If you ever had a puppy you know that these four-legged babies will do their business just anywhere. Constantly cleaning the floors and carpets is surely a tiring task, so it's a good idea to potty train your dog. This can be a bit of a challenge with puppies. So, until they learn to hold it and release it outdoors, you can get dog pee training products. Here's how to do it.
Crates
If you're a new dog owner, you probably cringe at the idea of dealing with your new puppy doing its business inside their home. Puppies are still young to know where to release themselves, so it's a good idea to get a crate. Besides it being a place to keep the dog in one spot, it can easily be turned into a temporary dog bathroom where you'll place dog toilet training products and teach your puppy to release itself. If the dog is still young you can choose to place a paper training or a tray with artificial or natural grass.
Potty Grass
A dog potty grass is a rectangular piece of grass you can use to train your pooch to release itself indoors. There are many products on the market for you to buy that vary from real to synthetic grass. These potty trays are quite popular, but which one should you choose?
Natural Grass
Natural grass is one of the most common dog pee training products; it has a natural scent and won't repel the dog so it won't mind using the grass toilet at all. Most companies are making dog grass by using hydroponic horticultural methods. They grow the grass without using soil; the roots are grown so they are thick enough to absorb urine and the strong ammonia smell. When it comes to feces, you can dispose of it as you would if you were on a walk outdoors. The great thing is that you can flush it instead of putting it in t a bag and the trash can. The main reason why natural grass is better is that it's eco-friendly. The pads are 100% compostable, so you won't contribute to pollution. It is pricier than the artificial counterpart, but in the end, you decide whether it works better for you long-term.
Artificial Grass
Artificial grass is made of soft plastic materials and mimics the look and feel of real grass. Naturally, it doesn’t have roots and comes with a catch tray underneath the ‘turf’, (it collects the pee). The good thing about this type of grass is that it's a one-time buy, but it's not indestructible, therefore not so eco-friendly. Also, the chemicals found in urine can break down the materials. These trays are a good choice for house-breaking a pup because they don’t know what real grass is like. If you have an older dog, you may think that the fake dog grass toilet isn't a place to release itself.
Puppy Pads and Paper Training
Puppy pads and paper training may be tricky because you're introducing two different options for your pet. It's best if you teach your dog to learn to hold it indoors and only release itself at certain spots. But, this may require patience and a person to be at home (several times a day) so they can take the dog outside. If you're busy and can't do this, it's best to use puppy pads or paper training.
Puppy pads allow the dog the option of relieving itself in an approved spot at home. You can also find high-tech outdoor dog bathrooms that work for male dogs as well. Once your puppy grows up you can start teaching it to release itself outdoors. The puppy pads and paper training might feel a little unpleasant for you, as you'll have to change them like real diapers, but it's a good choice if you want to keep your floors and carpets clean.
Create a Schedule for Your Puppy
Puppies have tiny bladders and water runs straight through them (the same goes for the solid matter) so you need to be sure that your dog learns how to go do its business outdoors. One thing to remember is that dogs can control their bladders for the number of hours corresponding to their age in months (up to about nine months to a year). Keep in mind that 10 to 12 hours is a long time for anyone to hold it, so don't forget that your dog needs to go.
A 6-month-old puppy can’t be expected to hold it for about 6 hours. However, all dogs aren't the same so this can differ from animal to animal.
It's best to select a schedule for your dog and let it learn when it's time to go. For instance, take your dog out first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Take them outside after playing indoors and after a nap. Another good schedule is after they were chewing a bone or a toy, after a meal or after drinking water.
Supervise and Observe
Just like with human babies, puppies also have idiosyncratic habits. Be careful and watch your puppy for different signals and rhythms. Some dogs can hold it longer than others, but others will have to instantly go out every time they get excited or after a play. Some dogs may stop in the middle of a play session to urinate, and then continue playing.
Control Your Dog's Diet
Your puppy has an immature digestive system, so it can’t handle a lot of food. That’s why it's a good idea for you to break up their feeding schedule into three small meals. Mind their food as well; it's best to invest in food for juniors of high quality. Examine their stool and see if the food causes any issues. If your dog is constantly having bulky, loose or stinky stools, you might have to take them to the vet. Your vet will probably suggest a new food. Avoid overfeeding as it may cause diarrhea, which will only make housetraining much more difficult.
