Staffy training is much easier than you think. The problems start with the word Housebreaking the wrong premise – breaking. It’s as if you want to make the Staffy puppy stop being a Staffy puppy and function like a perfect little toy. That’s neither fair nor realistic.

A pet owner who wants to establish a positive relationship with the pet is focused on housetraining. This approach shows the Staffy puppy how to live comfortably in your environment.

Forget the old school methods that teach you to start paper training and swatting a Staffy puppy the first day it’s home. Whether you bring home a Staffy puppy or an adult Staffy, you’re taking this animal from the environment it knows and going into an environment that’s totally foreign to it.

The Staffy has no idea what room is okay to go in and what room is off limits. A rescue Staffy or crated Staffy puppy is so excited to have space to walk and freedom to roam that your home is a virtual theme park of wonders. Add to that the presence of other pets or children and the excitement is almost too much to contain.

Housetraining takes your time. You need to work with your Staffy in every room. If the living room is off limits and you notice him sniffing for a place to toilet, then gently pick him up, say “No” firmly without shouting, and then place him on the floor of the kitchen with his newspapers or take him outside.

You may have to do that dozens of times until he gets the message, but it will happen. Make sure you balance the “no-no” spaces with the “yes” spaces. Once your Staffy has learned the essential house rules for toilet zones, you still have to allow for the unexpected.

A Staffy, particularly a Staffy puppy, who is alone and frightened by a thunderstorm or other loud noises may have a toilet accident. Or there may be a medical issue that requires you attention. Like humans, Staffys can get urinary tract infections that make bladder control difficult.

A sudden change in toilet training levels can be a cue that your Staffy’s behavior change is from a physical problem, not defiance. As your Staffy ages, bladder control will fail just as it does for many aging humans.

Any drastic change in routine can get your Staffy off his toilet training path to success, too. Visiting relatives, home remodeling or emotional distress are all factors that can cause a Staffy to be lax in housetraining.

Think about what’s going on around the home as possible reasons why the Staffy is feeling confused about what’s happening around him and responding erratically. Restore order as you patiently go back and reinforce housetraining in positive ways.

Best Wishes For You and Your Staffy

Denise