Puppy Obedience Training

Before you even bring your new puppy home, you should decide on how you are going to toilet train your puppy.  Puppy toilet training should play a very important part in your overall puppy obedience training plan.  Bear in mind that your small, cute and cuddly puppy will soon grow into a full size dog that is full of energy and spirit . So have a solid puppy toilet training plan now and avoid the pain and upheaval of living with a unruly dirty dog! 

First of all decide where you want your puppy to relieve himself.  If you want you puppy to go to the toilet in the garden and you have enough space, chose a secluded place for your puppy to go to the toilet.  Dogs like to be private when doing their business so chose a fairly secluded space in your garden where he will feel comfortable and safe. Make sure your puppy always uses his designated place in the garden to relieve himself.  You do not want to allow your puppy to urinate and defecate all over your garden, especially if you have children.  Keep his toilet area clean and washed down with suitable cleaning fluid.

Plan your puppy toilet training routine around your puppy’s needs.  Watch out for the signs that your puppy wants to relieve himself.  Usually he will start sniffing around or walking round and round in circles.  In time you will get to know what signs are that he wants to go to the toilet.  When you notice this behaviour put him outside immediately, even if he has started to urinate already  Do not scold him for his mistakes, instead praise him when he gets it right and goes to the toilet outside. Puppies have very weak bladders and normally need to urinate about every hour or so and also if they have been playing and running around or getting overexcited.  So anticipate his needs and put him outside every hour or so and also after he has been playing or has been overexcited. 

Feed your puppy at regular intervals   Do not leave food down for your puppy all day. Pick up his food bowl after he has finished eating, but make sure he always has fresh drinking water.   Take him outside 30 to 40 minutes after he has finished his meal.  Aways accompany your puppy outside and praise him when he does his business.

If you are going to leave your puppy at home alone for any length of time, make sure you put him in a puppy proof room and leave newspaper down for him to relieve himself on.  Or if you have decided to crate train your puppy, put him in his crate whilst he is alone at home.  If your puppy does have an accident and you find a puddle on the floor,  please do not scold your puppy. Your puppy will not understand why he is being scolded.  Accidents are going to happen especially when your puppy is very young.

Always lavish lots of praise on your puppy when he gets it right. Puppies love praise and they will do their very best to please you.  So do have patience and persevere with your puppy toilet training, it will be well worth it in the end!