Bringing a puppy into your life is a wonderful experience... But it's not so great when you realize that until it's fully vaccinated, it can't go outside and will have to relieve itself at home. Of course, you can teach your dog to pee in a certain spot, but in the beginning you'll find more than one puddle on the floor and you'll have to clean it up well. But do you know why you shouldn't use bleach to clean up your dog's urine?
Dog urine and the sense of smell
The dog's urine and its sense of smell are closely connected.
We all know that dogs tend to have favorite spots to pee and they tend to urinate in the same spot over and over. This isn't because they like the spot or find it special, it's because there's a residue of urine that "calls" them there through their acute sense of smell to do their business.
In dogs that go outside, this helps them mark their territory: they can smell that other dogs have been there and mark it to indicate that they've been there too.
But the same thing happens when they pee inside. If your dog gets used to peeing in one spot, it will keep doing it there even if it's very well behaved, unless you clean it up properly.
That's when you should take into account why you shouldn't use bleach or ammonia to clean up your dog's urine.
Why you shouldn't use bleach or ammonia to clean up your dog's urine
The reason is simple. Your dog's pee has a certain ammonia smell. Even if bleach or the ammonia itself manage to disinfect a spot that's been marked with canine urine very well, it will still leave a smell that will encourage the dog to keep peeing there.
However, knowing this information about the importance of smell in making your dog pee in one spot also helps you avoid it. Why? Because just like the smell of bleach or ammonia can encourage it to pee there again, there are other smells that will repel it.
How to stop a dog from peeing in the same spot again
Now you know why you shouldn't use bleach or ammonia to clean up your dog's urine: its smell will attract it more.
But, as we said earlier, there are other aromas that will repel it. One of the smells that dogs find most unpleasant is citrus, especially lemon.
So you can squeeze lemons until you get 100 ml of juice, then mix it in a spray bottle with half a liter of water and a spoonful of baking soda.
Mix it all up well and spray it on the spots that are more likely to attract your dog's urine. Its smell will not only repel the dog, but it will also eliminate the smell trail it left in the area before.
Teach your dog to use a pee pad
As we said in the beginning, a puppy that hasn't completed its vaccination plan won't be able to go outside to do its business. Its immune system is still very sensitive and you could expose it to a lot of diseases.
So the little animal will have to do its business at home, but you can get a puppy used to a pee pad so it will always do it there.
It's true that furry ones don't have real control over their sphincters until they are three months old, so it may be hard for them to understand this teaching beforehand. But once they turn three months old, the education you give them in this aspect will be very helpful to them and mostly to you, so you don't find presents all around your house.
How to potty train your puppy to use a pee pad
To acclimate your dog to a pee pad, you should follow these steps:
- Place the pad in a place that doesn't bother anyone and is also quiet so the dog will do its business there. You can use a tray to place it under in case the pad doesn't absorb all the urine one day.
- "Introduce" the pad to your dog, making it a familiar object for him.
- Pay attention to your dog and when you notice he's about to pee or poo, pick him up and put him on the pad. There are certain moments when they are very punctual with this, like after eating and drinking water, playing or before sleeping. In addition, there are certain signs that will help you, like when the animal starts to make circles or sniffs a lot in one place. Especially if it's already done its business there before!
- If your pet does its business in the pad you've placed on the floor, reward its good behavior. You don't always have to use canine snacks for this, good words and caresses also work.
- Don't change the pad immediately after your dog has peed or pooped in it. The smell itself will call it the next times and will help it repeat the action.
Of course, remember that it will take time for it to get used to it, so don't scold or punish it if it doesn't manage the first times you try it.
Related: How To Potty Training a Puppy
Now you know why you shouldn't use bleach or ammonia to clean up your dog's urine, but also the alternatives that will help you. Have you taken note of them?