House training a new puppy or a shelter dog is the first thing you need to do when you come home. Yet, like many things in dog training, it is not an easy task to do. Now, today, we will talk about some tips and tricks on how to toilet train a puppy in 7 days.
We have to mention, some puppies might need more time than others. Females generally take more days to accept to potty train. And then you have to look at breeds like a German Shepherd or a Golden Retriever that instantly learn.
But do not worry. With a few basic rules, you can potty train a puppy easily. It is worth noting that puppies and small dogs have smaller bladders. They need a potty break more often than older dogs. And even after the initial toilet training, some dogs might need more time training.
The Five Basic Rules
Before we get to some tips and how to toilet train a puppy in 7 days, we have to look over some basic rules. Remember these rules, and have them in the back of your head while you are potty training your young puppies.
- Always supervise or contain your dog while house training
- Take your dog out at regular intervals and after eating, drinking, playing, or sleeping in the beginning
- Use positive reinforcement and reward young puppies for doing potty outside
- Do not punish your puppy or older dog for having a potty accident inside. This will make your pee scared of you
- Learn and pay attention to the warning signs. Be ready to take your dog out when they need to go
What Do You Need?
If you are a novice dog owner, you are probably wondering what you need to do to train your young puppy to go outside. Well, do not worry. It is all basic and simple things.
- Collar or harness
- Long leash
- Two dog litter boxes or two frames holding potty pads
- Tasty treats
- Carpet cleaner for pet stains
- Lots of love and affection
When To Start?
The moment you enter your home. A lot of pet parents make the mistake of waiting to start toilet training. But dog training starts the moment you get your new puppy, and you enter your home.
Now, usually, you get puppies that are already 8 to 9 weeks old. In the beginning, the puppies’ mother is the one that toilet trains them. She will nudge her young puppies off the surface they eat and sleep on whey they wish to relieve.
If your puppy has been exposed to the potty training process, they quickly learn how to distinguish the surface they eat and sleep from the surface they need to go for a toilet break.
Establishing A Routine
Now let’s get to the part about how to toilet train a puppy in 7 days. Well, it is all about routine. No matter if you have a young puppy or an older dog, as a dog owner, you need to establish a routine. Dogs thrive on routine.
And if you want to prevent a potty accident, routine is the way to go. But to do that, you need to learn when puppies relieve themselves. Remember, young puppies do not have good bladder control.
That means that young puppies can usually hold it for two to three hours. Anything longer and you might experience an accident. So, what should you do? Here are some tips.
Step 1 – Take Your Puppy Outside Frequently
We mentioned this before, but when you are trying to potty train a puppy, you need to take it out frequently. Puppies hold it for up to two to three hours. They also pee or poop after sleeping and after eating/drinking. So, take that into account for your schedule.
Step 2 – Pick A Bathroom Spot Outside
When they are young, puppies stick to a certain potty spot. It works your way, as you do not need to walk for hours trying to find the perfect spot for your dog.
So, in the beginning, take your puppy outside on a leash and lead it to that particular spot. Praise your pet when they finish the job. And after potty, you can play some games or take your dog on a long walk. This teaches your puppy that rewards like playing come after finishing the potty task.
Step 3 – Reward, Reward, And Reward Some More
Reward your puppy every time they relieve themselves outdoors. Use praise or treats to reward good behavior. Positive reinforcement is the way to go. Here is a hint. You can use dog food, and slice the kibble into smaller parts to give food to your dog.
Step 4 – Establish A Regular Feeding Schedule
We mentioned before that puppies relieve themselves after eating and drinking, right? Well, you cannot establish a potty routine as a pet parent if you do not establish a feeding schedule first.
Young puppies need to be fed more frequently, and then reduce the frequency as they age.
Step 5 – Remove The Water Dish Before Bedtime
If you want to prevent any accidents during the night, remove the water dish about two hours before bedtime. Puppies can sleep for six to eight hours without a bathroom break. But drinking water at night might hamper that.
Sleep 6 – Do Not Panic If Puppies Wake Up
One of the common mistakes a novice puppy parent can make is panic when the dog awakes at night. Puppies do wake up in the night but do not make a big deal of it. If you do, your puppy might think it is time to play and will not go back to sleep.
What About Confinement?
Toilet training and crate training go hand in hand. If you want to prevent accidents, you can try confinement and crate training.
The trick is to confine the puppy in an area with a potty pad. I suggest this only when the puppy has to wait a long time between a bathroom break.
If you are using a crate, make sure your dog is comfortable in it. The general idea is that the crate should be big enough for your puppy to turn around and lie down, but not larger. This will allow your puppy to stretch out, but will not be able to potty in the corner and snooze comfortably in another corner. Dogs do not pee where they sleep or sit.
What You Shouldn’t Do?
Now that we talked about how to toilet train a puppy in 7 days, let’s mention a few things you should never do. They do not help, as simple as that. Instead, they might teach your puppy something else.
Never scold your pet when it fails to get the right behavior. It will make them associate the punishment or the behavior with something negative. And it might make your puppy hide and do its business away from you.
You haven’t solved the problem of incidents in the house. You have only made your puppy afraid of you. Now, your dog does its business, but when you are not looking.
Be Ready For Mistakes
Accept the fact that mistakes happen. Nobody learns anything in a day. No matter how smart your pet is, accidents are a normal part of dog training.
So, without any drama, take your dog to the outside designated spot and praise if they finish there. Clean the place where they did their business at home. But make sure to clean the soiled area thoroughly, as puppies are motivated to continue soiling areas that smell like urine or feces.
What To Do When You Are Away?
We mentioned before that confinement can help with bathroom training if you need to be away for some time.
If you plan to paper-train your dog, confine them to an area with enough sleeping space, playing space, and a place for potty.
