~ This is a guest post written by Sabrina Burke ~
Welcoming a new dog to your home and family is a fantastic and rewarding way to bring some more love into your home… But these adorable fluffy companions can come with some down-sides: training.
While most pups are loyal and eager to please, if you’re a first-time dog owner, knowing where to start with potty training and teaching other commands can feel daunting. All dogs can be housebroken, but their personalities and ability to hold their bladder can vary even between dogs of the same breed.
Rescuing a dog rather than buying one will usually result in you bringing home a loving forever friend who’s already been housetrained and may even know some simple commands.
Many shelters will even work with you to match you with your dream fur baby, taking into account things like whether the pup sheds, how much exercise they need, whether you have children or other pets in the house and whether the dog is likely to get along with them.
Rescuing your fur baby also has the added benefit of ensuring you’re not giving your hard-earned cash to disgusting practices such as puppy mills and instead helps support your local shelter or rescue center to save lives.
But putting the purchasing/rescuing debate aside… If you’re looking for a small dog who’s innately easy to train and likely to pick up “go potty” quickly, these small dog breeds could be your new (toilet-trained) best friend (although please do remember that each pup will have their own personality and traits).
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“Papillon” means “butterfly” in French, and this gorgeous dog does well to live up to such a beautiful name.
This breed generally weighs just 4-9lbs and is absolutely full of affection for family and strangers alike! Not only is the tiny size of a Papillon great for apartment dwelling, but Papillons don’t shed their fur much and can make brilliant watchdogs. Their eagerness to please and obedient natures make training this dog a breeze.
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The key factor that makes the Maltese such an easy pup to housebreak is their cleanliness. Because these dogs are so clean, they’ll be far happier eliminating in the same location every day and hate to mess in the house. They’re also obedient and easy to train and are notably more focused than other toy breeds.
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These beautiful balls of fur make excellent companions and are always excited to make their owners happy. They can be a little stubborn on occasion, so it’s essential to be strict with potty training and start early.
Once you’ve established a connection with your puppy, a Shih Tzu should pick up on the reasoning behind toileting in the same place and be easy to train.
Shih Tzu dogs only weigh around 10-15lbs, and their long coats don’t shed very much, so they’re also low-maintenance pets.
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Miniature Schnauzers are known for being cute, cuddly, and easy to train, making them a popular dog breed for many homes.
They’re highly obedient creatures and generally respond to commands quickly. They’re not the smallest dog on our list, weighing around 10-20lbs, and need plenty of grooming to keep their soft, wiry coat clean and tidy.
It’s not unusual for a Miniature Schnauzer to be housebroken by the breeder, but if you change the training method when setting up some home solutions for your new puppy, then this can set them back a little. Remember to be patient and offer plenty of rewards (as with any breed) to help them learn.
Image source: Alison Pang via Unsplash
Despite a small bladder that means you will need to let your Toy Poodle out for more potty breaks than you might have to with other small dogs, the Toy Poodle is a breeze to train.
Poodles are intelligent dogs: quick to learn and eager to please. This means they generally excel in puppy training classes and are easy to housebreak.
Toy Poodles like to notice and adapt to patterns, so once you’ve shown your pup where their toilet is, you shouldn’t have any problems as long as you let them out frequently enough.
It’s important to teach your puppy when and where they should relieve themselves early on and stick to a schedule that allows them to go potty at set times every day, preferably in the same place.
Once you’ve established a routine, lookout for signs that your puppy needs to eliminate (for example, whining, circling, sniffing, or barking) and always let them out immediately.
It’s crucial to remember that your fur baby wants to make you happy. If accidents are occurring, you may need to increase the frequency of letting your dog out to relieve themselves or take them to the vet to check that accidents aren’t a symptom of an underlying medical condition.
Regardless of your fur baby’s size, potty training takes time, patience, and understanding. Provide plenty of encouragement and always reward your pup for a job well done, and you’ll have a housebroken best friend in no time!
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