Bringing your long-desired dog home is an exciting time. But it is not without its challenges. One of the first things you need to do is teach him where to do his needs: some puppies learn quickly how to do it, others do not. The important thing is to show a calm, consistent, and patient attitude during potty training outside the house.
In this short guide, we will see how to get your dog used to peeing and pooping away from home.
Introduce the dog to rooms and people
Just like when you arrive in a new place, or meet a new group of people, your dog may be filled with curiosity, excitement, fear or happiness: this is the best time to lay the foundation for a positive relationship.
In order for a puppy to get used to and learn to trust and respect the people who live in the house, it is very important to set your expectations and be consistent with them.
Show your pet only the areas where he is allowed to be.. Don’t let him wander off and explore on his own at first, especially if you don’t want him to go potty there. For example, if the upstairs area or bedrooms are off-limits, close them off and don’t let your puppy explore them.
Keep an eye on your puppy
While you are training your dog to go potty outside, make sure you can always keep an eye on him. This will allow you to spot the first signs that indicate that he needs to pee or poop: generally puppies start to circle, scratch and sniff, or whine, bark, or in any case suddenly change their behavior. At that point, you will have to take your puppy outside immediately.
Choose an area for his needs
It is best to choose a specific area outside and take your dog there every time he needs to do his business. A tip? Opt for an area not frequented by other dogs (at least until he has completed his vaccination cycle), quick to reach and easy to clean: your puppy will smell the urine and will begin to identify that area as his “bathroom”. To get him used to using it, the first few times you can keep him on a leash and lead him there.
Choose a specific command
Whenever you take your dog out to do his needs, and you approach the area where he can do it, use the word “go” or choose another command: this way, you will teach him to go to that specific location. The dog will soon begin to recognize the command and understand what you want him to do. Be careful, though: use that command only when you want him to go pee or poop, or you will confuse him.
Understand your puppy’s breed-specific behavior and needs
Do some research on your dog’s breed, or better yet ask your vet, so you can understand any special needs or behaviors you should be aware of and watch out for.
For example, if your puppy is a tiny Chihuahua, his bladder will be very small and he will need to urinate more frequently.
Always remember that while most dogs are very intelligent, they do not think like humans. They may not immediately understand some commands, and they certainly do not tell you that they have to do their needs: you are the one who has to understand how they communicate with you, and study the clues and signals.
Reward his successes
Always praise your puppy whenever he uses the designated area for his needs.. Use a cheerful and happy voice that lets the dog know that you enjoyed it: being consistent in this will give him an emotional encouragement to do his needs in the right place.
Make toilet time relaxing and rewarding
To encourage your dog to patiently hold back and wait for you to let him go to the bathroom, he must understand that – that moment – is pleasant: going out for a walk and doing his needs should be a rewarding experience for every animal. So do not interrupt him if he is peeing or pooping in the correct area: let him relax. Eventually, to encourage him, you could give him a small treat.
Stop Accidents (and Clean Up Right Away)
If you catch your puppy peeing or defecating in the house, make a sudden noise like clapping your hands and saying “no,” then immediately take him outside. The goal is not to scare him, but to get his attention and let him know that you disapprove what he is doing.
Don’t punish him, but: the dog does not know he is doing something wrong. Do not force your puppy to sniff and do not keep reminding him of his actions: he will not remember them and could get scared.
Instead, clean the area immediately and thoroughly to prevent the dog from wanting to go to the same place again, using an enzymatic cleaner that does not contain ammonia (urine does in fact smell like it).
Allied products
To get your dog used to doing his business outside, you can also use specific products.
PP Hurrah is an absorbent powder, to be sprinkled on your pet’s feces: in a few minutes it solidifies and can be vacuumed. Thanks to its formulation, it is a disaccustoming agent. And it will therefore discourage your puppy from returning to the place where he peed or pooped. StopPP, also with a disaccustoming action, is instead a 3 in 1 spray, which removes urine stains and their odor. Finally, PPSavoirFare is a cleaning kit in tablets to clean and sanitize urine, which can also be used outdoor in case your puppy does his business on sidewalks, roads or driveways.
