Potty Training a Cocker Spaniel

Potty training a Cocker Spaniel puppy can include several different materials and methods, depending on your eventual training goals. Some people want their Cocker to eventually go to the bathroom only outdoors while others may want the dog to use a designated area in the home or residence as well as outdoors. Often people that are training a Cocker Spaniel puppy for indoor toileting are those that live in apartments without access to a yard or those that know that the puppy or dog will need to be left alone for longer than possible for completely outside training to be successful.

There are many different ways for potty training a Cocker Spaniel puppy indoors. One option is the tried and true use of newspaper, which is moderately absorbent  and can be easily disposed of once soiled. The one drawback to newspaper is that urine and fecal material does accumulate on the puppies paws and will track off the paper unless you cover the entire puppy room or pen area. Newspaper also will hold the urine and feces on top of the floor, often leading to odor retention problems even after the newspaper is removed, the floor washed and clean paper provided.

Find out more about Cocker Spaniel Potty Training! Click here now!

A better option for potty training a Cocker Spaniel puppy, which is a small to medium sized puppy, is to use potty training pads. These are sometimes also sold as puppy pads and resemble a large disposable diaper. They have a soft, highly absorbent side and a plastic backed side that prevents the waste material from directly making contact with the floor. Puppy pads or puppy training pads also have natural deodorizers in the layers of absorbent material that somewhat help to eliminate the odor produced. They can also be infused with a attractant that triggers the puppy to use the pad. This is a great training aid and really helps the puppy use the pad on a consistent basis.

Although not common, another option for potty training a Cocker Spaniel puppy is to use a litter box. Place the puppy in the box and reward him or her for using it as the bathroom area, just the same as you would with paper or puppy training pads. You do have to make sure that the puppy can easily get in and out of the box and that the absorbent material used in the box is not something the puppy will eat or play with. Shredded newspaper, natural litter or even flushable cat litter can be a good option depending on how your puppy responds. Just keep in mind that puppies will not cover their waste in a litter box like a cat and that it will need to be cleaned and wasted out on a daily basis to prevent significant odor problems.

Whenever possible, potty training a Cocker Spaniel puppy should include getting outdoors to go to the bathroom. Always provide routine walks and trips outside after eating, waking up, playing or whenever the puppy begins to appear anxious. Most Cocker Spaniel puppies can be fully housetrained within a few weeks with regular trips outside, lots of praise and reinforcement and staying with a good schedule.