Despite what many uninformed people think, dogs are among the cleanest animals to have around. For example, they will never eliminate near the place where they eat or sleep. However, when it comes to a dog experiencing living in a house or apartment for the first time, things can be quite intimidating as well as disorienting at first. So, in order for your dog to learn how to react properly every time a certain instinct kicks in, they need both permanent guidance and the company of their owner (that would be you).
And this is especially true when it comes to toilet training dogs. Also known as potty training, toilet training dogs is one of the first things any dog owner should teach her or his pet, especially considering that when they are puppies, dogs need to relieve themselves very often, for example, like after every meal, a nap and playtime.
Also, in the absence of an older dog, toilet training your dog becomes more demanding, since you will have to remain near him as long as possible. This is because the training process needs to be implemented at the earliest possible stage in the dog’s life. At this stage, the young dog will develop most of their lasting bonds with their owner as well as give them clues as to the ways in which he will behave. A good example of the toilet training dog procedure is that when your dog is about to eliminate, he will often start sniffing for a good location. The moment you see this, you have to take him out to the garden or any designated spot and let him go until he is done. After that, always give your dog some positive reinforcement for a job well done by praising him profusely.
Another important step worth mentioning when toilet training dogs is that you should never interrupt your dog when they are in the middle of “doing their business” since it can alter the way in which they learn. While toilet training dogs, it is also advisable to implement a “safe” area for your dog, where you will allow your dog to eliminate. This area should be easy to clean and as near your garden (if you have one) as possible. On the other hand, when toilet training dogs in an apartment you should designate a closed space covered in puppy pads for your dog to do their business if you are not planning on walking them every time they need to eliminate.
It is also of utmost importance when toilet training dogs to always take your dog to the same place to eliminate. This is due to dogs discharging pheromones whenever they relieve themselves, which later will serve as a trigger to facilitate the reaction they have to that particular spot whenever they need to relieve themselves.
Of course, from time to time, as with any kind of learning, accidents will happen, especially when toilet training dogs. In these cases, the only thing to do is to immediately correct it. However, many dog owners believe that correcting equals punishing. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you physically punish you dog you will only be teaching him to hide from you whenever he needs to eliminate. To properly correct any accident while toilet training dogs, the appropriate procedure is to scoop up the remains and take them along with your dog to the garden or other previously designated spot for him to see.
Then just make him smell it and praise him as if he had done it right. And you know what? With time and patience he will eventually will!
