Are you unsure where to start when it comes to toilet training your dog? Our friends at Battersea have shared their top tips on how to toilet train a dog.
Some dogs will adjust quickly to a routine, but others might not get it right straight away. Patience and understanding are key when it comes to how to toilet train a puppy. It might take a bit of time, but they’ll get there!
If you ever need a refresher on training tips, you can always review back to this handy video pulled together by Battersea.
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Step 1: Get to know the signs
The best way to toilet train your dog (and save your carpets!) is to get to know the tell-tale signs they exhibit before they need to go. These could include:
- Moving towards the door
- Restlessness such as pacing, panting, circling and whining
- Lowering their body to the floor or squatting
- Sniffing the ground
If you spot any of these signs, you can take action by calmly taking them outdoors.
When you’re starting out, it might not be easy to spot these signs, so accidents are bound to happen. But that’s OK! If it happens, keep calm and just give the area a good clean.
Top tip: it’s best not to use household disinfectants. Your dog may smell the ammonia in them, which can encourage them to go to the toilet in the exact same place. Instead, we recommend mixing up a 1:9 solution of biological washing powder and warm water to tackle any stains.
The main thing to bear in mind when toilet training your dog is to not get frustrated if they go to the loo in the wrong place. It’s not their fault and if you make them feel stressed, they may be secretive about going and you could find unwelcome surprises in hidden places.
Step 2: Determine their favourite surface
We all know that dogs have different likes and dislikes, and this is also true when it comes to what surface they like to go to the toilet on.
Some dogs might like going on their bedding or just the floor. If that’s the case, then it’s a good idea to remove rugs and block off carpeted areas while they’re learning. Others may prefer to go in the great outdoors, so whilst you’re training them be sure to encourage lots of toilet breaks outside.
Other types of surfaces they might like are:
- Tougher materials such as cement or gravel
- Softer ones like towels, carpet, paper or puppy pads
- Natural ones, like grass
If you're wondering how to toilet train your puppy or dog, understanding the type of surface your dog likes best will really help the process. If you’re adopting a rescue dog, the rescue centre should be able to fill you in on their preference.
Step 3: Run your routine like clockwork
Routine is the key to establishing good toilet habits in your new dog. You want to avoid them feeling anxious because, as we know, this could mean they go to the toilet in the wrong place. It’s all about growing their confidence and a feeling of security, and a clear routine will help build both.
During the day, it’s a good idea to give your dog plenty of outside time, so they have lots of chances to go to the toilet in the right place.
Timing is important during training, so try to take your dog out:
- Once they’re awake and after any naps during the day
- After being active, such as post-playtime or a run-around
- After eating and drinking
- Before bed (try to delay their last trip outside as much as possible, so that they’re less likely to go in the night)
If your dog is a puppy, they will need far more toilet breaks during the day than an adult dog. If you're researching how to toilet train your puppy, it's useful to know that during training, we’d recommend taking them out roughly every hour, again, to give them the best chance of getting it right.
Step 4: Be patient
As previously mentioned, it might take time for your dog to link being outside with going to the toilet, so try to be patient.
When they do go to the toilet outside, you should give them some gentle praise and a little fuss (if that’s what they like). We wouldn’t recommend giving them a treat as they might link going to the toilet (anywhere) with a tasty treat!
If your dog responds well to verbal cues, you could introduce a toilet-specific phrase like ‘wee wees’ so the more they hear it, the more they’ll associate it with going to the toilet.
If your dog doesn’t immediately associate being outside with going to the toilet, it’s best to act disinterested in them for a while. This will hopefully encourage them to explore and have a sniff around, which raises the chances of them going to the toilet. If they don’t go to the toilet after 10-15 minutes, head back inside and keep an eye out for those tell-tale signs we mentioned earlier.
Don’t forget, you're learning how to toilet train your dog, and they're learning too! Toilet training is all about discovering what your dog responds to best. Putting time and effort in will help them feel positive about forming new habits. Accidents may happen inside, but it’s important to stay calm and not punish your dog - they should learn with persistent training.
If they repeatedly have accidents inside or you’re worried about them, we'd recommend that you contact your vet for advice.
Canine Care
If you’re looking for tips and tricks for a happy hound, our Canine Care series is perfect for you. It’s packed with expert guidance to help you look after your dog, including how to toilet train your dog or puppy, general training secrets and healthcare, seasonal advice and lots of behind-the-scenes content from our pals at Battersea.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.