The Toilet Training Spray for a Puppy

Toilet training puppies is one of the most difficult parts of pet ownership. Every dog needs to learn where he is allowed to go potty, and teaching him to go in the appropriate location can be a challenge. Toilet training spray is an effective tool to speed up the housebreaking process.

  1. How it Works

    • Toilet training spray works with the puppy’s sense of smell to draw him to a particular area of the yard. Housebreaking spray contains both synthetic and natural pheromones that attract the dog and encourage him to potty wherever he smells the scent. The spray comes in both pump-action bottles and bottles with a dropper that allows you to concentrate the spray in exactly the spot you designate as the potty spot.

    Housebreaking Basics

    • Puppies should start being housebroken as soon as they are weaned from the litter. They have small bladders and bowel capacity and will have to potty approximately once every hour or two during the first few weeks. Keep the puppy contained in a small area such as a kennel or exercise pen, and take him out immediately after he wakes up and after meals, as this is when the urge to go will be the strongest.

    Directions for Use

    • Pick one spot in your yard that will only be used as a potty spot. A quiet, low-traffic area is best as the puppy will need to be left alone to do her business and a busy area can distract her. Take the puppy to the potty spot and coat the area with a thin coating of the spray. Tell the puppy to potty and leave her alone to investigate the spot and praise her with a treat when she potties. Repeat the process every time she has to potty and she will eventually follow the scent of the spray to the potty area on her own.

    Availability

    • Toilet training spray can be purchased at most pet stores and veterinarians’ offices, and can be found in select retail chains such as Target and WalMart. It is typically available in either 4 oz. or 8 oz. bottles, with costs averaging between $5 and $10 per bottle. The spray should be applied every time you take the puppy outside, so larger bottles are the most economical choice.

    Warning

    • Toilet training spray should never be applied in areas you do not want the puppy to potty in. It is highly attractive to puppies and they will go wherever they smell the spray, so use it only in chosen potty spots. The spray also has a potent smell that may be offensive to some owners and should be tested in a small spot to make sure it does not damage your grass before widespread use.