- using a crate to help your puppy's bladder and bowels to mature
- selecting The Spot where you want your pet to relieve herself
The Spot can be either outdoors in a special place in your yard. Or it can be in an indoor room that is easily cleaned and where you place a litter box or a disposable or reusable wee-wee pad.
Poodles' Choice
There is actually a third option which, admittedly, might not work with less intelligent breeds of toy dogs. A doggie door leading to a safe, confined spot outdoors can complement an indoor setup. The dog decides which "bathroom" to use at any given time.
We have a dog door that leads to a second-floor, outdoor deck. The deck has no stairs and is, therefore, completely secure. No foreign dogs can get on our deck. And our toy poodles can't escape.
Our pets are free to go out on the deck whenever they wish to relieve themselves, see the sights, or bark at the UPS man. Or multitask.
Urine drains through the deck boards and poops are easy for us to pick up and place in the trash.
In the summer, we have an awning over the deck. The awning serves two purposes. It shades the dogs--and us!--and it helps prevent predators such as hawks from swooping down. We live on the edge of the woods and we can sometimes see hawks high in the sky browsing for their next meal. They'd better stick with mice.
Rain or Shine
When it's raining or otherwise inclement, our toy poodles sense that it's an "indoor bathroom" day. Instead of using the doggie door to go outside, they trot down to the laundry room and use the wee-wee pad on the floor.
Pawsitively Convenient
Whichever method you choose--outdoors, indoors, or combo--you will soon appreciate the fact that your toy poodle wants to keep your house clean to please you.
Until next time,
Dibs Darwin, Spokespoodle
Cape Rose Toy Poodles
Cape Rose Toy Poodles
