Puppy potty training is a challenge in and of itself, but for carpet owners it is a special challenge. This article provides some quick tips on house training your dog, as well as some practical advise on carpet care when accidents happen.
Potty Training Tips
According to The Humane Society of the United States, there are five things you should do when potty training your dog.
1. Establish a regular routine for feeding and potty times, which should take place immediately after waking up, eating, drinking, or playing. Take your puppy out at least once every two hours.
2. Supervise your dog, watching for any sign that they need to go out, such as scratching, restlessness, and sniffing.
3. If you are not able to supervise your puppy, restrict them in an area just big enough to stand, lie down, and turn around. They won’t want to eliminate there.
4. Mentally prepare yourself for the fact that accidents will happen. Interrupt your dog in the act and take them outside.
5. Make plans for a neighbor or pet sitter to continue the potty training process if you are going to be away for more than four or five hours.
The Humane Society also recommends avoiding excessive praise or scolding. To learn more about potty training your dog, click here and read the full article.
Cleaning After Pet Urine Accidents
Press the area with a paper towel, white absorbent cloth, or sponge to lift the spill away from the carpet fibers. Blotting is recommended because scrubbing not only spreads the stain, but causes it to become ingrained into the carpet fibers. When the towel or sponge becomes saturated, exchange it with dry materials and add weight to enhance absorption. Replace as needed.
Apply a mild detergent solution to a clean white absorbent cloth or sponge and use it to clean the affected area. To determine whether the detergent will discolor your carpet, we recommend that you test a small, inconspicuous area by exerting pressure or weight for one minute. The spot may require more than one treatment if it is particularly tenacious. After the carpet is clean and dry, brush it gently to recover the carpet pile.
Professional Carpet Cleaning Can Eliminate Pet Odor
We highly recommend that only a potty trained dog be permitted access to areas of your home with carpeting, because most people lack either the expertise, the necessary equipment, or both to deal with pet accidents on their own.
Pet urine, one of the most common causes of both carpet stain and odor issues, can be quite difficult to remove. This is because the urine soaks through the carpet backing and crystallizes there. It can last there for many years. In humid conditions, these crystals dissolve and the odor comes back.
The only real way to eliminate urine odor is to thoroughly clean the front and back of the carpet and replace the affected pad. This is not a DIY project! A professional carpet cleaning company will have the training, tools, and experience to resolve your pet odor problems.
Dogs tend to sniff around and urinate in the same spot where they previously eliminated. If pet accidents are thoroughly cleaned, the urine smell is removed, making your carpet a less appealing potty option to your pet.
This is one of a series of articles written and published on behalf of Stone and Tile PROS Partners.