Toilet training

[sarah8484]

I have a 10 week old puppy. Had him just over a week. I have puppy pads in every room but puppy is just not using them. He will wee/poo inches away from the puppy pads. On the odd occasion he has used the puppy pads ive gave lots of praise and fuss. Any tips please?

[mumderland]

Stop using them. It just makes it ok for them to toilet in the house. Puppy needs to be taken outside first thing in a morning, every 30 minutes, after play times and last thing at night. Stay outside with them until they've gone and then lots of praise and reward. Our DDog was house trained after a week because I refuse to clean up mess from my carpets so I was very strict with it.

[BiteyShark]

I too would ditch the pads. I know some people swear by them but I wouldn't praise any dog for toileting inside as it's mixed messages.

Start again from scratch and clean up all areas he has been with special enzyme solution. Then take him out after every meal, drink, sleep and play and frequently inbetween. Make sure you praise like mad when he goes outside.

[mumderland]

Also look out for the signs he's about to go. If you see him circling quickly pick him up and take him out

[StillMedusa]

I echo the others... get rid of the pads! A puppy cant tell the difference between 'ok soft surface' and 'carpet'..you want him to learn that outside is the ONLY place to go.
Take him every 20 minutes.. literally 20 mins. And as soon as he wakes up from a nap, after playing, after eating... mooch round the garden in your wellies and coat and he will go at some point. Then praise (but I wouldn't treat as some dogs learn to do half wees for treats!)

At night sleep next to him..soon as he stirs, out you go. It's labour intensive for a week or so but it is SO much easier than clearing up poo and wee! We got our pup at 9 weeks and only ever missed 3 wees inside and never a poo..she's 6 months now, and the first 2 weeks passed in a blur of exhaustion ..but my carpets are fine!

[sarah8484]

He's only had his first injection so far. Is he ok to go in the garden without having his full course of injections?

[AutisticPenguin]

In my house puppies toilet outside from the word go. No puppy pads or newspaper. They sleep in a box in the bedroom at first and we get up in the night to take them out if they cry. Very strict. Watch them like a hawk and only empty puppies get free play! If unsupervised time is needed (empty) puppy goes in a crate so they will (usually) hold it (age appropriate expectations for holding it apply). Tonnes of praise when they go outside, cleverest puppy in whole wide world have some chicken.

Most start asking to go out within a couple of weeks of this method. All adult dogs horrified by the thought of toileting inside even under squitty bum or busting for wee extremis. No telling off ever been required.

Ditch the pads!

(The easiest to toilet train pup I ever had, has had this process started by the breeder. The whole litter was crate trained, came to call and toiletted outside at 7 weeks old! Took about a week to generalise the knowledge to our house and never had an accident since. God bless that breeder!!)

[Wolfiefan]

Ditch the pads. If you have a private garden then your pup can go out.
Puppies don’t know where to go to the toilet. Training means getting them outside when they need to go. After food, sleep, play and every half an hour. On a lead. Not just putting pup out. Praise when pup goes outside. It’s hard work!!

[WomaninBoots]

Do any unvaccinated adult dogs use your garden as a toilet?

[MustardScreams]

Yes puppies are fine to go in the garden before full vaccinations.

You need to take pup out after every drink, every eat, sleep, and playtime and then every 30 mins in between. Say ‘have a wee!’ in a nice voice as they’re outside to associate that saying with using the toilet. And then praise (no treats or they may only start weeing/pooing for food!)

I’ve done this with all my dogs and take about 3-4 weeks of constant training and they get it with minimal accidents after that. Consistency is key here.

[MustardScreams]

Oh yes you need to be out with pup supervising every time, don’t leave them to their own devices or they can’t learn what to do.

[BiteyShark]

Unless your garden is like the local park where any dog can come and go yes I would take him out to toilet in the garden.

[sarah8484]

@WomaninBoots my boyfriends friend has brought his dog round on a few occasions. Not sure if his dog has been vaccinated. The dog hasn't been round for a couple of months now. Would it still be ok to take my dog out?

[lastqueenofscotland]

Yes it will be fine

[WomaninBoots]

Yes I would say the risk is still very very low. It's only really if unknown, unvaccinated dogs were frequent visitors (like it was a communal garden, or open onto the street or similar) that I would worry. If it's your own private garden it really is very low risk and I've never heard a vet advise to not let them on the ground in your own garden.