29/08/2026
TOILET TRAINING QUICK TIPS
Toilet training can feel so frustrating when your puppy keeps soiling your carpet, floor, or other areas of your home.
Three Pillars of Toilet Training
Toilet training relies on three pillars
1. consistency
2. patience
3. positive reinforcement
Typically, puppies take 4 to 5 months to become fully house-trained, but some dogs learn very quickly within 3 weeks.
However, others may take a little longer, especially if their routines were upset due to rehoming or other traumatic events. Don’t lose hope if there are setbacks.
Here are five steps to help your dog toilet outside consistently.
1. FIX THEIR FEEDING SCHEDULE
Create a mealtime schedule to keep your dog’s toilet movements regular and predictable. Do not leave food out for your puppy to forage on, as it creates opportunities for them to go to the toilet.
2. TAKE THEM OUTSIDE
Take your puppy outside to toilet first thing in the morning, and then once every 30 minutes to an hour. Always take them outside after every meal, after every play session, and when they wake from sleep.
3. TAKE THEM TO SAME SPOT
Take your dog to the same spot in the garden where you want them to go to the toilet. Dogs tend to toilet in and around the same area due to the smell of their previous toileting.
Use a verbal marker or cue, such as “Hurry Up” or “Toilet”, to associate the action with a word or phrase. This is an invaluable skill for your dog to learn, especially when you are travelling or it is raining outside.
4. STAY OUTSIDE WITH THEM
Do not leave your dog outside alone and expect them to toilet until they are fully house-trained. Pop them on a lead and stay outside with your dog, keep them on their lead to prevent play, and wait until they have toileted.
5. REWARD THEM
Reward your dog each time they go to the toilet outside. This is a vital step to positively reinforce the behaviour you want: going to the toilet outside.
Dos and Don’ts
🚫 Don’t punish your puppy for having an accident. This teaches them to fear toileting in the open, and they will go to other, more secluded parts of the house to toilet.
✅ If you notice your puppy in the act, interrupt your dog by saying “Ah, Ah”, pick them up, bring them outside and follow steps 2 to 5.
‼️ If you find the evidence, but didn’t see the act, don’t react angrily by yelling or rubbing your pup’s nose in it. Puppies aren’t intellectually capable of connecting your anger with their accident. Clean it up and remind yourself you need to be more vigilant.
✅ Take your puppy out as often as you can and stay outside longer. Some puppies may wee once outside, but will wee again when brought inside. To help prevent this, wait a little longer for that second wee.
✅ Clean up accidents with an enzymatic cleanser rather than an ammonia-based one to eliminate odours.
Contact Tom at Heeling Hounds to book a Zoom Consultation to discuss toilet training and how to set your dog up for success.
📍 Mornington Peninsula and Surrounds
🕗 Mon–Fri 0900–1700
📲 0403 869 291
🌐 www.heelinghounds.com.au
