Buzz
Training your dog to relieve itself in the right spot at any age is relatively simple; it requires patience, consistency, and understanding. According to dog training expert David Levin, the most crucial aspect of teaching your dog where to go is to act quickly: if you notice your dog about to pee indoors, take it outside immediately. Over time, your dog will learn to wait. During the training period, take your dog outside as often as possible, keep enzyme-based cleaning solutions ready, and refer to additional tips in this article for cleaning up accidents when they occur indoors.
Steps
Establish a Routine for Your Dog
Take your dog out on a fixed schedule. Establishing a routine is crucial for dogs of all ages, especially puppies. Puppies can typically hold their bladder for about one hour per month of age, meaning they need to go outside every hour. It’s best to help your dog develop a routine as quickly as possible to avoid future issues.
- In addition to the correlation between age and bladder control, remember to take your dog out first thing in the morning, during or after playtime, and after meals or drinking water. Timing also affects your dog’s ability to hold it (e.g., at night). When you first bring a puppy home, train it by taking it out every 20-30 minutes.
Take your dog to a designated spot for potty breaks. Whether you’re walking your dog or letting it roam freely in a fenced area, it’s crucial to assign a specific location for your dog to relieve itself. This could be a tree near your home or a particular spot in the yard. Whatever location your dog chooses, ensure it’s always accessible during the training process to reinforce outdoor potty habits.
Rewarding Good Behavior
Use verbal commands during walks. Try associating a verbal command with the spot your dog chooses to relieve itself or any area you pass right after leaving the house. You can use commands like “Go potty” every time your dog urinates in the correct spot. Over time, your dog will respond to the command and link it to the act of relieving itself.
Praise your dog. Whenever your dog follows the “go potty” command during outdoor breaks, immediately praise it and offer a reward within three seconds of the positive behavior. Prompt praise and rewards are essential because, after a long delay, your dog may struggle to connect its actions with the reward.
Gradually reduce food rewards. As training progresses, slowly decrease the frequency of giving your dog food treats after it relieves itself and eventually phase them out entirely. While treats are a valuable and helpful tool in the early stages of training, they shouldn’t become a long-term habit.
Incorporating Crate Training
Choose the right crate. You can combine crate training with teaching your dog to go potty outside. Dogs view their crate as a small personal territory and will avoid soiling it. However, crate training isn’t simple and requires time, patience, and ensuring your dog feels comfortable inside the crate.
- Dog crates come in various styles and materials. Besides plastic crates often used for travel, there are metal crates with foldable frames. Select one that suits your needs, and if you’re concerned about your dog damaging it, opt for a durable option that resists chewing or breaking.
- Pick a crate of the right size. An ideal crate should be spacious enough for an adult dog to stand upright, turn around, and stretch out comfortably. If it’s too large, your dog might designate a corner for relieving itself. If it’s too small, your dog will feel cramped and uncomfortable.
- If your dog is still growing, consult your vet about selecting a crate size that accommodates its estimated adult size.
Gradually introduce your dog to the crate. Rushing to confine your dog without prior introduction can cause panic and fear. Instead, encourage your dog to explore the crate at its own pace using a gentle, encouraging tone whenever it approaches.
- Keep the crate door open and occasionally place treats inside. Start by placing treats near the entrance and gradually move them deeper inside.
- Allow your dog to explore the crate freely, keeping the door open so it feels like a safe, accessible space.
Start feeding your dog in the crate. Once your dog is comfortable entering the crate, begin feeding it meals inside. This helps your dog associate the crate with daily routines.
- Close the crate door during meals. Initially, open it immediately after your dog finishes eating to avoid causing distress, then gradually increase the duration over several days by a minute or two.
- If your dog whines, barks, or cries, don’t let it out immediately. Wait until it calms down before opening the door. Releasing your dog while it’s vocalizing teaches it that making noise leads to freedom.
- Once your dog can stay comfortably in the crate for half an hour without issues, you can start using it when leaving the house or at night. Be prepared for it to take several weeks for your dog to adjust to being alone in the crate.
Begin regular crate confinement. Once your dog seems comfortable staying in the crate alone for short periods, start using it when you need to leave the house. It’s best to crate your dog just before leaving to avoid confusion or anxiety about why it’s confined while you’re still home.
- Always let your dog out to relieve itself before crating. Insufficient outdoor time increases the likelihood of accidents inside the crate.
- Never use the crate as punishment. Avoid associating the crate with scolding or discipline. By continuing to feed your dog in the crate and using it solely for training purposes (e.g., preventing mischief while you’re away), your dog will develop a positive association with it.
Handling Indoor Accidents
Don’t punish your dog for accidents. Even after successful potty training, occasional indoor accidents may still happen. These incidents can occur frequently during the training process. Remember, your dog isn’t doing this intentionally and will gradually learn to correct this behavior.
- DO NOT scold your dog or rub its nose in the mess. This won’t teach your dog anything and may make it fear you. Stay calm, handle the situation patiently, and show understanding toward your pet.
Intervene when catching your dog in the act. If you catch your dog urinating indoors, create a loud noise, such as clapping or shouting “outside,” to startle it. Then, immediately take your dog outside and praise it when it finishes relieving itself outdoors.
Clean up your dog’s mess thoroughly. Dogs have a keen sense of smell and may associate the spot they soiled with a designated potty area if the odor isn’t completely removed. This can become a recurring issue, especially with puppies. Use an enzyme-based cleaner to eliminate all traces of the mess when accidents happen indoors.
- If you have a yard, you can turn accidents into training opportunities. After cleaning up, take a paper towel soaked with your dog’s urine to its designated outdoor spot, place it on the ground, and secure it with a rock or stick. When your dog smells its urine on the towel, it will form a strong association between relieving itself and going outside. Once your dog understands this and starts going outdoors, you can discard the soiled towel.
Identify potential underlying issues. If your dog continues to have indoor accidents, it might be dealing with a health or behavioral problem. Consult your vet to determine if your dog is experiencing any of the following:
- Urinary tract infection.
- Surface preference (only wanting to relieve itself on specific textures or surfaces).
- Anxiety or fear of going outside.
- Separation anxiety.
- Marking territory indoors.
- Excitement or submissive urination.
Advice
- Training some dogs may take longer, but you can teach a dog of any age to relieve itself in the right place. Be patient and encourage/praise good behavior.
- If your dog still relieves itself indoors, take it outside more often. If it doesn’t go after a 10-minute walk, bring it inside but keep the leash on. Take it out again after 10-15 minutes. Repeat this process until it goes outside.
- If you find your dog relieving itself around the house, you might not be supervising it properly.
- If your dog relieves itself in its crate, the crate might be too large, or you might not be taking it out frequently enough.
- Consult a veterinarian if you suspect health issues causing excessive urination or defecation. If health concerns are ruled out, consider consulting a dog trainer or animal behaviorist to address the issue.
