With two new puppies creating puddles of pee and piles of poop every 4 minutes, we've been occupied with substantially more cleaning lately. It's a good thing Mother Nature made puppies so darn cute, even if she did make their deposits smelly. No matter how sorry our puppies seem to be, cleaning up after them is frustrating.
Fortunately, there are specially formulated products to eliminate the smell of urine and feces and to discourage your puppy from a repeat performance. We just heard a detailed lecture about pet odors from our vet at our puppy check-up. Dogs and cats have a gland right under the tail that secretes a hormone every time they pee or poop. They like this smell and come back to the same spot again and again to do the deed. Because this is a biological process, the best way to attack the remaining spots and smells is with biological warfare in the form of beneficial bacteria and enzyme digesters.
How to Clean up an Accident:
First, scoop up the poop or soak up urine by blotting with coffee filters or paper towels. On carpet, rinse the area with water or club soda to dilute the urine, then blot again with a clean towel. It helps to apply pressure with a stack of books and then wait for all the moisture to be absorbed.
Next, apply a cleaner/neutralizer with non-toxic enzymes formulated for pet messes (such as the products listed below) to the carpet or hard floor surface. For carpet, it might help to cover the area with plastic and leave it while the enzyme digester product breaks down the stain. Do not use a commercial stain remover before the enzyme cleaner and do not use ammonia (smells like urine). If the smell persists in carpets, try leaving a mixture of baking soda and lavender oil on the stain for several hours and then vacuuming. Remember that the urine will probably leak to the carpet pad, so that might have to be cleaned as well.
Pet Odor and Stain Removers:
We've known about Nature's Miracle for years and it has a steady track record with pet owners. We wondered what alternatives were available, especially in the eco-friendly category. Cleaning products are available in either a bottle, which is nice for cleaning fabrics, or a sprayer, which is handy for blasting hard surfaces. These options can be purchased at the usual pet stores or on-line (usually discounted) for about $9-12 per 32 oz. .
1. Dog Whisperer By Cesar Millan Natural Odor & Stain Remover -- This one has star power and lemongrass oil for a natural product that can be used on carpets, upholstery, hard surfaces and wood.
2. Earth Friendly Products Natural Stain & Odor Remover -- A gentle, non-toxic cleaner for organic stains that works on dirty laundry, fabric, carpeting, tile, sealed wood floors, upholstery, and furniture.
Four Paws Wee-Wee Super Strength Stain & Odor Remover
3. Four Paws Wee-Wee Super Strength Stain & Odor Remover -- Enzyme based solution that eliminates the odors to prevent pets from soiling again in the same area.
4. Pet Loo Liquid Ate Pet Stain & Odor Remover-- Formulated from 100% natural enzymes and botanicals that are carefully blended to effectively remove, not mask, stains and odors. Safe for water tolerant surfaces and fabrics, plus we like the name "Pet Loo".
5. Stink Free Hardfloor Pet Stain & Odor Remover-- Ideal for sealed wood, vinyl no-wax, ceramic and travertine tile, marble, linoleum, concrete, laminate and cork. Apparently, it removes the stink permanently.
6. Eco-Me Home Kit Natural Cleaning Tool Kit-- This is more of a general cleaning kit, but is utterly safe for cleaning up after pets. The idea is to mix your own solutions with vinegar, baking soda, and the included essential oils. It would be a great gift for a new home or pet owner (retail $29.99).
By the way, while writing this, we have stopped to clean up puppy messes eleven times.
Any other cleaning (or potty training) tips from pet owners?
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I'm sure you already know this, but a tip that I got years ago about potty training puppies is to take them outside immediately after they eat. Their little bodies want to eliminate when their tummies are full, so it's the best time to remind them that poop goes outside, not inside. It also gets them trained to poop after a meal. I have no advice about the pee. I think they just have to get old enough that they can "hold it" until they go outside.
The pictures are super cute. You even caught Leo with a look of "I'm sorry" on his face!
Great article! But my next question is why are you having to clean up so many messes? If you're doing preemptive potty breaks on a schedule you shouldn't be having so many accidents.
When my Chester (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) was really little I worked from home and I would set a timer to go off every 45 minutes or so and we would go out for a potty break. I hung a bell on a string on the door and when we went out the door I would guide his little nose to bump the bell and at the same time I would say something like "let's go out" and as soon as the urine started to flow I would say "go potty." In no time (2 weeks or so) he associated the bell with potty time AND he eventually learned to ring the bell on his own when he was a bit older and had more free range of the house. By saying a key phrase WHILE the pup is urinating they will also quickly learn to pee on command when you use that key phrase. They won't poop on command, but the peeing is rather easy to control.
