Buzz
Teaching a puppy or an adult dog to go potty in the right place can be frustrating, but almost every dog can learn to wait by the door and go outside instead of relieving themselves indoors. Set a feeding schedule and take your dog out regularly. When your dog successfully goes potty outside, praise and reward them. If accidents happen indoors, clean up and stick to the routine, as punishment will only make your dog fearful. With a little patience and humor, you can train your dog to adapt to the life of a well-behaved house pet.
Steps
Establish a Routine
Take your dog out frequently. This is the most crucial step in teaching your dog to go potty outside. It might sound excessive, but try to take your dog out as often as possible, ideally every half hour. Stick to the schedule and avoid skipping any planned outings, as your dog will gradually associate these trips with potty time.
- If you're training a puppy, you'll need to take them out even more frequently. Puppies have small bladders and can't hold it for long.
Feed your dog on a schedule. Provide meals at the same times each day, ideally in the morning and evening, then wait 20-30 minutes before taking your dog outside. A consistent feeding routine makes it easier to predict when your dog needs to relieve themselves, simplifying the training process.
- Puppies require three meals a day. If you have a young pup, ensure they are fed lunch on time as well. Remember, puppies need to be taken out more frequently due to their smaller bladders.
Learn to interpret signs that your dog needs to go. These signs include pacing with a stiff posture, sniffing the floor as if searching for a spot, holding their tail in an unusual position, and similar behaviors. If your dog shows these signs, take them outside immediately, even if it’s not their scheduled time. Use a cue word like “outside” before heading out. Over time, you can ask your dog if they need to go by simply using the cue word.
- When teaching your dog to go outside, you’re also teaching them that relieving themselves must happen outdoors. The idea of “potty = outside” will strengthen with each successful trip.
- Always take your dog out 20-30 minutes after meals and drinking water, as these are times when they’re most likely to need to go.
Choose a specific outdoor spot. Pick a designated area in your backyard or, if you don’t have one, a grassy patch or similar location. Take your dog to the same spot every time they need to go. Dogs thrive on routine, and this consistency will help them feel comfortable and less stressed. Use a command like “go potty” when you reach the spot. Your dog will learn to associate the location with relieving themselves.
- Always follow local regulations for cleaning up after your dog. If you must use a public area, carry bags to dispose of waste properly.
Supervise your dog during potty training. When bringing home a new puppy or adult dog, closely monitor them to prevent indoor accidents. Supervision is essential, as it helps your dog quickly associate the need to go with being taken outside. Stopping accidents before they happen is the most effective way to train your dog.
- If you can’t be home all day, ask someone to take your dog out multiple times. Ensure they use the designated spot each time.
Use a crate at night or when you’re away. If left unsupervised at night, your puppy will likely have accidents. Reduce this risk by placing them in a cozy crate overnight or when you’re not home. Dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping area, so they’ll wait until they’re taken outside.
- The crate should feel like a safe, comfortable space, not a punishment. Never use the crate as a form of discipline, or your dog will associate it with fear rather than comfort.
- Avoid leaving your dog in the crate for too long. If forced to wait excessively, they’ll have no choice but to go inside. Dogs need exercise and playtime, so limit crate time to a few hours or overnight.
Clean up immediately if your dog has an accident. If your dog makes a mess indoors (and they likely will), clean it up promptly and use a cleaning solution to eliminate odors. If your dog smells a lingering scent in a particular spot, they’ll assume it’s an appropriate place to go.
- Don’t punish your dog for accidents. Simply clean up and stick to the schedule.
Reward Your Dog for Good Behavior
Reward and praise your dog when they do the right thing. Dogs learn best through positive reinforcement, and they’ll quickly figure out how to earn rewards. Every time your dog goes potty in the correct spot, give them a tasty treat, praise them, and give them a gentle pat.
- Be consistent with rewards. Always reward your dog immediately after they go in the right place.
- Of course, you can also reward your dog for other good behaviors, such as sitting or staying calm. Every positive action deserves recognition.
