How to Paper Train a Puppy

Paper training a puppy is a great option in many situations. If you have problems housebreaking your new puppy, paper training may be a good alternative. Some circumstances, such as a disability or bad weather conditions, may also make paper training a great solution. With a little bit of patience, you can easily paper train a new puppy.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small room or enclosed area
• Plenty of newspaper
• Small treats for rewarding

1. Select an area of your home to paper train your puppy. A small room without carpeting, such as a laundry room, is a great choice.

2. Verify that you can confine your dog in the room. If the room does not have a door, you can use a baby gate or pet gate to block any entryways. You may also choose to use a baby/pet gate instead of shutting a door so you keep an eye on your puppy.

3. Cover the entire floor of the paper training room with several layers of newspaper. If you cannot cover the entire floor, block off any uncovered areas so your puppy cannot reach the bare floor.

4. Move your puppy’s bedding, toys, food, and water to the paper training room.

5. Take your puppy to the paper training room every 30 to 45 minutes when the puppy is free in the house. When you leave the house, confine the puppy in the paper training room or in a properly sized puppy crate.

6. Reward your puppy with praise and a small treat when he eliminates correctly on the newspaper.

7. Pick up and dispose of any soiled newspaper as necessary and replace with clean newspaper.

8. Reduce the parameter of the newspaper-covered area by 1 inch when the puppy has become accustomed to the situation. If the puppy continues to eliminate only on the newspaper, reduce the parameter of the newspaper by 1 inch every week. If your puppy eliminates on an unpapered area, do not reduce the parameter until he can use the newspaper correctly for 1 week.

Tips & Warnings

• If your new puppy eliminates on the living room floor, do not scold the puppy, as this may create fear in your puppy and set back your training. A puppy will typically continue to have an accident here or there until about 6 months of age.
• Young puppies may need to eliminate every 30 to 45 minutes. They will especially feel the urge after eating, sleeping, and playing. These are good times to take your puppy to the paper training room.
• Say a command word every time your puppy is eliminating. If you are consistent and always use the same word, your puppy will associate the word and action and eventually understand the word as a command.
• It is inevitable that some waste will soak through the newspaper to the floor. Make sure your paper training room contains appropriate flooring, such as linoleum.
• Do not recycle soiled newspaper.