The other key is to never let the pups out of your sight. They should always be in the same room with you until they're several months old so you can get used to their body language and learn what they're "telling" you. I could go on for paragraphs, but my suggestion is to go and get a basic potty training book like "How to Housebreak Your Dog in Seven Days" http://www.amazon.com/How-Housebreak-Your-Seven-Days/dp/0553346156. FYI, your pup will not be housebroken in just 7 days, but the concepts in this book are basic and time-tested and easy.
Good luck and thanks again for the great post!
We put puppy pads on the bathroom floor. If we caught puppy in the act we'd run him over to the puppy pads. He caught on pretty well... which is good because we weren't kenneling him while we were at work! If puppy isn't old enough to hold it while you work - don't kennel for long periods...
Nature's miracle is good- I've ended up using Folex spot cleaner for everything at home and it has been great. I found it at Lowes. I don't know if it does as much for odors, but it's very good on old spots.
We also took puppy out after eating and other routine times... we would say 'hurry up' while he went to associate with that.
Wow, this post came about a week late for me. Our cats have been treating the landing at the bottom of the basement stairs as a litter box for some time now. We'd tried the Woolite pet stain remover (don't use it, it doesn't work!) as well as a few other brands. Part of the problem is cats like to pee in the most akward place...corners. We're having to replace trim and a door frame because of it! It was so bad it got into the concrete and we couldn't even get out the smell with vinegar. We put down vinyl tile (sorry eco-friendlies) mostly because a. it's easy, b. it can handle the leaks our basement is prone to, and c. it makes cleanup easy for repeat visits. We moved the litter to the laundry room and they seem happy now. Hopefully it stays this way. I will make sure to pick up a bottle of cleaner for the future though!
for those of you trying to go paper towel free, or at least cut down on paper towel usage, you may want to try using sham-wows (or any chamois) and mops with changeable microfiber cloths, so that you can throw those things in the washing machine instead of using a bunch of paper towels. that's what we do.
plus, nothing smells grosser than a trash can full of pee-soaked paper towels. guh!
I don't recommend using puppy pads... all that does is teach your dog that it is OK to pee inside the house (even if it is in a designated area). It's best just to take the dog outside frequently. If you work all day and can't be home, there are usually people in the neigborhood (kids!) that would love nothing more than to come over and play with a puppy and take him outside for you.
My favorite cleaner for carpets is Spot Shot. It works so well on pet stains. You spray it on and the stain usually disappears right before your eyes! It's fabulous.
oooohmygosh so cute! Must go look at lolcats now...
Here's my tip: adopt a dog that is a little older and can be immediately housetrained or crated. Voila!
AmandainAustin, we do it the other way around. We take our dog out to do his thing and then we feed him. We see it more as a treat for doing the right thing.
But I guess the main thing is having a routine and being consistent.
Now, if I could only teach him not to throw up on our living room rug.
Monica: We are taking the puppies out as often as we can, but it just isn't enough. Our house can get a bit distracting with two pups and two kids, so we must not hit the timing right all the time. I am about to go shop for a new timer to remind us!
Also, I will say that the potty training ability varies quite a bit among breeds. Our fist dog, Lucy, was is an obsessive compulsive lab/chow (the one who sheds alot) and she potty trained in two days. Weenie dogs are known for taking a long time to train :(
We have 2 dogs and 3 cats. And have had our fair share of messes. I usually:
1)blot up the urine (thank you old ratty towels)
2) dump hydrogen peroxide on the spot (ONLY if your carpet is coloursafe)
3) blot up peroxide
4) steam clean with my little green cleaner (oh THANK YOU BISSELL for inventing this thing!!!)
5) once dry, cover generously with baking soda, with some essential oil dropped onto it (I really like ylang ylang- but make sure your pet can't get at it).
6) leave for several hours then vaccum.
Seems to work for us, takes about 15 minutes to clean up carpet. And we have BIG. DOGS. Our Chocolate Lab (now 16 months) was 7 months when we got her from a guy in a small apartment- who had trained her to go on paper in a corner (shaking my head). Took a LONG time to break her of going inside! And our older Lab, Moe, is, well, OLD. So sometimes she has accidents. Oru cats really seem to like to pee on plastic bags. So, we learned not to leave shopping bags (ESPECIALLY those with stuff in them!) lying around. Other than that, the cats are great.
