Puppy Training Q? Please!

[Gwdihooooo]

We brought our 8 week old pup home last night, after a long journey in the car.

He weed and pooed on the hard floor in the same spot so I cleaned it up and put a puppy pad down in that area. This morning he has taken himself to that area again and done his business on the pad. He’s done this twice without prompt, which feels like success so we praised and labelled it.

But now what? Have we made things worse? Do we slowly move the pad towards the door and then outside?

We got home last night at 8 and it was dark and wet which is why we didn’t go for straight outside… should we have done that?

Puppy pads just confused them. Instead get into a schedule of taking outside every hour and lots of over the top praise when they go. That is every hour from the minute they get up to minute they go to bed. Will also probably need a few trips outside during the night at this age.

Never tell off for going inside and remember some dogs can take a few months to be reliably toilet trained.
Recommend getting the book Easy, Peasy, Puppy Squeezy for common sense advice for the early weeks and months.

I’d get rid of the pads, it’s confusing for them.

Just start taking outside very frequently - as soon as they wake up, after playing, after food, if you see them circling etc. Praise if they go outside, ignore if inside

At 8 weeks mine would go every 15/20 minutes when he was awake so be prepared to be constantly in and out for a couple of weeks!

Thank you for your advice! I’ll get rid of the pads. What are the pads for?

People who can't or won't take their puppy out really frequently. Honestly our pup was clean in the house by 11 weeks with the very odd accident. So quick.

Puppy pads have no reason to them for dogs at all. Just clever marketing. Dogs dont need them. (They are good for putting on a changing mat if you have a baby that always wee when changing the nappy though)

Even when the puppies are still with their mothers they can be taught to move to a toileting area.

The problem with puppy pads is that they have a smell impregnated in them that encourages the dogs to wee on them. Dogs sense of smell is awesome so dogs may pee in the same room as a puppy pad but not necessarily on it.

Thank you

I’ve got rid but he doesn’t wee much! Hasn’t weed since 9 am despite water being available all day

That would concern me to be honest. Is he drinking? Is he on wet or dry food? Are you sure he hasn't had a wee outside?

He’s on dry food but not eaten much. I’m putting that down to first day here settling and his breed. He’s a bedlington/whippet. They’re not typically hungry dogs.

He’s had a wee now. At about half 2

@Gwdihooooo I would expect a young puppy to be going a lot more frequently than that. Keep an eye on his drinking over the next day or so and if he isn't drinking/weeing then I would take to vet for check up. They can get dehydrated very quickly.

Puppies don't always pee constantly - it's not necessarily a sign of a problem.

Mine didn't go to the toilet much at all when he was first brought home - and when he did it was mostly outside. They are smart cookies and can learn really quickly!

Ours didn’t wee much. She doesn’t drink a lot either (our last dog didn’t). When she had a virus and ended up on a drip her kidney tests came back fine so she’s just not a big drinker or wee er. Some dogs aren’t.

Hi - just because you mentioned he went back to that same spot, did you clean it with a enzymatic cleaner?

Thank you

Ah okay, thank you. He seems happy and energetic. He has water available but isn’t a huge drinker.

We used a plant based anti bac spray by Method

Clean with something to destroy smell as PP said (use bio washing powder in meantime if you don't have anything else). I'd put something in the way of the old spot he used so he can't get there. Wrap up and get comfy outside so he has time to do his business.

If you're worried, you can check for dehydration by looking at his gums and the back of his neck.

Gently pull the skin up on the backs of his neck - it should "pop" back almost straight away. If the skin stays up, it's a sign that he's not getting enough liquid. For the gums, they should be pink and moist - if they're tacky and dry, that's a problem. If you gently press the gums - the colour should return almost instantly :)

@Gwdihooooo it has to be an enzymatic cleaner, or the pup will be able to smell the scent of his last wee/poo and continue to go in the same spot

Thanks for your replies! I’ll put some bio detergent down and get some proper stuff tomorrow. We have wood floors throughout so hopefully the smells not as strong for him as if it was carpet.

I’ll check his gums. He’s just had another wee too

Yes don't bother with puppy pads! My 7month old pup has been fully house trained since 10wks.

Just take him out every time he wakes from naps, stops playing, after meals/drinking and if he starts frantically walking about sniffing because that's usually a sign they need to go. Lots of praise when he does go on the garden.

You might also want to use a cue word as he wees/poos. Mine is "toilet" when they pick up what it means you don't have to stand around ages waiting for them to go. Mine will started sniffing around for a spot.

Enjoy your new puppy. At first it’s helpful to take the puppy outside very frequently, after playing, dozing, eating, sleeping etc but this phase won’t last too long. Remember to do gentle frequent training for just a few minutes … ‘come’ is probably the most important command for your dog, every time I was in the garden with my puppy I used to call ‘come’ in a high pitched voice and reward him with affection and a tiny bit of food when he ran up to me. Never be cross if he doesn’t come, puppies need encouragement

This is why puppies are such hard work and often comes as a shock .
Yeah I really don't understand the puppy pads thing , it just prolongs training .
Toilet training is really intense but the pay off is worth it when they learn quickly using the same spot in the garden .

@Gwdihooooo congratulations on bringing your pup home! We’ve now had our bedlington whippet puppy for ten days. She’s not been very hungry which I put down to settling in, but just changed her food and now she’s very enthusiastic! x