How to Keep your Home Clean while Puppy Toilet Training
Training a new puppy to go to the toilet outside can be a tiring and difficult process for new dog owners. Together with the added mess and unwanted smells in the home, you may be worried about how to keep your home clean during the process. But it is possible to keep your house clean and smelling fresh while toilet training your dog by following our top tips below.
Top Tips for Toilet Training in the Home
Here are our top tips for toilet training your puppy at home.
– Introduce your dog to the place they can go to the toilet (garden, outdoor space) as soon as you bring them home.
– Keep a simple diary of every time your pup eats, sleeps, urinates and poops for the first couple of weeks. Puppies have very weak bladders so will need to pee every 1-2 hours. The more you get to know your dog, you will recognise when they need to go outside.
– Keep a simple routine, for example, feeding your puppy at the same time every day. This will really help with toilet training.
– Clean up accidents in the house as soon as possible. Plus, keep the dog’s toilet area clean, so they want to return.
Toilet Training: Keep a Consistent Routine
Toilet training your new pup can be a simple process, as long as you take the time to get into a good routine. A structured routine is crucial when toilet training your pup. Essential timings are first thing in the morning and last thing at night. So, always take your puppy outside into the garden/toilet area as well as frequently throughout the day giving them the opportunity to do their business outside. Keeping up with the same times each day will help your puppy recognise routine.
If possible, let your puppy out into the toilet area without a lead so they have a sense of freedom. Puppies on a lead may feel too restricted and therefore will not go to the toilet. Once they have been, shower your pooch with lots of praise and then take them back indoors. In the early days of toilet training, never leave your pup outside for long periods of time, there are a few reasons for this. Firstly, your dog will get distracted trying to get back inside to you and will forget why they are outside in the first place. Secondly, you may miss when they have been and therefore miss the chance to praise them once they have done their business.
Plan for Bedtime
You won’t have much control through the night whilst you are asleep so it’s a great idea to leave out some newspapers or puppy pads. It’s important not to throw these away after they have been used, instead place them outside into the garden. The smell of the pads/newspaper will help your pup recognise where is the correct place to use the loo and will encourage them to do it outside.
Clean Up Accidents Immediately
You can minimise accidents as much as possible by sticking to a solid routine, however, in the early days, you will experience some accidents. It’s important to stay calm in this situation and not panic. Simply clean up the mess using a dog-safe solution, you may choose to use washing up liquid with warm water or a formulated solution that your vet has given you. You need a product that will thoroughly clean the area but avoid using any products that are ammonia-based as it may cause your pup to use the same area again as a toilet.
Cleaning Urine Stains Top Tips
– Mop up the puddle as soon as possible, especially on carpets. If the urine seeps into the underlying carpet, the smell will be extremely difficult to remove.
– Use an absorbent sponge, so you can remove the liquid without spreading it around.
– It is really important to remove the scent, otherwise, your pup will use this area as a toilet again. There are many products on the market designed to remove odours, so visit your local pet shop for advice.
Cleaning Fecal Stains Top Tips
– Carefully remove the fecal matter, especially on carpets. Use a spatula to carefully remove the matter without spreading it further.
– Use paper towels or coffee filters to absorb the moisture.
– Finally, apply a pet-safe odour removing product to the spot.
Keeping the House Smelling Fresh
Although it may seem tempting to use everyday cleaning sprays and candles to hide unwanted pet smells, you may actually be putting your fury friend at risk using these products. Dogs can sometimes be sensitive to the different chemicals in commercial air fresheners and candles. So instead opt for natural alternatives. There are many non-toxic candles that can be purchased, these include soy and beeswax candles.
Essential oils are a great alternative to chemical sprays, simply add 20 drops of essential oil into a spray bottle and mix with water. Spritz away and let the unwanted smells disappear! Always check that the oils you are using are safe around pets before purchasing. Another natural remedy is boiling spices! Choose your favourite spices, for example, orange rinds, cloves or cinnamon. Add them all to a boiling pot of water and allow them to simmer. The delicious smells of the spices will fill the room, eliminating all pet odours.
Although puppy accidents can be challenging at times, stick to your routine and be strict with your little pup. Before you know it, they will be fully potty trained and you won’t have to worry about another accident in the house again. Use the above tips to help keep your house clean and fresh.
Please note: Barking Mad, the UK’s leading home dog boarding provider, assumes no liability for the content of this page. This advice is not a substitute for a proper consultation with a vet and is only intended as a guide. Please contact your local veterinary practice for advice or treatment immediately if you are worried about your pet’s health – even if they are closed, they will always have an out-of-hours service available.