We potty trained our dog fully in five days, with only one accident. We had a dog trainer from the time we got him and he gave us a few tips that really helped. Maybe my two-cents, for what it's worth, will help you too.
1. Don't use pee pads. Besides being absolutely disgusting and environmentally wasteful, you will have to train your dogs twice which is more work for you and confusing to the dogs.
2. Crating is absolutely necessary. (It isn't mean in the least, they will come to view them as their safe dens--put a stuffed kong with them on the outside and they will beg to be let in-- and it's only temporary as by about 6 months or so you will be able to wean them away). Put the crate in a quiet spot, the bedroom is perfect, away from the busy activities of the day and it's comforting at night to hear you breathing nearby.
3. When they've been in a couple hours and you know they have to go, take them out one at a time (training of any sort should always be done separately so you can concentrate your attention on each dog) and immediately take the dog outside -- use key words i.e. " time to go potty-- hurry up" or whatever you like and give the dog 4 minutes, if it doesn't go in 4 min, bring them back to the crate and try in another 20min (to avoid potty time becoming playing/farting around time).
4. Act like when they go it's the most exciting thing you've ever seen -- treat them with especially tasty potty training treats saved only for this and put on a big production. After when you know they are empty they a good to play and training games outside or their crates for an hour or so. Then back in their crates for napping and repeat, repeat, repeat.
5. Remember that if they have an accident, it isn't their fault, it's yours -- for not being vigilant. You will also come to know their cues that tell you they have to go (i.e. suddenly become still, etc) If they have an accident, IGNORE it. If possible don't even let them see you clean it up. Dogs, and especially cats, will act out for attention, even negative attention. If they have an accident I would just use warm water and vinegar or similar depending on the surface as I would be reluctant to use chemicals around baby puppies as they spend so much time on the floor-- but that's just me.
Hope even a little of that is helpful to you. Best of luck.
biokleen.
my parents swear by "kids & pets", but i never see that in the stores.
Wow, sorry for the horrible grammar. I guess there is something to be said for 'baby brain' after all!
My Maltese, Daisy, loved to go on my old white shag rug. I replaced it with a Room & Board cable rug and bought a gate to keep her little ass out of the living room while I was gone.
She's a gem because I have litter-box trained her and as long as I keep that gate up while I am away from home, she always uses her litter box.
A friend of mine puppy-pad trained his miniature dachshund years ago. He uses the pads faithfully and refuses to use potty outside.
Misty: The timer will help A LOT! I understand it can be confusing with kids too, but it is very key to know what the little pups are doing at every moment. If you have to use portable baby gates to ensure that they are always within 6 or 8 feet of you at all times because they can wander off in the blink of an eye and tinkle in the corner and you won't know about it for hours! They're sneaky AND fast little buggers and they're no different than human kids as far as needing supervision goes. I also agree about crating them at night. My dogs sleep in their crates in the bedroom and as pups they never cried or fussed and if they did need to go potty in the middle of the night they would gently paw at the crate door and I would take them out.
I admire your decision to have 2 puppies at the same time and I wish you TONS of luck. Raising/training 2 little pups at the same time is much harder than just 1 but it will worth it. They are adorable and once they grow up a bit they will be the greatest little treasures ever! Give them kisses from me and my pups!
Good luck! My English Shepherd puppy just graduated, and now my life is back to normal. I have my doubts about Nature's Miracle, since she would always go back and sniff the spot after I'd cleaned it.
I adopted an older dog - he was 7 months at the time - so not technically a puppy like your 2 cute ones. I was lucky in that I lived across the street from a dog park, but definitely the wee pads helped a lot. I can recommend the "Little Stinkers" brand - they have a green packaging on the outside. I don't know if its related - but I had a cat at the time - and he saw her go into her litter box, and after a while - he went on the wee pad when she would go.
Two puppies at the same time!! So adorable, but so much work!! good luck!!
My parents have two dogs they got at the same time and I remember when they were puppies they seemed to be round-the-clock potty machines. As soon as you cleaned up after one, you'd find a mess by the other one! All day long!
Adorable pups! I love dachsies!
I agree with earlier poster that the sham wow is a wonderful thing. I use it to dry my dog after a bath, and he's quite furry (a wheaten mix).
