Learning to piss on the mat and the nature of the puppy
It is a natural activity for a dog to defecate outside the nest. However, it must be taken into account that a puppy only recognizes its own bed as its nest, certainly not the whole apartment. In addition, it should be remembered that young dogs, due to not very capacious urinary bladders, defecate much more often than adult quadrupeds. Puppies also have a very fast metabolism. All this means that they take care of their physiological needs even several times a day. It often happens that even up to five months of age, young four-legged friends are unable to sleep through the night without stopping to pee.
In an ideal world, a puppy could go out into the yard at any time, roam around, and take care of its needs. The reality, however, is not so favorable. The guardian generally cannot provide his ward with such frequent walks, so at this initial stage of learning to clean, it is worth using a hygiene mat for a puppy.
Why is it worth choosing a hygiene mat?
Some dog owners use newspapers or old towels to teach their puppy to pee in a certain place, but these are impractical and, above all, not very hygienic. Most often, the guardians of young dogs decide to buy special mats on which the puppy learns to settle its physiological needs. The most popular are disposable and reusable absorbent mats that absorb odor and moisture well. In addition, they dry in a few dozen seconds. Their offer is quite wide. They are available in different sizes, thanks to which they can be easily adapted to the size of the dog and the surface on which they are to be placed. There are several advantages of this solution. First of all, the mat guarantees proper hygiene and cleanliness at home, and also makes it easier to teach your puppy to pee in one designated place. It is also an intermediate element in later learning to pee outside.
What should you keep in mind before teaching your puppy to pee on the mat?
Teaching the purity of a puppy should begin with familiarizing your pet with the undercoat that you have chosen. Show your pet the mat, let him smell it, walk on it so that he can get used to the new object. However, do not allow to lie down and play on it, eat in this place and collect various objects on the mat.
A great facilitation during training is the ability to recognize the signals that the pet gives, meaning that it must follow the need. Most often, a puppy wants to pee after waking up, a meal, physical activity (e.g. playing), an exciting or stressful situation. That's why it's worth watching your four-legged friend closely to catch the right moment. In such circumstances, the puppy generally begins to sniff, suddenly stops playing or chewing a toy, behaves restlessly.
Remember that puppies, like children, learn at different rates, usually depending on the breed, disposition, size, health and individual predispositions. Therefore, do not demand too much from your young friend right away. Keep calm, friendly attitude and a lot of patience.
How to teach a puppy to pee on the mat? - tip one
When teaching cleanliness, careful observation of your pet's behavior plays an important role. If a young ward starts sniffing, walking nervously in circles, panting, and also looking for eye contact with you, it most likely signals a willingness to take care of its needs. In such a situation, immediately take the baby in your arms and gently put it on the mat. Your puppy will probably try to get off the mat, so be patient and consistently bring him back and put him back on the mat. Say the same command every time - "go pee" or "pee". Keep doing this until it's done. You have to be constantly vigilant because a puppy defecates every 2-3 hours. The first effects are usually visible after a few days.
How to teach a puppy to pee on the mat? - second tip
As with any other training, positive reinforcement is essential for teaching your puppy to pee on the mat. It is important to appreciate the efforts of the pet, motivate him to behave appropriately, including by rewarding. Therefore, when your puppy defecate on the mat, it should be rewarded immediately. Of course, it is about using a pleasant stimulus, e.g. in the form of a small snack, stroking, hugging or verbal praise. The dog will associate the action with a positive reaction from the owner. Remember, if, despite your efforts, your young friend relieves himself at home, e.g. on the carpet or floor, no penalties should be applied. Toilet training can proceed at a different pace, and sometimes you have to wait a bit longer than usual for its effects.
How to teach a puppy to pee on the mat? – tip three
Keep your puppy's daily rhythm on a regular schedule. This will make it easier to anticipate when he will want to pee on the mat. If you notice that your pet cannot get on the mat in time, try to place it near the place where it usually plays or eats. Then make sure that the mat is always in the same place. Do not move it until your four-legged friend has learned what it is for. Once your puppy has learned to pee on the mat, if possible, gradually move it closer and closer to the front door of the house until he makes his first attempts to defecate outside. When the ward starts to relieve himself on walks, you can gradually withdraw the mat.
Maybe you'll like it: