When receiving a puppy at home, it is essential that we start teaching it to relieve itself in a suitable place as soon as possible.
When receiving a puppy at home, it is essential that we start teaching it to relieve itself in a suitable place as soon as possible. Accidents are normal and can happen at first, so you have to be patient and give them time to adjust. Some pups adjust quite quickly and others may need more time and support.
If after a while he continues to relieve himself at home, it can be a very good opportunity to ask our vet for an opinion, do a check-up and rule out any medical problem. But before that, we have to try! Here are some tips to teach your dog to relieve himself outside the home.
Attention to signs
Sometimes we will not arrive on time and we will realize it too late, but if we are attentive we can anticipate if we see that our puppy does any of the following things:
- Sniff the ground
- Curve towards the ground
- Go towards the door
Some of the signs will be more obvious than others, so don’t worry if you don’t always notice them.
If he does relieve himself at home, keep calm and clean him up without drama. You can use enzymatic cleaners or detergent with warm water. We recommend not using household disinfectants as they contain ammonia.
Remember that you should not punish your puppy if he accidentally relieves himself at home, give him time and prevent that moment from being traumatic for him.
Find out what is best for him
Knowing the type of surface your dog prefers to relieve himself will help you in training. Although it may seem strange, they have their preferences and some are:
- Gravel cement
- Grass
- Sand
Remember that the objective is to train our puppy to relieve himself outside the home, and therefore we must make sure that we offer him enough outings so that he can do so and adapt to the new routine.
Establish a routine
Consistency is essential to establish good habits. A routine will help you build confidence, get used to departure times, and reduce accidents at home.
Stick to the grind
It will not be easy or immediate for your puppy to associate going outside with doing his business. If when he goes out he just wants to play and is distracted by discovering the new world, try to “ignore” him. He will probably get bored and manage to relieve himself.
And remember to pay attention to the signs to get out on the street as soon as possible.
Reward and congratulate
