I am trying to paper train my puppy. He is 9 weeks old. I have not had much luck with training him so far. We have only had him 4 days so obviously i am not expecting miracles! But i would like to know that i am doing the right thing so that i don't feel so frustrated and useless

I downloaded a puppy training app on my phone which has various training videos and I have been following the advice of this.
Their basic training methods being
a) Having a baby gate to restrict your puppy from where he can go to the toilet.
b) The obvious, giving lots of praise and a treat if he does it in the right place
c) NEVER punish your puppy if he doesn't use the paper as this only encourages him to hide it!

It says if you see your puppy going somewhere else to pick him up and put him where he SHOULD be going. Which is what i have been doing.
However, people have said NOT to pick the puppy up when he is going to the toilet. Then others say to rub their nose in it. Everywhere i turn seems to have completely different methods to paper training

It would be really nice to hear some personal experiences as to where i am going wrong and what exactly i should be doing to get him paper trained before i completely lose my mind He has used the paper 3 times in the last 2 days. Other than that i feel like i have spent the last four days aimlessly wondering around with a mop in my hand constantly cleaning up puppy piddle and poo :-/

Is there a specific reason why you need to paper train your puppy?

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He is only 9 weeks old and hasn't had any of he's injections yet. I would much prefer him to be going straight outside. We do have a garden but it's a communal garden. I asked my vet about taking him out there and he said that it should be fine providing he didn't come into direct contact with other dogs, or other dogs poo... unfortunately it seems there are some irresponsible dogs owners who have not been picking up their dogs poo! So I can't take him out to the garden and have to paper train him until he has all he's injections.

I see what you're saying about your communal garden. It's awful that there are dog owners who aren't picking up poo and ruining it for other people. I would be going round to the other dog owners with poo bags but that's just me

Could you take him out there on a lead? This is what I did with my puppy in our old flat which had a communal garden. The great thing about house training with a lead is that the puppy is right there, by your side, ready to take a treat and praise the second they have done their business. You wouldn't have to wander around the garden... even if you were just standing right outside your house, you're still outside. The other great thing about keeping them on a lead while house training is you can encourage them to go in a specific spot, so you will avoid him coming into contact with the other dogs and any poo.

The problem with paper training is that it potentially confuses a puppy. You are saying to him; "please don't go toilet in the house but please use this paper in the house..." if you see what I mean. It's not his fault if he goes on the floor in the house as that is what you are telling him to do, just because there is paper there doesn't create a different environment to the rest of the house. The garden is a completely different environment and a very specific place to be taking him. After only a few visits, he will learn that being outside means going toilet, and this is the message we are trying to convey with house training.

I would not listen to any advice that suggests 'rubbing a puppies face in their feces or urine.' That is cruel and unnecessary. I do see why some would say don't pick them up mid-flow, but again, there's no reason not to, they will stop and continue where they need to go. The best way to get them to stop mid-flo, I find, is to clap your hands or just say in a sharp voice "ah ah". This will distract puppy long enough for you to grab him and take him where you need him to be.

The trick to successful house training is not to WAIT until puppy needs to go toilet. You need to preempt when they are going to go. So... every hour plus after drinking, eating, sleeping and playing. So you COULD end up taking him out every 5 minutes! But that's the trick, just limit his chances to have an accident. It does take a while to learn when your puppy is most likely to go but after a few days, you'll get into the swing of it.

I would strongly suggest scrapping the paper training and taking him outside on a lead. Again, even if it's just outside your house. The risks ARE there, but there are always risks with dog ownership. And tell your bl**dy neighbours to pick up after their dogs in future!

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Thanks bearcub

I have taken him out with his harness on which is mainly the reason i feel so guilty because he did a poo out there first time he went out - got loads of praise! Then i discovered the other poo which concerned me a little so i then had to go back to the paper training and encouraging him to do he's business on there! poor boy, he must be so confused I know it isn't he's fault the training hasn't gone well but mine for sending him mixed messages. I feel so guilty! But hopefully now i can work on correcting things properly!
I have just been a bit messed up with what to do for the best! But i think i will be consistent with the garden and just keep him away from the ignorant owners dogs poo.

Thanks for your advice

btw i should probably mention because I'm new here i didn't know what i was doing and posted as an introduction how do i paper train my puppy? Then I couldn't figure out how to delete it! Feel a bit of a wolly now lol

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well he is absolutely gorgeous Now I want a puppy again

Don't worry about posting the thread in the wrong place etc, you'll get used to how the forum works. Most doggie ppl just post in dog chat anyway. Is he a Goldie or a yellow lab? Hard to tell at puppy age, but anyway, most retrievers pick up house training well. They are very intelligent breeds and he'll no doubt get the hang of it all within a few weeks. Hope you're enjoying him anyway the puppy stage is arduous but it will be gone in the blink of an eye and then you have the teenage stage

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He is a miniature Labradoodle. Although more like a werewolf as he seems to sleep all day and want to play at night. Him and the cat are having a mad half hour together and are chasing eachother around the house at the moment. But at least they keep eachother company!

He has been really easy to train otherwise so far. We have only had him 4 days and have mastered he's name, sit, paw, come, fetch, drop and now working on the wait!