Reward at the right moment. When your dog goes potty in the correct spot, reward and praise them as soon as they finish. Don’t reward too early or too late; otherwise, your dog won’t connect the reward with the action.
Consider using a bell as a training aid. Many people successfully train their dogs using a bell instead of treats as a reward. When your dog goes potty in the right place, ring a bell or play a pleasant chime as a reward. Your dog will come to associate the sound with this specific behavior.
- The downside is that you may eventually want to stop ringing the bell every time. Your dog might become confused when you phase out this habit.
Maintain a gentle and affectionate tone and demeanor. Whenever you take your dog out to potty or discuss it, keep your voice calm and soothing. Avoid yelling or using a threatening tone, as your dog may start associating their natural needs with punishment and fear. If your dog has an accident indoors, you can withhold praise, but never scold or shame them.
- If you use cue words like “outside,” “potty,” or “good,” be consistent. Repeated words paired with actions and environments will reinforce the desired behavior.
Never punish your dog for accidents. Dogs don’t respond well to punishment. It will only make them fearful, and instead of learning to please you, they’ll become afraid of you. Avoid yelling, hitting, or any action that might scare your dog.
- Don’t rub your dog’s nose in their mess. Contrary to some beliefs, this doesn’t teach them to avoid accidents. Your dog won’t understand what you’re doing, and it will only make them fearful.
Training Your Dog to Use Pee Pads in an Apartment
Choose a discreet, easily accessible spot. If you live in a high-rise apartment, you won’t always be able to take your dog outside when they need to go. Select a spot in your apartment—not in the middle of the living area—but somewhere your dog can easily access. A corner in the laundry room or kitchen works well. Opt for a spot with hardwood or vinyl flooring rather than carpet.
Line the chosen spot with newspaper or a pee pad. Newspaper is an inexpensive material you can use to create a potty area for your dog. Pee pads are also available at pet stores. Choose the option that works best for your household.
- You can also use a dog litter box. If you also take your dog outside, consider filling the box with dirt. This way, your dog will understand they can go both indoors and outdoors.
- Note that dogs may get used to going on newspaper if that’s all you use.
Take your dog to the designated potty spot on a schedule. Just like outdoor potty training, guide your dog to the pee pad at specific times throughout the day. Do this multiple times daily and whenever your dog shows signs of needing to go.
Replace the pee pad regularly, but leave a small portion with dried urine. The scent of urine will remind your dog that the pad is the correct spot to relieve themselves. While solid waste should be cleaned immediately, leaving a small piece of soiled newspaper or pad on the clean one helps your dog understand where to go.
Reward your dog for using the pad correctly. Every time your dog goes on the pad, give them a treat, praise, and affection. Over time, your dog will associate using the pad with positive feelings and will start using it independently.
Tips
- Start training your dog as early as possible.
- Remember that accidents will happen occasionally, and they’re sometimes unavoidable. Your dog is still learning and can only hold it for so long. Puppies, in particular, have less control over their needs.
- If your dog has an accident on a hard floor, clean it up with paper towels and disinfect the area with antibacterial wipes. This prevents your dog from returning to their “favorite spot” because the scent is gone.
- If left alone for 8 hours straight, a puppy will likely have accidents. Consider hiring someone to let your dog out or confine them to an area without carpet for easier cleanup.
Warnings
- Taking your dog out to potty doesn’t replace exercise or walks. Regular physical activity is essential for your dog’s health.
- A fearful posture from your dog doesn’t mean they understand they’ve done something wrong. Your dog is confused by your anger. Even if they realize you’re upset about the mess, this reaction can backfire. Your dog might think you disapprove of them relieving themselves at all, leading them to hide it and making training harder.
- Never punish your dog for accidents. Yelling, hitting, or rubbing their nose in the mess won’t teach them anything useful. If you don’t catch them in the act, your dog won’t understand why you’re upset. Hurting your dog in any way is considered animal abuse.