And to anyone attempting to housetrain train a dog, it can be easy. Just take your dog out every thirty minutes (which i know can be a pain), name the deed, say the name when s/he is actually doing it, and reward them with a treat immediately afterwards. in about a weeks time, (or up to two weeks) your potty training woes will be solved. I only had to clean up after my puppy once doing this and that one time it was absolutely my fault by not keeping the schedule. By letting the dog make mistakes you are prolonging the amount of time it will take to train them.
And a crate is really your best friend. Most dogs won't go in their crates if it is appropriately sized. Just stuff a Kong with peanutbutter and freeze it and it'll keep them busy for a long time.
I agree with the other posters that it sounds like your potty training method isn't the best if you're cleaning up that many messes. I potty trained my 10 week old puppy in less than a week with only two accidents (only pee, no poo). Here's what I did:
1. Take her out every hour during the day and every two and a half hours at night (yes, wake yourself up).
2. Take her to the same spot outside each time.
3. Give her a full 5 minutes to do her business. She might not go every time, but give her a chance!
4. Use a key word to tell her that it's time to go. I say "Go potty." in a sing-songy voice.
5. When she goes, give a treat and lots of excited praise and petting.
6. When you are inside, keep her close to you at all times. You can tether her to your belt with a leash if you don't have baby gates or appropriate doors on your rooms.
Good luck! Your pups are adorable :)
I don't have much to add, really, but I can't resist stopping by to say "Awww! So cute!"
Let me just say that those puppies are just about the cutest I've ever seen. Now for cleaning pet stains, take a paper towel and step on the stain (with a shoe) until no more urine shows up on the paper towel. Then get a bowl of cold water, Dawn and vinegar and scrub it with a scrub brush over the stain. In my experience this gets stains and odors out of beige carpeting.
So cute! And I have to chime in to say that the above advice about a) a very strict schedule (including waking up in the middle of the night), b) huge rewards for going outside and no attention at all for going inside, and c) baby gates, crating, or a tether to your belt when indoors worked like a dream for our dog, too. So much so that we don't even own any pet stain cleaning products...
I know it seems like an overwhelming amount of work (and am completely on your side if you feel exhausted just thinking about it), but it will make your life so much better to invest the time and energy now and never have to worry about cleaning up a pet mess again. (Not to mention that breaking them of the habit of going indoors when they're older will be even harder and, no matter how many cleaning products you have, some of your flooring will eventually be ruined.)
PS Are your kids old enough that they could be responsible for some of the morning/afternoon/early evening trips outside?
This post isn't really about housebreaking, it's about cleaning products... No matter how you break your pet or how well trained you think they are, there is going to be a time when they are sick or get old and will have an accident in the house; there's no way around it. So you still need to know how to clean up their mess.
Any odor remover made specifically for pet messes will work, just never, NEVER clean them up with chemical cleaners or you'll be kicking yourself forever. Even soap and water is better. Chemical solvents 100% set the hormone's odor into your floor (carpet, wood, whatever it is). Once that smell is set, it will be forever signaling "toilet" to your pet (and any other animal that comes into your home). Aside from having worked in the pet industry for years, I am a multile pet owner and have seen this for myself, learned the hard way. It's not worth it to use anything else.
I agree with mattiemay on the smell! You can also use microfiber cloths! (I picked up a 16 pack of "heavy duty" microfiber washcloths at Lowe's for $8. They absorb a TON and get thrown right into the wash with vinegar and baking soda.)
I also have to agree with all the other comments about preemptive potty breaks, too. Puppies need to pee after waking, eating, and playing. (All of which they do a lot of.)
My husband and I adopted a little Cairn earlier this year, and unbeknownst to us, or the rescue facility, she was nearly a month pregnant at that time. We found ourselves with two more surprise puppies, so we're dealing with the same issues. I can't recommend Anti-Icky Poo and Urine-Off enough! I prefer the former to the latter, but the Urine-Off definitely works for the tougher messes I deal with (Carpets, soaked into our wood trims, etc.) I've also tried Petastic (which is, supposed to be, the original Nature's Miracle formula (that they don't make anymore, as far as I know.)) without much success.
If you're inside with the pups, but can't watch them, CRATE THEM! Or block them in an area where it's not a big deal if they mess. Puppies, physically, don't have (nearly) full control of their bladder until they're roughly 12 weeks old. The crate training has helped, immensely! Ours can go 4-5 hours in a crate at night before they need to be let out to potty and drink, at 9 weeks.
