Owners of Papillons often feel frustrated by problems with urination and defecation. So how can you train the dog to eliminate in a designated place? In fact, the method is not very complicated. Here is a simple explanation for interested owners.
1. After the Papillon has eaten, take a sheet of newspaper that has some of the dog's old urine on it and place it together with clean newspapers over the floor of the toilet area. Bring the Papillon into the toilet, repeatedly say a cue such as ?pee? or ?poop,? and close the door. The dog may scratch the door or bark because it wants to come out, but the owner should not give in too quickly. At first, leave it there for about 15 to 20 minutes, then check whether it has eliminated. If not, continue the process and repeat the cue.
Note: always use the same cue phrase each time you encourage the Papillon to eliminate. Over time, the dog will associate that sound with the elimination action.
2. After opening the door, if the Papillon has eliminated, even if it is only a little urine, you must praise it enthusiastically. You can also prepare treats as a reward. The Papillon will gradually remember that using the toilet area brings praise.
3. After one successful session, you still need patience. Continue repeating the same process for several weeks. Keep the toilet area covered with newspapers at first, bring the Papillon there when it seems likely to need the toilet, and then slowly reduce the number of newspapers over time. After about a month, only one or two sheets may be necessary. You can also place a large tray under the papers so the urine does not spread everywhere. Then you only need to rinse the tray and replace the paper, which is very convenient.
4. If you notice that the Papillon begins to walk into the toilet area on its own to eliminate, then you no longer need to close the door or bring the dog there manually. It has already remembered and understood where it should go.
Step One in Fixed-Spot Toilet Training
Cover the place where you want the dog to eliminate with newspapers. A dog is not so smart that it will necessarily use the correct sheet immediately the first time. Once it eliminates on one of the newspapers while receiving your encouragement, the training memory becomes ?newspaper plus elimination equals praise,? and that is the first step to success.
Step Two in Fixed-Spot Toilet Training
About 10 to 20 minutes after feeding or after activity, gently guide the dog to the toilet area. Close the door and let it move around in the newspaper-covered space while encouraging it verbally to urinate or defecate there.
Training should be done when the Papillon is likely to need the toilet.
Step Three in Fixed-Spot Toilet Training
Once you see signs that the dog wants to eliminate, do not interfere physically, but immediately offer verbal praise such as ?Good!? or ?Great!?
Step Four in Fixed-Spot Toilet Training
After the dog has finished eliminating on the newspaper, continue praising it softly and gently pet its head and back. The goal is to make the dog like this behavior pattern, remember it, and be willing to repeat it.