How to toilet train your dog?

When a dog appears in the house, the question arises of choosing a place for its toilet. For some reason, not all dogs are allowed outside. In addition, with respect to some breeds, there is no such need - they perfectly urinate in a tray or on a diaper, without spoiling the atmosphere in the apartment. And the owners themselves like this method: they do not need to take the animal outside up to three times a day, visiting the tray significantly saves the owner's time. The main problem, however, is toilet training.

First you need to stipulate when the animal needs a home toilet. These are mainly small dog breeds such as Pekingese, Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, Spitz, Toy Terrier. These dogs are diminutive in size and their liquid and solid waste is also small.

Another reason for puppy toilet training in the house is his early age. Experienced breeders know that before 2 months of age, the dog should not be taken outside, since only at this age can the dog cub be vaccinated. Respectively, until the end of the vaccination period, the puppy must be in the apartment at all times. In this case, you need to train your pet to use the toilet at home.

The dog can relieve the need in the house on a newspaper, on a diaper or in a litter tray. If the owner chose a special pot, then it should be a product with low sides. If the pet is a boy, then it is advisable to purchase a special design with a column in the center. As you know, males prefer to urinate near a hill, it is for this purpose that a tray with a column is needed. There is no such need for girls.

Initially, the trays were invented for cats who prefer to dig in the sand before leaving for their natural needs. Dogs do not have this need. That's why it is recommended to buy a pot with a trellis. The filler itself, which eliminates the unpleasant odor, is poured to the bottom, a net is laid on top, and a diaper or newspaper can be put on the net - this method will be more familiar to the dog.

In general, it is recommended to first train the animal to visit a diaper or newspaper, and only then buy a tray if the owner is more comfortable. You need to place the diaper in a place convenient for the pet, where he can comfortably sit. That is a place under the bedside table will not work - the dog will not be able to comfortably accommodate there.

It is better to see in advance where the puppy is most comfortable and place the diaper there.

If, over time, after vaccination, the owner plans to take the dog outside, then the place for the diaper or tray should be chosen based on the preferences of the pet itself. In the end, this is only 2-3 months, you can tolerate the desire of a new friend, but it will be more convenient for him. If a representative of a miniature breed has appeared in the house, and it is not planned to walk it, then it is necessary to accustom the animal to a domestic toilet in the place where its cleaning will be comfortable for the owner.

In general, it is better to remove all carpets and rugs from the apartment during training:

• an unintelligent puppy will not immediately feel the difference between a rug and a diaper, at first it will be confused;
• a new family member may like this activity so much that in the future it will be quite problematic to wean him off the carpet.

Typically, the preferred location for the litter box is in the toilet or hallway. Do not put the pot in the kitchen, it is unhygienic and will spoil the appetite of all household members. And also the atmosphere in the bedroom or hall will be ruined if you spread an absorbent diaper there.

But the restroom, in fact, is needed for the administration of needs. In addition, some fillers can be flushed down the drain, and the location of the pot in the toilet will greatly facilitate cleaning. In the hallway, a tray or diaper usually does not interfere either. If you need to train your dog to toilet in the house for a couple of months, then place it where it is more convenient for the animal.

Particular attention should be paid to the type of diaper. They are reusable and disposable. In the first case, they can be washed, and in the second, all that remains is to throw them away. The first option is more economical, but the second is less fiddling. Stores also offer diapers with a special attractive scent that makes it easier to toilet train your puppy.

There are varieties with antibacterial impregnation - This option is suitable for sick animals, as well as for use when traveling with a dog. There are even models with an indicator to indicate when the absorbent product needs to be replaced.

Diapers are also divided by size. Most owners prefer 60x90 cm options. These options are convenient for both puppies and adult small dogs. And also there are products 30x50 and 130x130 cm.

Some of the owners still use newspapers. The paper absorbs urine well, but it does not eliminate the smell and is not very reliable - liquid waste can leak. In addition, you may need a lot of newspapers, because you need to change them after each visit of the dog to the toilet.But the newspaper can help out once, if the diapers suddenly run out, and the owner did not have time to buy them. And also the newspaper will help in training the puppy to the litter box.

Avoid placing the dog's litter box next to a bed or food bowls. And it will also be a mistake to install the tray in a room where there are many toys of interest to the puppy - these objects will distract the pet from the act of defecation in the right place.

Here are the general rules for training a dog to a litter box or diaper.

• The owner should not be rude and even more cruel during training. It is allowed to scold a pet, the voice should be strict, firm, but not angry.
• "Grandfather's" way of training to the tray is unacceptable. This refers to the method of poking your nose into a puddle. You can slightly bend your pet's head to the puddle and put it in the right place.
• You need to punish the dog immediately after it misplaced. If time passes after her misbehavior, then she will not understand why she received disapproval.
• If the puppy is punished for his misbehavior, then after five minutes you should not feel sorry for him and apologize for being too strict. Don't confuse love and discipline.
• The greatest help in training will be provided by a treat that can be used to reward a pet that has done its job in the right place.

The first stage is diaper training. It is important to put the bedding in one place and not move it anywhere. For the first time, you can spread the diapers around the house so that the dog understands their purpose. Gradually, the number of diapers can be reduced, eventually leaving only one, which will become the permanent place of the pet's toilet.

