While cleaning up is one of the less pleasant aspects of puppy housetraining, it is certainly a critical one if you hope to succeed. Many people assume they can simply wipe the puddles up with a towel and be done with it. Unfortunately that just isn’t enough in most cases.
Dog pee clean up is not rocket science, but there are a few things you should know. You should not use ammonia based cleaners, as dogs are actually attracted to those as if you never cleaned the area at all. Be sure you clean the area larger than main spot, to be sure you get any tracked pee or poop from when your dog left the area. Those little wet paw prints are often overlooked. And, of course, all dogs are different. Some are much easier to housebreak than others.
To clean a carpeted area:
- Pick up poop and blot pee with paper towels or rags
- Sprinkle w/baking soda and let sit just a few minutes
- Vacuum
- Neutralize
- Repel if needed
To clean solid flooring:
- Pick up poop and blot pee with paper towels or rags
- Wipe clean using a clean mop, sponge or rags with a non-ammonia based cleaner
- Wipe clean AGAIN with a fresh mop, sponge or rags and fresh cleaning solution (not the bucket you rinsed the first round in.
- Neutralize
- Repel if needed
To neutralize the area, you may use a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water (spray and blot) or you may purchase a neutralizer from a pet store. You may need to repeat this step if your dog keeps going back to spots you have already neutralized. You may use a black-fluorescent light to see urine spots that you can’t see with the naked eye if you think there are old spots you have missed. Be sure to clean and neutralize all previously soiled areas you may have missed, if your dog just seems to be going pee all over the house.
If your dog still goes back to pee in that spot, you may need to add step 5 (repel) to your arsenol. You may use a pungent perfume or air freshener as a repellent. Dogs have a very keen sense of smell, and often dislike those fragrances. My Boston Terrier won’t even sit in my lap if I put my favorite fragrant lotion on my hands. You may otherwise wish to purchase a dog repellent from a pet store.
If you diligently follow these instructions, your dog should have no reason to keep going back to those same spots to pee or poop.