Paper Training Your New Puppy

Thinking about paper training that new puppy of yours? Many people depend on paper training for a number of reasons. It might be that you lack a yard or even a nearby grassy area for your puppy to use as the bathroom. Or, it might be that you live in an area where outdoor potty time is just not feasible.

Whatever the case for paper training, you need to get it done fast. The sooner you teach that new puppy the ropes, the less mess and possibly destruction you will have on your hands. Here are some tips to get you on the way.

Consider The Size Of Your Pet

The first thing to consider is the size of the puppy involved. Consider not only the size of the puppy now, but also what the eventual size of your dog will be.Paper training a Chihuahua puppy, for example, is likely more feasible than paper training an Irish Wolfhound. What might be manageable on paper at the moment, might not be in 6 months to a year from now.

Once you have paper trained your dog, it will be hard to break them of it in the future. So, take into account the eventual volume of urine that your dog will produce as an adult. Can it feasibly be absorbed by newspaper or a potty pad?

Start Out With A Large Area

You want to give your puppy a larger area to work with. Arrange your newspaper or puppy pads over an area at least four times the size of your dog. If your puppy is one foot long, lay out your paper in a 4 foot by 4 foot area. The larger area will give your puppy a bigger target for them to get used to and that should prevent damaging accidents.

Once your dog starts getting used to the large area, you can gradually start reducing the area. Just make sure that the eventual size is big enough to both absorb the amount of liquid needed and large enough that they will not miss.

Stick To One Location

Think long and hard about where you want to put your puppy pads or paper, because you will be unable to move it. Once your pet figures out a place to go potty, it will be hard to change their mind.

Pick a location that will make your pet feel safe and that is out of the way of your normal traffic flow. If you have a smaller dog, a litter box is also a good idea. It will help contain any excess material and make cleanup much easier.

Have A Paper Training Plan

Be as organized as possible during paper training. Any inconsistency that you show could delay your puppy’s ability to “figure it out”.

1. Choose a good location.
   First, choose a good location where your puppy will feel safe, away from traffic.
2. Cover a large are with paper or pads.
   Cover more area than they need to make it easy to not miss.
3. Have treats ready to praise your pet.
   Use positive reinforcement to let them know they are doing good.
4. Clean up pet waste ASAP.
   Keep the area clean and dry so they feel safe going back to it.
5. Shrink potty area gradually.
   As your puppy learns the ropes, shrink the area to a smaller but still comfortable size.