CAHS Lansing - Capital Area Humane Society

Indoor paper training

If you will ultimately want your puppy to eliminate outside, don't paper train first. However, in Michigan, we experience many winter days that are not only uncomfortable but are also very dangerous for a young puppy. On these days, CAHS recommends allowing a puppy to eliminate indoors on newspaper. Canine Head Start Services has provided some guidance below.

Decide where your puppy will eliminate. Establish only one toilet area. Pick a spot that you will be able to use consistently. Line the entire area with several layers of paper.

Every time you walk your puppy to his papers, stay with him at his papers (leash or confine him if necessary) until he eliminates. Praise him enthusiastically as soon as he starts to go. If he fails to eliminate, confine him for 10 to 15 minutes in his crate or sleeping area and try it again and again until he is successful. Do not give him freedom until he has performed.

Clean up the toilet area as soon as it is soiled, leaving a small piece of soiled paper in the area you ultimately wish the puppy to use.

If you should see your puppy start to eliminate off the papers at any time, say a word such as "papers" or "potty" in a sharp, serious, low (not loud) voice and take him quickly to his papers, praising him once he is there, even if he already finished. Then clean up the mess and forget it.

Should you decide that your dog will trained to use paper permanently, call CAHS for complete paper training instructions.

PET CARE

- What do you do when your pet is ill or injured
- What to do if you lose your pet
- Advantages of spaying or neutering
- CAHS participating veterinarians
- Lansing area dog obedience trainers

CARE FOR DOGS

- House training your dog
- License information
- Indoor paper training
- Basic veterinary care your dog needs
- Introducing a new dog to your current pet

CARE FOR CATS

- Basic veterinary care your cat needs
- Introducing a new cat to your current pet
- Cat scratch fever? Declawing isn't the only answer.
- Keeping cats indoors: humane practice or prison sentence?
- Allergic to your cat? You may not have to give him up!
- Tips for solving your cat's little box blues