Potty Training for your Biewer Terrier Puppy – Indoor
At Rocky Mountain Biewer Terriers, we believe in proper potty training and hygiene for all our puppies right from the onset of their life. To maintain the cleanliness and sanitary conditions within our home, we train our puppies to utilize washable puppy pads, which offer many benefits that enhance their safe indoor upbringing and overall hygiene.
Our playful Biewer puppies are curious and adventurous, which often results in them tearing and shredding the more common paper training pads. This is why we have chosen to utilize washable puppy pads that have a waterproof vinyl bottom layer, giving them a substantial weight and thickness. This not only prevents the pads from being easily displaced but also protects your flooring from accidental leaks.
The washable pads are introduced to our puppies from the very first day they are born. This introduction continues throughout their time in the whelping box with their mom, right through the weaning process, and as they mature and start to socialize in larger playrooms with other puppies. This consistent usage allows them to familiarize themselves with the pad, and it’s not uncommon to find them instinctively returning to it for their bathroom needs.
The Pros of Pee Pad Potty Training
- Convenience: The most obvious advantage of indoor potty training is convenience. This is especially true for those living in high-rise apartments or during inclement weather. No need to rush down multiple flights of stairs or brave the snow or rain!
- Health and Safety: Young Biewer Puppies, are more susceptible to illness before their vaccination schedules are complete. Keeping their potty activities indoors can reduce exposure to potential diseases.
- Flexibility: If you work long hours or cannot consistently let your puppy outside, pee pads provide a suitable alternative.
- Early Training: Puppies can start using pee pads at a very young age, which can lead to early house-training success.
One key aspect of our Pee Pad Potty Training approach is the importance of NOT immediately replacing a used pad with a fresh one.
By leaving the pad with the existing pee spots in place, it acts as a marker, assisting your puppy in locating the pad and reinforcing the correct behavior. This practice encourages them to consistently return to the pad for their potty needs, fostering good hygiene habits.
Once the puppy demonstrates a clear understanding of the potty pad system and maintains a consistent track record without accidents, a transition process can be initiated if desired. For instance, if you have a preference for paper pads, you can start by placing a paper pad on top of the washable pad. Please note, however, that paper pads, while convenient, can easily become saturated and may not provide the same level of floor protection as washable pads. There are several paper pad trays and similar solutions available on Amazon.
Once you see good progress at the pee pad training, you can also place the pad in a more discrete place like the laundry room or behind the bathroom door, etc.
Another transition option is to shift to an automatic potty pad system. This can be facilitated by simply placing the washable pad over the automatic potty pad machine. We’ve found the “Brilliant Pad” system to be quite effective, especially for our adult dogs. Several of these systems are strategically placed throughout our home, providing consistent access and maintaining the cleanliness of our living space.
Potty training a Biewer Terrier puppy can be a challenge, but it is definitely possible with patience and consistency.
Here are some additional tips to help you get started:
1. Start early. The sooner you start potty training, the easier it will be. Biewer Puppies have a small bladder capacity, so they need to go potty frequently. By starting potty training early, you can help your puppy learn to associate going potty with the correct place.
2. Establish a routine. Puppies thrive on routine. Try to take your puppy to the same spot to go potty at the same times each day. This will help them learn to expect to go potty at those times. For example, you could take your puppy to the potty area right after they wake up in the morning after they eat or drink, and before they go to bed.
3. Use a cue word. When you take your Biewer Pup to the potty area, use a cue word, such as “go potty” or “do your business.” This will help your puppy associate the cue word with going potty in the correct place. You can also use a hand signal, such as pointing to the ground.
4. Be patient and consistent. Potty training takes time and patience. Don’t get discouraged if your puppy has accidents. Just keep taking them to the potty area and using the cue word. With consistent potty training, they will eventually learn to go potty where you want them to.
5. Praise and reward. When your puppy goes potty in the correct place, be sure to praise and reward them. This will help them learn that going potty in the correct place is a good thing. You can give them a treat, a pat on the head, or just some verbal praise.
6. Clean up accidents promptly. If your Biewer Puppy has an accident, clean it up promptly. This will help prevent them from smelling their own urine or feces and wanting to go potty in that spot again. Use an enzymatic cleaner to remove the odor, so your puppy doesn’t get confused about where they’re supposed to go potty.
Potty Training will be much easier if you put away all area rugs and carpets!
Biewer Puppies are naturally drawn to absorbent surfaces, such as rugs and carpets or laundry left on the floor. If your puppy has an accident on a rug or carpet, it can be difficult to clean up and may leave a lingering odor. To prevent this, put away all area rugs and carpets during the potty training process. Don’t leave laundry or towels laying around on the floor.
- Take your puppy to the potty area after they eat, drink, or wake up from a nap. These are all times when puppies are likely to need to go potty.
- Watch for signs that your pup needs to go potty, such as sniffing around, circling, or whining. If you see these signs, take your puppy to the potty area immediately.
- If you catch your Biewer Puppy in the act of going potty in the wrong place, interrupt them and take them to the correct spot. Say the cue word and praise them when they finish going potty in the correct place.
- Be patient and consistent with your potty training, and don’t give up the potty training! With time and effort, your puppy will learn to go potty where you want them to.
With these tips, you can help your Biewer Terrier puppy learn to potty train quickly and easily. Just remember to be patient, and consistent, and use positive reinforcement when potty training. With time and effort, your puppy will be a potty-trained pro!