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Training Guide
Stage 1: Getting Off to a Good Start
Create an enclosed small space where your puppy can be confined but still feel like part of the family. Make the space large enough for the litter pan to be at least 3 to 4 feet from the puppy’s crate and water bowl. Fill the pan with Puppy Pan litter or recycled paper litter to the fill line when the puppy is not there. (This prevents him from associating it with the sound of kibble being put in his food bowl.) Place a small amount of the pup’s urine or solid waste in the pan to help puppy understand what the pan is used for.Don’t scold; praise your pup profusely and give him a treat when puppy is using the litter pan!
Stage 2: Be in Control
Set up a routine of feeding and exercise. Have fresh water available until a few hours before crating for the night. Feed your puppy at the same time each day, removing the bowl after 10 to 20 minutes. Keep your pup on a leash while outside the pen area. You will keep accidents to a minimum when you have control over your puppy at all times until your puppy is fully trained.
Stage 3: Build Good Habits
Place the puppy in the pan regularly when you take pup out of the crate, after sleeping or exercising and at mealtimes. Schedule exercise with your pup. Until your pup is fully trained, encourage puppy to eliminate in the pan before exercising. Using the phrase “puppy go here” when pup actually goes in the pan will help to build the association between the pan and the activity. Eventually, you will be able to use the phrase as a cue for your pup to go potty.
Training Your Adult Dog
Retraining a Dog That’s Already Trained To Use a Pad or Newspaper
Place the pan in the spot where you put the paper/pad, and place your usual material in the pan without the litter. After your dog has used the pan a few times, fill the pan with litter to the fill line and place the usual material over it. After your dog has gotten used to the smell of the litter, slowly begin to use increasingly smaller pieces of the other material, uncovering more of the litter every couple of days.
Transitioning a Dog Who Has Been Going Outside
Choose an area of about 4 feet by 4 feet to habituate your dog. Use a command or cue phrase such as “puppy go here” or “do your thing” before you start training to help him understand the association between the place and the purpose. When is your dog comfortable to new area, put the litter pan-filled with grass or other material from the area-in the spot. When your dog is used to the pan with the ground material, replace it with PuppyGoHere Dog Litter. After the dog has been using the pan outside with the litter with complete-reliability, start moving the litter-filled pan toward the house a little bit each day until you can bring it into the house.
Real-life Advice from Pet Owners
Your dog will start looking for its litter pan all on its own, anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, once let out of its crate. If you praise your dog every time it uses the pan, while maintaining consistent feeding and exercise schedules, you will see your dog become fully litter trained. If you stick with the system, your dog will too.Once you’ve got your dog house trained, there are a few tips to follow to help your dog stay on the right track:
- Keep it clean: Keeping your dog’s litter pan clean will make it much more likely that he/she will want to use it. Remember, a dog likes a clean bathroom just like a person would.
- Do not scold. Instead, praise your dog when he/she exhibits good behaviors. Saying “good dog” and offering a treat will help the dog know he/she has performed well.
- Keep the relationship between you and your dog positive. This will help ensure long term success.
Once your dog is fully trained in the pen, it is time to introduce them to the rest of the home. Keep an eye on your dog when you first let them free to explore their surroundings. If you allow your dog unattended freedom too quickly, you may experience more accidents. You will want to give your dog access to new areas gradually. Remember to reward your dog for good behavior. Watch your dog well to correct their bad behaviors. If you scold your dog after they have done something wrong, they may not remember what they had done. Allow your dog to gain more freedom in your home after you have observed consistently good behaviors.Always make sure your dog has access to the litter pan at all times.
Accidents may happen: Don’t get discouraged. Continue with the program and be attentive. Continue to praise your dog when he/she uses the litter pan. Re read the guide and figure out if you did something different or unusual that could have led to the accident. Staying consistent with the training methods will help ensure continued success.
Why Praise Matters?
If you see your dog beginning to behave badly, distract your pup by making a loud sound like AAAA! Or make a rattle sound. Praise is so important because a dog looks to their owner as the pack leader. Your dog wants your approval. Until your dog is trust worthy, make sure to watch its behaviors. If you see your dog beginning to behave badly, startle it by saying firmly “AHH”. Then lead your puppy to the litter pan and praise them profusely when they perform as desired. This will turn something negative into something positive, which your dog will respond more effectively to. Scolding, instead of praising your dog may make them think that the litter pan is associated with your disapproval, confusing the dog and leading to more accidents.Staying consistent with praise and treats will have your dog fully trained much faster.