But if the owner, for example, wants to move the dog's toilet a little because of the purchase of new furniture, then this should be done gradually, a couple of centimeters a day, so that the dog does not notice a big difference. Do not place the diaper where there are soft surfaces, or the puppy will mistake them for an alternative toilet.

Sit down after every meal or after sleeping. Make sure that for a long time the puppy sat on the diaper and did not leave it. As soon as he relieves himself in the right place, praise him, stroke him, treat him with a treat, but do this only after the process of urination or defecation is complete, otherwise the dog child will not understand why he was praised.

For the first time, reward your dog with a treat every time he goes to the toilet on a diaper. As soon as the result is fixed, the delicacy can be offered less and less, as a result, completely removed from the training process - after all, the animal has already learned everything that the owner wanted.

As a rule, the tray is placed in the same place where the diaper was placed. At first, it is recommended to place a piece of napkin soaked in dog urine in the tray. So the animal will determine by smell where you can go to the toilet. A puppy accustomed to a diaper or newspaper will quickly get used to it if you put his usual bedding on top of the grate.

If you fail to potty train your dog, then perhaps the wrong conditions have been created.

Let's list the most common mistakes made by owners.

• Perhaps the owner bought a tray with high sides - this design is inconvenient for dogs, and it is uncomfortable for them to be behind high walls.
• The tray size may not fit either. For example, the owner bought a miniature pot for the puppy, but the pet is growing and it becomes uncomfortable for him to visit such a small toilet.
• It may be that the owner rarely cleans the litter box, and it’s easier for a clean dog to go to the toilet next to the pot than to enter his waste.
• If all the conditions are met, the dog has become accustomed to the litter box, but suddenly stopped visiting it, then this may indicate her poor health. It is necessary to take the animal to a veterinarian. The pet may be sick.Most often, refusal from the tray indicates diseases of the genitourinary organs.

If the owner is too busy a person, and he does not have the opportunity to clean the tray after each visit by the dog, then you can leave two or even three trays in his absence. Then the pet will not have to endure while waiting for the pot to be cleaned, and it does not go to an unnecessary place.

Another effective way of training is to keep your dog in sight at all times. This is possible if you are in the same room with the puppy all the time. In this case, the owner "will not miss" the moment when the baby wants to relieve himself. A special home aviary will also help to limit free space.

You can create an impromptu aviary yourself. Craftsmen can use chipboard, and those who cannot boast of carpentry skills can instead of an aviary put metal fences around the perimeter of the room. A bed, toilet, bowl, drinker and toys are placed inside such a corral. The closed space method is used by many dog ​​breeders and greatly facilitates the process of house toilet training.

Another method often used when teaching a dog to use a diaper or litter box is the use of special tools.

These products work by containing components that cause the reflex to go to the toilet in dogs. These are safe drugs that are allowed for home use, their elements do not harm either people or animals. High concentration significantly reduces consumption.

The most popular remedies, judging by the reviews of dog owners, are products "Smart Spray" Api-San, "BioVax", Puppy Trainer. The principle of use is to spray the substance into the place where, according to the owner's idea, the dog should relieve himself.

There are also drugs of the opposite effect. On the contrary, they are used to disaccustom an animal to visit a certain place in the house as a toilet. For example, you can spray a corner of a sofa or a doorframe that your pet has chosen with this spray. The composition of the product contains substances that are unpleasant for the dog's sense of smell, which scare it away.

Popular weaning aids include sprays "Antipis" and "Antigadin". By the way, you can use folk recipes according to the same principle. For example, alcohol, vinegar, citrus fruits, peppers, baking soda have deterrent properties for a dog.

The most important advice from experienced breeders concerns the age of the pet that is planned to be diaper or litter trained. So, the very first lessons should be held from the first day the puppy appears in the house. This is usually 1.5-2 months of age.

If the owner noticed that the new pet is urinating in the bathroom, and the owner does not like it, for hygienic reasons, then it is necessary to close the doors to the bathroom so that the dog cannot get there anymore. When picking up a puppy from a breeder, ask the seller what kind of toilet the cub used in his house. At first, equip your baby with the type of toilet that is familiar to him.

Another good advice from the experts is to keep a diary of your dog's toilet visits. Write down what time the animal prefers to urinate and perform the bowel movement. Also, feed your pet one at a time. These methods will allow you to always know at what time the puppy will want to go to the toilet and take him to the diaper on time.And also it is worth knowing that usually puppies prefer to relieve themselves after waking up and 10-20 minutes after eating, bowel movements often occur after eating or after active play.

You can also tell what a dog wants to use by looking at its behavior. The following signs indicate that the puppy wants to relieve himself:

• the animal sniffs the territory around it;
• the puppy whines and even squeals a little, especially if he is already accustomed to the diaper, but cannot find it in any way;
• he walks around him, seems alarmed and worried, begins to sit down.

Noticing all these actions, grab the baby and sit on the diaper or in the tray.

The main recommendations of breeders relate to the mood of the owner. Be patient and don't ask the impossible from your dog. Even children cannot be potty trained for years, but here is a puppy, the same child, only a dog, so you should not expect that on the very first day the pet will go to the toilet in the right place. The litter training process can take months.

In the following video, you will learn a few rules and practical tips for toilet training from a breeder.