Toilet Training Your Dog and Puppy

Toilet training your dog should be top priority as soon as you bring your new pet home.

If you start early, these good toileting habits will last a lifetime!

Toilet Training Basics

We recommend using reward-based positive reinforcement training to help your dog learn and follow a practical toileting routine

• Choose a toileting area - Outside your house, on a pad, on the apartment balcony, on fake grass or in the laundry.

Toilet training your dog and puppy

Important tips

There are several things you need to do to complete successful toilet training.

1. Recognise when your pup needs to toilet

   They often want to go first thing in the morning, after eating and after playing so watch them closely at these times. You'll get to know the signs that your dog needs the toilet – sniffing around the area, fidgeting or circling before squatting. The dog may whine, pace, scratch the door or suddenly change activity. 
   
   

2. Get to know associations

   Your puppy or dog learns its new routine by associating toileting with a specific area. This depends on:
   
   • Smell of urine, faeces or cleaning ammonia.
   • Location, making a particular spot so important.
   • The feeling or sensation of the ground/grass beneath its paws.
   • Commands, including sounds, words and your voice.
   • Timing, including waking up and after play or food.
     
     

3. Develop a routine

   Your puppy will fit into your household more comfortably if you develop a routine with regular feeding and toileting times. Set an alarm to feed your pup then take them outside. Use the lead to guide your pup to the designated area, point and use a command to encourage them to toilet. This is not the time to play or give them cuddles – puppies are easily distracted so keep their focus on the task at hand.

4. Create a cue word

   Choose a word or phrase such as toilet, wee or go to the toilet. Use this command when your puppy shows signs of wanting to toilet and repeat it when they go to the designated area. It can be as simple as the word ‘toilet’. The dog will then be able to toilet on demand – very useful at night or when breaking a long car journey.

5. Be tolerant

   Puppies can be frustrating but it’s important to stay calm. Don’t get angry with them or punish them if they have accidents. If you adopt an older dog, the same rule applies. Many dogs from traumatic backgrounds need time to settle in. Be patient, calm and keep reinforcing the behaviour you want. Eventually the dog will get it!

6. Be positive, not negative

   Positive reinforcement training is precisely that – a system relying on praise, nurturing and rewards to deliver its message. Be sure your dog knows it’s done a great thing by toileting in the right area, at the right time. Make a fuss, talk in an upbeat way, pet, stroke and rub that tummy. If your dog is a foodie – and not on a diet – use some tasty doggie treats as a reward. Check out our range of dog treats to use as a good boy reward!

7. Toilet training aids

   You can access a variety of aids to help in toilet training your dog. Training pads, fake grass toilets and portable ‘potties’ are all available to make the process easier.

What about accidents?

Despite your best efforts, accidents will happen! According to the RSPCA, puppies may not have full bladder control until they are older.

If your pup is about to go in the wrong place, quickly and calmly attach the lead then guide them to the designated area and give the toilet command.

If you stumble across a toileting accident, resist the temptation to raise your voice or punish your pup. This can do more harm than good and delay toilet training. A scared and confused pup may be unwilling to toilet in front of you and feel the need to hide their mess.

The positive reinforcement approach advises ignoring accidents. Make sure you clean up messes using products that will neutralise the scent. Non-ammonia cleaners work well and reduce the chances of your pup returning to inappropriate places. Continue to give your furry friend lots of opportunities to go outdoors and reward them when they toilet in the right place.

So, don’t delay. Putting in the hard work at the start can lead to a lifetime of happy toileting.