also particular times when a puppy is more likely to need to go.

Take your puppy outside:

• When they wake up
• After eating or drinking
• After playing or getting excited
• After spending time in their crate or pen
• Before going to bed
• Whenever you notice signs that they might be looking for somewhere to toilet

Very young puppies may also need a toilet break during the night.

As your puppy gets older and their bladder control improves, they'll gradually be able to wait longer between trips outside.

Choose a toilet spot

Having a regular place to take your puppy can make training easier.

Take them to the same general area outside and give them some time to sniff around.

At first, keep things fairly boring. If you immediately start playing, your puppy may become distracted and completely forget why you've brought them outside.

Wait quietly and let them get on with it.

Once they've been to the toilet, that's a great time for praise, a small treat and perhaps a bit of play.

Reward them straight away

Timing matters when you're teaching a puppy.

When your puppy toilets in the right place, reward them as soon as they've finished. You want them to make the connection between going to the toilet outside and something good happening.

Food rewards are particularly useful because most puppies understand the value of a tasty treat very quickly.

If you wait until you've gone back inside to give them the treat, your puppy may have no idea what they're being rewarded for.

You can also introduce a simple cue such as "toilet" while they're going. With enough repetition, many dogs eventually learn what the word means, which can be very handy when you're standing outside in the rain waiting for them to get on with it.

Learn the signs

You'll gradually get better at spotting when your puppy needs to go.

Common signs include:

• Sniffing the floor more than usual
• Circling or pacing
• Wandering away from whatever they were doing
• Becoming restless
• Heading towards a door
• Whining
• Suddenly stopping during play

Sometimes the warning will be obvious. Sometimes you'll get about three seconds.

If you think they need to go, take them outside.

Supervision makes things much easier

When your puppy has free run of the house, it's surprisingly easy for them to disappear around a corner and have an accident without you noticing.

Keeping them nearby while they're awake makes it easier to spot the signs.

Baby gates and puppy pens can help you manage which areas of the house they can access while they're learning.

A crate can also be useful if your puppy has been properly introduced to one and is comfortable spending time there. It should be a safe and positive place for your puppy to rest, never somewhere they're sent as punishment.

Puppies shouldn't be left in a crate for long periods simply because they aren't toilet trained.

What should I do when my puppy has an accident?

Clean it up and move on.

Don't yell, rub their nose in it or punish them. Your puppy isn't having an accident to annoy you, and punishment can make toilet training harder.

They may simply learn that going to the toilet in front of you gets them into trouble. That can lead to puppies hiding when they need to go rather than understanding where you actually want them to toilet.

If you catch your puppy starting to go inside, calmly interrupt them if you can and take them outside to their toilet area. If they've already finished, there's nothing useful to be gained from telling them off.

The accident is usually a sign that they needed another opportunity to go outside.

Clean accidents properly

Dogs have a much better sense of smell than we do.

Even when you can't smell anything, your puppy may still be able to detect where they've previously toileted. That scent can encourage them to use the same spot again.

An enzymatic cleaner designed for this purpose can help break down the compounds responsible for the smell.

Follow the directions on the product and make sure whatever you're using is suitable for the surface you're cleaning.

What about puppy pads?

Puppy pads can be useful in some situations, particularly if getting outside quickly is difficult.

They can also create an extra step in training if your eventual goal is for your puppy to always toilet outside.

If you have easy access to a secure outdoor area, taking your puppy directly to the place where you'd ultimately like them to toilet can make the rules clearer from the beginning.

For apartment living or other situations where outdoor access is more complicated, talk to your vet or a reward-based dog trainer about a setup that will work for your home.

Toilet training overnight

Don't expect a very young puppy to automatically make it through the entire night.

Take them outside shortly before bed and be prepared for overnight toilet trips while they're young.

Keep nighttime trips quiet and uneventful. Take your puppy to their toilet spot, give them the opportunity to go, reward them when they do and head back inside.

This helps them learn that 3am is toilet time, not the beginning of an exciting new game.

As they grow, most puppies will gradually be able to sleep for longer without needing to go outside.

How long does toilet training take?

There's no exact timeframe.

Some puppies pick it up remarkably quickly. Others take weeks or months before they're consistently reliable, particularly when they're excited, distracted or adjusting to a new environment.

You may also have periods where everything seems to be going perfectly followed by an unexpected accident.

Keep giving your puppy opportunities to succeed even when you think they've got the hang of it.

Eventually you'll realise you haven't cleaned up an accident for quite a while, and all those trips outside will have paid off.

What if toilet training suddenly goes backwards?

If your puppy was reliably toilet trained and suddenly starts having frequent accidents, don't automatically assume they've forgotten their training.

Changes in routine, a new environment, excitement or stress can sometimes cause setbacks.

There can also be a medical reason.

Urinary tract problems, gastrointestinal issues and other health conditions can affect toileting. If there's a sudden change in your puppy's habits, they're urinating unusually frequently, have diarrhoea, appear uncomfortable or you're otherwise concerned, speak to your vet.

Be patient

Toilet training involves a lot of repetition.

Take your puppy outside frequently, watch for the signs that they need to go and make a big deal of it when they get things right.

When accidents happen, clean them up properly and think about whether you missed an opportunity to take your puppy outside.

With a consistent routine and plenty of rewards, your puppy will gradually work out exactly where you want them to go.