| Housetraining your puppy |
By following a few simple rules this should be a straightforward process. Hygiene is a key requirement of responsible dog ownership, as is a good pet insurance policy.
Puppies tend to poo around 20 minutes after eating, so make sure there is someone around to take him to the toilet area at the crucial time. They only have a small capacity, so visits will be fairly regular.
Training should start as soon as you bring him home. Show him the toilet area and if he performs in the right place give him lots of praise. Be persistent and patient, he'll get the hang of it. Start using verbal commands too, such as 'wee' or 'toilet' when he is performing and once again lavish lots of praise if he gets it right.
Watch out for his signals too, if he starts to sniff and circle around it's quite likely he's ready to go. Take him outside immediately and eventually he'll start to understand the routine. Never punish him for an accident, just keep a closer watch on him next time.