Springer Spaniel potty training? How hard can it be?

When looking into getting a puppy, there are lots of factors you may want to look into with specific breeds to find a dog that is right for you.

One thing you might want to consider is toilet training, and here, you can find all the details you need for springer spaniel potty training, as well as plenty of tips and tricks to keep training as straightforward as possible.

How hard is springer spaniel potty training? Keep reading to find out!

springer spaniel potty training, how long does it take?

Springer Spaniels are working dogs, so while it is in their nature to hunt, it is also in their instinct to learn very quickly. So, in theory, potty training a springer spaniel should be easy. 

However, this all depends on your particular puppy, and whether they are naughty, or whether they show obedience and follow your rules.

Springer spaniel Potty training is usually quite quick to get the basics down should only take a week or two, but still, be aware that not all puppies are as good as gold, and things like being nervous in a new home can also affect when your puppy decides to go to the toilet.

Large potty training mats are great as it gives your pup a much bigger area to go on, as they get use to the mats you can reduce the size down to a regular size of mat.

Last update on 2024-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Potty Training: Is a schedule a good idea?

In most cases, creating a schedule is a good idea because it can help your puppy to learn some control skills. As you know, it is your springer’s instinct to learn new skills, and it is also natural for the spaniel’s brains to learn and stick to a schedule, so it is a great idea to use one when attempting to teach a new puppy potty training. However, as with everything, there are both advantages and disadvantages to scheduling your puppy’s toilet time:

Advantages

• Scheduling means that the springer puppy can learn some control, and also will be able to train its body to hold on until the right time.
• You can get a sense of the maximum amount of time your puppy can control itself for before needing to go.
• You can also learn your puppy’s tell-tale signs that it needs to go to the toilet by watching the body language your springer shows around the times when you are about to let it go out.

Disadvantages

• During the first few weeks of potty training, your springer will not yet have learned to control itself, and so may end up going to the toilet inside.
• If you, as the owner, become too obsessed with the schedule and do not focus on the needs of the dog, then there is more likely to be a toileting accident.
• If you leave too big of a gap between toileting times, then your puppy may not be able to hold it for long enough.

Overall, scheduling has its pros and cons, but as long as you keep an eye on the signs that your puppy is sending you, there will be very few accidents, and scheduling will most likely work. However, this all depends on the personality and obedience of your pup.

Should there be different schedules for different ages?

When you begin potty training, your puppy will have a lot less control than when you have finished. Especially with springer spaniel potty training, you must make sure to adapt the toileting schedule around the needs of your particular puppy.

8 weeks old

For an 8-week-old springer spaniel puppy, the schedule will look something like this:

• Around 6 am in the morning for an early wee – this is important as your pup will have been holding out for a while!
• Breakfast time – this should be between 7 and 8 in the morning
• Every two hours during the day – however, during the early stages, if your pup may look desperate for a wee then make sure you let it out 
• During the evening between 8-9, but if your puppy is sleeping, then this time is okay to miss
• Between 10-11 in the evening – to help your puppy get through the long night
• Some point between 1 and 3 am in the morning – that’s right; there is no rest for a new puppy owner!

 

This is the kind of schedule that you want to follow for the first three months of the puppy’s life. However, you will only need to do the middle-of-the-night toilet run in the first week or two of puppy ownership!

3 months old

As your puppy gets older, it will need less frequent toilet times, but this doesn’t mean you should ignore it when the pup shows signs of needing the loo. The schedule for a 3-month-old springer puppy is:

• 6 am in the morning – this is still an important time as your pup will have been holding out all night!
• 9-10 am – there is no need for a breakfast wee, but your puppy still needs regular toilet times
• Every 3 hours throughout the day
• Around 9 pm – again if your dog is asleep, then let them rest
• 11 pm for the finally potty time before bed

By the time your puppy is around 6-months old, there is no longer any need for a schedule – they will be able to tell you when they need the toilet. At this age, their potty training journey is complete!

How long does springer spaniel potty training take?

It will take several months to completely potty train your springer spaniel, and it will take readiness (and early mornings!) from you to keep the process going, but in the long run, having a potty trained dog makes life easier! There are several stages of potty training to be aware of, and following this rough structure should help to make your potty training experience a little bit easier.

Setting ground rules:

To keep the potty training simple, you should have a set of ground rules for your puppy. Making sure your springer spaniel understands these rules are key to keeping your life easy, so this step should be completed before you even start the potty training process. Your ground rules should loosely include:

• A toileting area – if your dog knows the primary toilet area, it will make each toilet time faster and less hard work
• Association – finding something which your dog can associate with going to the toilet, like a different leash or a particular chew toy, means that when you show them this item, they will immediately know to go to the toilet area
• Peeing – is not allowed in the house – teaching this through positive reinforcement will put you on the right track to potty training.

Last update on 2024-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Teaching the schedule

Making sure that your puppy knows and understands the schedule can lead you closer to completing potty training. In between the 2 and 3-month-old periods, make sure you start slowly transitioning between the timings to make sure your puppy doesn’t get confused, or you may undo progress that you have already made!

Teaching the ‘pee’ command

If your springer spaniel needs to go, then you must realise this and let the puppy outside at the correct time. An essential part of potty training is realising that your dog needs the toilet. There may be some obvious body language, but the best way to learn these tell-tale signs is to watch how your springer acts when you show or say something which they associate with peeing. This way, you can decipher that they need to pee when they do this!

Teaching the puppy to show they need to go

Once your pup has a grip on the basics, it is time to teach ‘the pee command‘. This means that you can start to have more control over when your puppy gets to go to the toilet, and can also help when transitioning between timings on the schedule. Firstly, you need to choose a command word, and a tone of voice, and make sure you stick with it to avoid confusion with your dog. Next, you want to say the command every time your dog is in the toilet area. This makes a link in the dog’s mind, so every time you say the command, your dog will go to the toilet, which is especially useful on walks.

Other tips and advice for springer spaniel potty training

Finally, you will need some top tips and advice to help keep your springer spaniel potty training experience as relaxed as possible!

• In the first few weeks of potty training, lay out an absorbent puppy pad, and teach your pup that this is where to go – doing this can enable you to keep accidents to a minimum – be careful that this method is only used if absolutely necessary, or your puppy might start to use the pad instead of the outside toilet area
• Don’t let your puppy into carpeted rooms – steering clear of anything that is difficult to clean or will stain easily is a good idea when your springer has not yet learned to control itself.
• Always make sure that you reward any potty training success – it is essential that you positively reinforce any good behavior to keep your pup motivated to learn!
• If your springer has an accident don’t shout at your puppy, it’s hard but stay calm and clean up the mess. Chances are you missed a sign your puppy needed to go!
• If your pup has just woken up from a nap try to take him/her to the potty area asap after a nap is a prime toilet time
• Try to use the same area every time you take your pup outside as their scent in the area will encourage them to go
• Get into the habit of going out with your pup as soon as they finish eating this is also a prime time for going to the toilet (you may need to wait with your pup for 5-10 minutes)