Toilet Training

Dogs do not like toileting where they sleep so they will avoid it if at all possible! they is no point to rubbing a puppies nose in an accident - it’s better to get into a regular routine of taking her outside to toilet during the first few weeks, and it won’t be long before she is the habit. So I use nature to try and help “train” in most situations and toileting is just the same. One of the few annoying things about puppies is that they pee and poop where ever they like unless we give them direction! But puppies will have accidents especially when tired or excited, or sometimes they just don't make it outside. The puppies have free range here the door is open all day, they come and go as they please. So they are already toileting on the grass, & newspaper but they aren’t “toilet trained” I’ve just started them off for you and they will have accidents especially when tired or excited, or sometimes they just don't make it outside. So any time you see her making little circles she looking for that perfect spot to poop – so if she still inside grab her quick!

Put her outside for 15minutes before bedtime and again first thing in the morning, there is no need for you to go with her, but watch from the window and don't let her in until she has toileted, she will quickly work out that the quicker she toilets the quicker she gets to come back inside ! If you go with her outside at toilet time - she assume you are there to interact with her and toileting will take longer!

If you aren't sure if she's toileted, you can try the mums trick .... When the babies are born she doesn't wait for them to toilet she, stimulates it by licking their bottom, .... Now I'm not suggesting you try that, but you can imitate it by using a wet rag to wipe bottom with the same results. This stimulates the bladder just like their mother was doing when they were very small, and then hopefully within a few minutes of exploring the garden you'll be rewarded with some action down below. If after 10 minutes nothing happens, don’t worry just take her back inside and try again in about 30 minutes. A handy trick if you want to go out in the car and you can't remember when they last toileted. My suggestion is to take your puppy outside for toileting after each meal and wipe their little fanny area with a damp paper towel or a wet one.

DON'T speak to her while you are outside waiting for toileting – you’re not there to socialise, UNLESS she toilets, and then big time praising and name the behaviour i.e. “good toilet” and it won't take long before she understands that every time she goes toilet she gets praised and within a few weeks - months you'll be able to tell her toilet and she will go "on demand", this is what we do with the show dogs who are required to toilet on demand at shows. It’s very handy for later when you want to put her out before bedtime and know that she'll go to the toilet before bedtime.

OUTSIDE ACCESS: Cockers are a great size to use the cat door and work out pretty quickly how to use it. and most of these puppies have been through our cat door. Male dogs will sometimes avoid using cat size door if they have caught their wee willy on it as they go through, so don't force the issue if your boy has stopped using the cat size door, but you may need to consider increasing it to the next size up so he has plenty of room when getting through it.

If you plan on keeping the door closed it can be a good idea to place a folded newspaper at the outside access point, it catch any accidents or times you simply didn't notice your puppy wanting to go outside.

OVERNIGHT: Cockers are generally clean dogs and no dog like to pee or poop in its own bed, so you need to decide whether you will place a piece area of newspaper at the end of the crate for the puppy to toilet on, or go for the hard fast method of no paper - and hope they hold on all night. This is entirely a personal choice and what’s right for me may not be right for you. I use the newspaper method until I see 3 days in a row where the newspaper remains clean in the morning, and then I remove it. BUT I have dog crates large enough for this option to work for me. Plus I don't give them a water bowl in their bed area at night.

Nothing is guaranteed... Be aware though that any smell left on the carpet will indicate to your puppy that it’s a "toilet area". I use the cheap "chux type" cloths that are sold at mitre 10 and Bunnings on rolls of 100 for about $7... Cheap and effective for the job required. OR a packet of wet wipes! There are many different ideas regarding toileting training, how to do it and why each idea is better than another....

MY SUGGESTION is do what suit you best and works for your household.