Whether you (or they) like it or not, the one thing that all puppies must learn is where you’d like them to go to the toilet. That is unless you enjoy cleaning up wee, or worse. Knowing how to toilet train a puppy when you’ve never done it before might seem daunting, but this guide will ease you in with 8 simple tips.
Why toilet train a puppy?
There are three main reasons why you should toilet train your puppy. The most obvious answer to this question lies in the fact that it’s rather unpleasant walking through your puppy’s wees or poops. Especially if it’s first thing in the morning and you’re wearing socks – I would know, I’ve done it. The second is that your puppy will find it equally unpleasant soiling their own bedding. Then the final slightly less obvious answer lies in that toilet training is one of the first major milestones you’ll achieve with your puppy. How you go about this process sets the scene for what kind of pet parent you’re going to be, as well as giving your puppy the confidence and independence it needs to tackle the world. It will help form your bond, how you interact, and how easily they’ll pick up future tricks.
When should I start toilet training my puppy?
When to begin to toilet train a puppy depends on a couple of factors, such as at what age you bring your puppy home, hence there is no ‘one size fits all’ age. The best time to begin is as soon as your puppy arrives at their forever home. This is typically around the age of 8 weeks old. Prior to 8 weeks old, puppies don’t have full awareness of what a full bladder feels like, so aren’t able to control when or where they pee.
Depending on your puppy’s age, they may or may not be able to go outside yet. So please do take this into account when choosing their potty zone. If you are unsure, check out our tips on when puppies can go outside.
Read on to begin your toilet training journey…
