Paper Training a Puppy

I don't train my dogs to use an actual litter tray, but instead teach them to use a pad of newspaper. It is just as effective for small dogs who mainly live inside as it is for a larger dog who might be housebound or "caught short" when inside. I also recently rescued an untrained 6 year old male Chihuahua and he picked it up in no time.

I start by spreading layers of newspaper all over the tiled bathroom or laundry floor, it's easier to clean up a tiled floor if they make a mess to start. It doesn't have to be bathroom, any small, quiet area is OK. I take the pup or dog to the newspaper several times, especially after a sleep (for puppies). Once they have peed on the paper I remove the messy paper, but leave a sheet of the newspaper there as it has the smell in it. To teach them to poop there I leave one of the bottom layers of paper, no mess, but they can still smell it. After they have the hang of it, over a few weeks I gradually reduce the area of newspaper covering the floor, until they are just doing their business on a pad of newspaper one sheet in size. The newspaper I use is about 40cm x 60cm when opened out.

I found a large plastic tray from an old birdcage, the tray is about 50mm deep and stack the paper in that and leave it in a quiet place in the house and have never yet had to cleanup a mess anywhere else in the house. Prior to finding the tray I had a wooden frame made from timber offcuts, the same size as the stack of paper. I have 3 Chihuahuas who live inside, but I do let them out on the grass when I'm home. When I have to leave them inside anytime I know I'm not going to come home to a mess. It works just as well with large dogs. Newspaper is plentiful, cheap and doesn't get flicked or scratched around like litter.

By Lois from Qld, Australia