Potty Training Like a Pro

Watch City Doggo's in-house trainer, Thomas-James Laidlaw show you how easy
it is to house train your puppy on our grass patches.

Watch Time: 2 mins.

Comfortable Confinement 

• While it may be likely that your pet will experience an accident at first, after a while we are confident that your pet will associate the Oui Oui Patch as their pee-place of choice. 
• Choose a dedicated tiled area on your balcony/patio where you patch will be kept. It is important to choose a space that can be cordoned off at the start of your training.
• Do not move your patch around or keep it in different areas each week, as by keeping the Oui Oui Patch in its designated space, we are beginning our training with one association sorted: space.
• It's no surprise that your pup will learn faster when you are around, but when you can't be, make sure that you confine your puppy to a safe zone. This can be in the form of: A large, safe and comfortable crate, with separated areas for sleeping, playing and the Oui Oui Patch. We suggest cordoning off an area in your house that is tiled, free of open electrical sockets and other hazards. The crate will also need to be  big enough for your dog's bed, water bowl, food, toys and Oui Oui Patch
• Many find crate training and confinement in general a cruel practice - and we will never try convince anyone otherwise. However, crate training has been proven to offer your pet a sense of security when they first arrive at their forever home. 

 Establish a Routine 

• When it’s time for your dog's toileting, bring them to the Oui Oui Patch. This will not only create an association with time and toileting, but also where this action is to take place.
•  It may be necessary for you to use your FurBaby's lead to keep them on the patch. Understanding and interpreting your pup's cues, such as sniffing, circling, barking or scratching, can help you to anticipate when nature is calling. 
• Encourage your pet to start a routine by placing them on the Oui Oui Patch in the morning, after meals, before bed, and so on. Once they have all four paws on the patch, use phrases such as "wee-wee", so that they start to build associations with time, sound and location of when they should do their business.
• If your pup is just starting out with their house-training, this step will be important for building the connection between the command word and the expected behaviour. 
• Older dogs need a routine as much as puppies do, no matter how they have learned to do things in the past, it is never too late to relearn a routine. 

Positive Reinforcement 

• When your puppy does their business in an undesirable location, quickly place them on or lead them to the Oui Oui Patch. 
• Use your chosen phrase to encourage association stay with them and the patch for a couple of minutes.
• If they keep stepping off the patch, you may need to keep them on a lead. Even though they have already relieved themselves, it's important for them to associate the patch with toilet time.
• The more we practice this, the faster they will learn. When they eventually succeed, make sure they receive all the love and treats you can muster. 

Discouraging Digging 

• If you find that your dog is digging at the Oui Oui Patch, try to discourage this by giving them something else to play with to keep them distracted. 
•  We encourage that especially with new puppies, pawrents should discourage any form of play on the Oui Oui Patch. Creating the association of the patch with toileting ONLY, will discourage their need to dig or create a mess. 
• You will also begin to identify certain cues your puppies make when they have excess energy and want to play or dig. In this case, when the dog attempts to play so on the Oui Oui Patch, a stern "no" or a gentle "grrrr" should help them learn that this is not a toy to be played with. 
• Ensure that your pet is receiving the right amount of dog exercise every day according to their breed. Different dog breeds require vastly difficult levels of daily activity, and it doesn’t always follow that a small dog needs less exercise! Your dog should be getting at least half an hour of outdoor activity every day.
• Increasing their level of exercise could help them to burn off the extra energy that they are spending on digging up holes in the patch.
• Play with them using active toys (balls, flying disks) as often as possible. Teach your dog a few commands or tricks. Practice these every day for five to 10 minutes.
• Take a training class with your dog and practice what you learn daily. Keep interesting toys in the yard to keep your dog busy when you're not around. Kong®-type toys filled with treats or busy-box dog toys work especially well. Rotate the toys to keep things interesting. 

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