Good luck!
Great tips in the comments section! I hope to adopt a dog soon, so if I get a young pup, I will definitely be revisiting this post!
It's wonderful posts like this that make me want an AT Pets site even more! Come on AT...we want a place for our pet discussions!!!
Sweet picture! Two puppies at the same time is indeed tough. I used to keep my puppy leashed and tied to me until he was potty trained. (In other words, under constant supervision- every second.) At the slightest hint of agitation, it was outside. My command was "hurry up".
I wonder how old they are? If they are still babies, they might not have the bladder control to hold it longer than a breath. Once they get past the tiny baby stage, it should get easier. I know at least two breeders of PWDs who don't like to let their pups go until 16 weeks, so they can have a shot at having bladder control.
Such adorable puppies ^_^
I have a 19 year old dog that cannot hold it anymore so I use Happy Jack Belly Belt and I buy mens Poise Ultimate Incontinence pads or generic ones from the drug store.
These are a life saver, the pads are super absorbent.
http://www.bestdogdiapers.com/sizes.html
I never was big on crating and only when cleaning people or workers were in the house, but I feel its good to get them use to it for these reasons and if there is an emergency.
If you are going to crate here is some helpful information from the SPCA. Crating is not the answer for not training and should not be abused-
http://www.sfspca.org/sites/default/files/crating_0.pdf
http://www.mistermax.com/
This worked really well when my girl as a puppy.
subjective post here not entirely off-subject: best dog training book by best trainer on planet
"Paws for a Minute" by Inger Martens
how I wish I had known what she knows (and teaches so clearly) long ago. really worth checking out (yes, terrible title... just rise above)
lots of secondhand copies knocking around on amazon
We'd put her (our mini poodle) on a 6' leash and tie the end to our jeans belt loop so she was always underfoot. This meant we could catch her the instanst she started to pee and say "NO" before rushing her outside and praising the begeezes out of her when she continued outside. She potty trained in about 6 weeks completely...even when we were gone all day! The worst was at night. My husband would get up to go to the bathroom so she'd think it was time and pee too!
Hang in there. It WILL get better.
Perfect timing! We get our great dane puppy next month and I'm preparing myself for some BOMs (Big O' Messes). Ha. Sorry. Anyway, thanks for the tips!
Thanks for the great ideasLoriSF, my best friend is 18 and accidents are part of the picture despite frequent trips outside. Unfortunately, this is a situation that will end - but until then you want to show as much love as you can every day and keep your buddy in the thick of things as much as possible.
I have taken to using the oil slick containment boom system: I border the traffic paths in my all tile greatroom (the most frequent spill spot) with long side rolled-up towels. It keeps the urine from running into baseboards and under cabinets, and a big stack of ready towels replace any called to action. Looks weird, but they're a snap to hide away for company and a lifesaver for a quick mopup before a quick vinegar wash.
It's a bit of work and clutter, but not when you think of all he's given me over the years.
I definitely would not use the Stink Free Hardfloor Pet Stain & Odor Remover recommended above. I tried it for the first time last week and the fragrance in it is very very strong. Made me feel sick. It's faded somewhat but my rug still smells like urine :(
@businessgypsy- but until then you want to show as much love as you can every day and keep your buddy in the thick of things as much as possible"
Glad you have your buddy going strong too.. Oh believe me Bart is in the thick of everything and then some..that is why he keeps on going :)) I try not to miss much and my life is centered around him right now. I've had him from day one and he is the joy of my life man belt or not.
Avoid the mess in the first place:
Before bringing a puppy home, you should investigate and apply crate training. If you're taking puppy out right after he eats and giving him lots of praise when he does his duty (you'll look like a fool, but pups love that), that's half your victory. Put him right back in his appropriately sized crate after going potty. Leave him there for a few minutes before taking him out for play so he learns the difference between going out for business and going out for play. They're really smarter than we think.
Dogs don't like to make a mess in their crate (den).
It's not mean. They love their little dens. Life will be easier. Way fewer cleanups. Cute pups.
I agree with Monica and alayam.
Don't waste your money on an of this stuff. Use a solution of 50% water 50% white vinegar. It neutralizes the ammonia in the urine so that the puppy will not smell it again and think to urinate in the spot again.
Baking soda sprinkled on top will pull up any stain (if the vinegar hasn't done enough).
Please post an update on your pups in a few months and let us all know how they're doing! They're so adorable.