Toilet training takes patience, but with a routine, the right setup and lots of praise, most puppies get the hang of it. Here's a simple plan that works for indoor pad training and for moving outdoors later.
1. Set up one toilet spot
Pick one spot and keep it the same. Indoors, lay a puppy pad on an easy-to-clean floor, away from your puppy's bed and food bowls. My Turf Puppy Pads have a 6-layer leak-proof design with odour control and anti-slip strips to keep them in place. If you'd rather not keep buying disposables, My Turf Washable Puppy Pads are machine washable and made for around 200 uses.
2. Help your puppy find it
A training spray like Bioline Puppy Trainer has a scent that encourages puppies to go in the right place. Spray a little on the pad, or on the patch of garden you want them to use.
3. Stick to a routine
- Take your puppy to the spot first thing in the morning, last thing at night, after every meal, after naps and after play.
- Young puppies need to go often, so give them plenty of chances during the day.
- Watch for the signs: sniffing the floor, circling or wandering off. Calmly take them to the spot straight away.
4. Praise, don't punish
When your puppy goes in the right place, praise them and give a small treat straight away. If there's an accident, don't scold. Clean it up thoroughly so the smell doesn't draw them back to the same place. Telling a puppy off usually just teaches them to hide when they need to go.
5. Move outside
Once your puppy uses the pad reliably, move it gradually towards the door, then outside to the spot you want them to use. Keep going out at the same key times, and take Zugo Poop Bags on walks. They're unscented, leak-proof and made with 65% recycled material.
Keep clean-ups easy
My Turf Anti-Bacterial Pet Wipes are alcohol-free and handy for paws and bums after accidents or muddy walks.
Find everything in Dog Toilet Training & Hygiene.
You'll also find our ranges at pet stores we supply around South Africa.