Puppy Toilet and Sleep training

June 03, 2020
Puppy sleep training

Week 1 basics – done alongside Canine Communication.

We have been making sure the puppies go outside six times a day.

Our routine is let them outside at:

7am            feed them and leave them to run around for max 30 mins.

10am          30 mins wee & play

12.00 –      feed and time to play

3.00            30 mins wee & play

5pm –        feed and time to play

9pm –        run around outside to hopefully empty themselves!

By the end of the 8 weeks we rarely get poos and wees inside.

In- between these times they are asleep. We do this as we are managing lots of puppies!

However, when they move to your house everything is different and they will feel under initial stress. To prevent more stress to you and the dog here is what to do…

Start with a routine you know you can maintain, with lots of sleep and times to go out.

Keep your dog in a restricted space – the kitchen near the door it needs to go outside from and where you can easily clean up.

Vary the meal times a little so the dog doesn’t start demanding food at exactly the same time each day – yes they can do this without being able to read a clock!

After the puppy has woken up or eaten take them outside – they all pretty much circle and sometimes cry when they want to poo.

If you see the puppy whining by the door, circling or about to squat inside then lead it gently, calmly and silently to the area outside you want them to use.

Whenever you witness the perfect wee or poo in the right place then say the word you want to say in the future when you are in a rush and need them to go to the toilet quickly…..(I say toilet!)

When they are in the process don’t stare at or hover over them but once the job is done go to your puppy immediately afterwards and reward with a tiny piece of delicious food.

Tip: Don’t say a general term you are likely to use when you don’t want them to toilet but they have been good!  Whenever you miss the signs or have an accident inside don’t react just clean up with a solution of biological washing liquid, the enzymes in it eliminates the smell to prevent it happening in the same spot again.

Night time

Every night – request in a calm happy voice that your puppy goes to sleep where you want it to, reward with small piece of delicious food. Once it is sitting in the right place, leave quietly, do not look back.

First night– sleep near the puppy in same room or next to it, ignore crying, stay calm and quiet, clean up any accidents without making a fuss.

Second  night and the  last time to sleep in same room if you really must…

Third – leave room quietly. Enter up to a max of five times during the night if the puppy cries – check for wees, clear up. Do not look at or talk to the puppy your calm presence is enough.

Fourth – Enter up to a max of four times

Fifth – fingers crossed job done…otherwise three times only… and so on

After a week your puppy will be putting itself to bed when you ask and sleeping calmly all night.

If your dog is whining for no reason IGNORE, they will stop quicker and relax.

By Sarah Greeff

I enjoy teaching families dog listening via video chat so they can solve all their dogs issues. I also breed and raise the best sproodle puppies I can.

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