How to House Train a Puppy | Puppy Toilet Training Tips
Struggling with toilet training your puppy? Getting your puppy to go to the toilet outside can feel like an impossible task…and for some, it genuinely is tricky. Discover why pups find it hard to go outside, the science behind their behaviour, and practical, reward-based house training tips from a certified dog trainer.
Inspiration on the Road
As I pass dog walkers or reflect on recent training sessions, I’m reminded how much there is to learn about the way dogs think. Today’s thought is all about one of the biggest struggles new puppy owners face – house training.
Why House Training Your Puppy Can Be So Hard
House Training is one of the hardest things that people struggle with their pups to get them to go outside to go to the toilet. And in some dogs, it really IS difficult. Small dogs are notoriously hard to house train. Smaller dogs often find it harder because the big, open outdoors can be intimidating. Other pups have been punished in the past (remember when people used to rub their noses in it?), and that fear makes them hide away to go in secret.
If you think about it, you’d never do that to a child — so why to a puppy? They’re just learning.
So here’s the science behind the subject of pooping and peeing.
The Science Behind Puppy Toilet Training
In the wild, dogs are very vulnerable when they are eliminating. They are crouched over and trying to poop. They can be attacked at any time. A mother with pups has to hide her litter from predators. She will eat their poop when they are very young to keep them clean. But also to keep them hidden. And pooping behind the sofa is a safety measure. When you bring your new pup home, they are now vulnerable and alone. They need to go somewhere quiet and hidden. So when your puppy sneaks behind the sofa to poop, they’re not being naughty, they’re being instinctively cautious.
Peeing, meanwhile, is about much more than relief. It’s communication. Especially for males, it’s about marking their place and feeling safe, it’s a way of saying, “this is mine.”
Puppy Pad Training - They Aren't The Enemy
Over the last few years, people have said that puppy pads are “bad”. In the old days, we used to use newspaper on the floor in the kitchen for our pups, much as you would use a potty to house train a child. The idea that if a pup uses a puppy pad, they will never go outside is ridiculous! A child using a nappy eventually learns to use a toilet. It’s the same with pads and a puppy. But it’s how you use them. And if you’re worried about being eco-friendly, buy the reusable ones. They are a godsend!
Seasonal Struggles – Why Summer Puppies Find It Harder
Lots of pups who have had access to the back garden all summer long are suddenly finding that the door is shut. Can you imagine desperately wanting to pee so much that you rush to the garden only to discover the door is closed? You’re going to pee there and then. You needed to go, so you go! I always say that autumn and winter pups are the easiest to train because we make the effort more with them due to the weather. Summer pups just get shown where to go and are allowed to wander out at will. They get a shock when the rules change, and you may find yourself having to train them all over again.
Top Tips for Successful Toilet Training Your Puppy
Daytime Routine
The first thing to realise is that a pup is not soiling on purpose or because they are being naughty. They are not doing it on purpose or to pay you back for something. A pup needs to go when they need to go. And sometimes they are too busy, and they forget.
If they have an accident, pick them up quietly and put them in the garden. Clean up the accident and say nothing. The more you fuss about it, the more you will stress out your pup. And I use a carpet cleaner or a pet-friendly cleaner to clean up. I have a spot cleaner too that I can use to get rid of the mess and the scent. If your pup returns to the same place over and over, give the flooring a good clean and watch out when they are near that space in future.
Go out with your puppy regularly — every hour at first.
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After waking up
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After eating
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After playing
You don’t always need treats — praise is powerful.
And outside, don’t clean up too quickly; leaving a little scent helps them learn where to go.
Use Puppy pads – get some and put them in the kitchen and close to where your pup sleeps. If they are in a crate overnight, put pads in half the space so they can go when they need to. As my pups get older, I move the pads closer to the door and eventually outside.
Night-time Routine
Start to reduce the amount of water they take in from about 8 pm onwards. Don’t take the water away (especially when it’s very hot), but do reduce the amount of water in the bowl to just enough to wet their mouth. You can use ice cubes to melt down overnight. And make sure they get a last pee before you go to bed. Remember if you go to bed early, they will need to get up earlier in the morning. I like my dogs to go out about 11pm for a last dash so they will go through the night.
With pups, though, you will need to set your alarm about halfway through the night, say 2 am or 3 am, for a quick comfort break. Get up, go to your pup, take them out for a pee or a poop and then take them back to bed. No conversation, no interaction, just put them back into their bed and leave them. And ignore the sounds until they settle down again. A baby monitor or a webcam is a great way to make sure they are safe.
Be consistent and just keep going. It may take a few months (usually about six months), but if you persevere, then you are more likely to get a house-trained puppy quicker.
Other Helpful Toilet Training Tips
Crate Training
Use a crate for them to sleep in. This can be controversial, and I’ll write another article about why a crate can be the best thing (or the worst) for your dog. They learn not to pee in their bedding, and if you have a pad in the crate, then they will use that. But at least they won’t pee all around the house while you’re asleep or out.
Different Surfaces
Encourage toileting on various textures, such as grass, gravel, sand, and others – it’ll make life easier later.
If your pup only uses grass to go on it will be harder to train them to go anywhere else. I go to a lot of dog shows, and there are exercise areas with sand or sawdust. My two don’t mind the sand, but they don’t like sawdust. Practice getting your dog comfortable on different surfaces.
On-lead Toilet Training
Teach your dog to eliminate while on a lead. If your puppy only goes when off lead, when you take them for a walk, they will find it very difficult. When my boy was about 12 months old, we moved into a first-floor flat, and he had to learn to “go” while on a lead. He doesn’t care if he’s on lead or off. He accepts it as normal.
New Places
If you go on holiday or move home when your dog is young (or actually any age), set a routine for going out. Like anyone starting a new job, you need to know where the loo is. Start on the first day, and keep reinforcing it. Your pup or dog might have a couple of accidents, but if they are trained with care and compassion, they will adapt.
Health Check
Finally, if your puppy is really struggling, there could be a medical reason for the issue. Getting your pup checked at the vets for an infection might seem a bit excessive, but if your pup has a problem, it’s better to find out as soon as possible.