Lynn Houghton

Small breed dogs such as miniatures and toys can be a challenge to housetrain due to their small size. One of the reasons they are difficult to train is because they are so small as puppies that it is very hard to determine when they want to “go”, their body position hardly changes. These tiny dogs also have very small bladders in relation to their body size and need to urinate far more frequently than their larger counterparts.

Despite the fact that they only produce very small amounts of urine, these tiny pools leave markers around the house that signal to the puppy that this is where he should urinate. Another problem with these tiny dogs is that they can sneak under the furniture and relieve themselves without the owner even noticing.

There are a few things you can do to increase your chance of success:

1. Try to crate train your pup. Most dogs and puppies like crates as they provide a safe den-like environment for them. The majority of dogs will not soil their sleeping area so keep your pup in his crate and take him out every 10-15 minutes to the area you want him to urinate in. If he doesn’t go, take him back to the dog crate and repeat the process every 5-10 minutes until he goes. When he goes, praise him profusely.

2. Watch your dog closely for any signs that he is uncomfortable such as sniffing, circling and pacing. These are often signs that the dog needs to relive himself. If you catch your dog slinking behind the furniture this could also be a sign that he needs to go, so take him to the designated toilet area immediately.

3. Take your dog to the designated toilet area frequently during the day and avoid talking to playing with him so as not to confuse him. When he relieves himself always make sure you praise him for a job well done.

4. If you’re at home you can attach your puppy to a short leash around your wrist to keep him under your watchful eye while you go about your chores. If he shows signs of needing to go take him to the appropriate spot immediately.

5. Make sure you feed your dog at regular times; most dogs need to relieve themselves 15-20 minutes after eating so be sure to take your pup out after he eats to allow him to relieve himself.

6. Try not to feed your dog table scraps and never change your dog’s food suddenly as you may cause a digestive upset and find yourself having to deal with a dog with diarrhea.

7. If your dog makes a mistake avoid punishing him at all costs, never lose your temper. Punishing a dog for doing what comes naturally will only serve to confuse him and make him fearful of you. Make sure you clean the soiled area with an enzyme based cleaner to remove all traces of odor. Soap and bleach don’t remove odors efficiently and should not be used. Cleaning the soiled area will reduce the chances of the dog using the same spot again.

Don’t leave your pup alone for long periods of time in the first few weeks. House training requires a lot of patience and perseverance and you shouldn’t expect your puppy to be able to hold himself until you get home, that’s unrealistic. A badly house trained dog is the result of an inept owner; it’s never the dog’s fault.