Do you know that training a dog to go to the bathroom in the right place is not at all simple? Many people encounter difficulties with their newly acquired dogs regarding potty training, which leads to various troubles for the owners in terms of cleaning and maintaining hygiene. Therefore, the question ‘how to train a dog to go to the bathroom in the right place?’ is always directly associated with those who have just welcomed these furry companions into their homes. With the simple potty training methods that Petsvn mentions below, you will certainly find the answer and make the bathroom routine of your little dogs no longer a nightmare.
Discovering the method to teach a dog to go to the bathroom in the right spot helps you gain more leisure time with your pet.
Causes of Dogs Going to the Bathroom in the Wrong Place
After going through multiple training sessions, but your dog continues to go to the bathroom in the wrong designated spot. At this point, you can adjust their psychological state. Training a dog that still intentionally goes in the wrong place might be due to their psychological fear of something. Or even, they might be stressed and have experienced physical punishment, making it difficult for them to establish the correct bathroom location.
Furthermore, there’s a possibility that the dog is suffering from intestinal issues such as diarrhea or worms, which can also prevent them from going to the bathroom in the right place. Therefore, upon noticing these signs, you can take them for a reexamination at veterinary clinics as soon as possible.
The signs that a dog is about to defecate.
When a pet dog is about to defecate, they will exhibit several signs such as walking in circles indoors. Sometimes, they will use their nose to sniff around objects. In other cases, they might crouch down and start whining. This is the moment when your dog is showing signs of needing to relieve itself. You can observe this timing to teach them to go to the bathroom in the designated spot. Alternatively, you can also watch for them to wake up, eat a meal, or leave the house, as these are often times when they might need to relieve themselves.
Where to Start Teaching Your Dog to Go to the Bathroom in the Right Place?
Each dog species will have different characteristics, so as a dog owner, you need to observe and pay attention to them when they need to relieve themselves. At the same time, observe where your dogs usually choose their bathroom spot. From there, you can choose a fixed spot for them to move easily. Create a biological clock for them. Similar to our bodies, when dogs have their own biological clock, they will have a reasonable time to relieve themselves. From this, you can easily control the time they choose to go to the bathroom.
Different Ways to Train Dogs to Go to the Bathroom in the Right Place
To provide you with a more specific perspective, we will share the three most common methods of training dogs to go to the bathroom. These are also the methods that training centers choose for dogs. You can refer to them and choose the most suitable method for your pet!
Training dogs to go to the bathroom outdoors
To train a dog to go to the bathroom outdoors, you need to ensure your space first. Ideally, you should have a spacious yard, so they can easily move outside to relieve themselves. The steps for training dogs to go to the bathroom outside are as follows: First, you will lead the dog outside along a specific path. This allows them to become familiar with this movement sequence. This also helps them remember the spot where they go to the bathroom. Repeat the process of leading them outside if you notice they need to go to the bathroom. This training method is not difficult, but you need time and patience during the process.
Training dogs not to go to the bathroom in the crate
Training dogs not to go to the bathroom in the crate helps keep their crate cleaner. It also helps limit certain infectious diseases when they go outside the crate. Being in a crate for a long time might cause them to hold in their bathroom needs. Therefore, in this method, you need to regularly take them outside and guide them back to their crate. Establish a suitable time period for them to relieve themselves. Then, follow similar steps as with the outdoor training method.
Training a dog to use a pad
This training helps the dog gradually become accustomed to relieving itself on a piece of paper or a pad placed underneath. The steps involved are quite simple as follows:
- Start by laying down a newspaper or pad where you want the dog to go potty. Choose a location that’s easy to clean, such as the bathroom or a designated spot. Pay attention to whether they show interest in using the pad; never force them onto it.
- Once you see the dog has used the pad for potty, remove the soiled one and replace it with a fresh pad in the same spot. This method also helps those who have limited space for their dogs, making the process more convenient and faster.
Scented spray for guiding proper elimination.
Do you want to train your dog to use a specific area, like a litter box or toilet? Leverage the dog’s conditioned reflex and instructional scent solution to establish a habit of going potty in the right place.
Spray this scented solution in the areas where you want the dog to potty and encourage them to sniff it when they show signs of needing to go. Repeat this process for several days so that the dog gets accustomed and recognizes the correct spot for elimination. After consistent repetition, your beloved pet will remember and develop the habit of using the right place for relieving itself.
Solution to guide dogs to go to the bathroom in the right place.
Spray into the tray you want the dog to use for going to the bathroom, helping the dog develop the reflex to go to the bathroom in the right place.
Bathroom habits.
Dogs have certain specific habits when it comes to relieving themselves, so it’s important to understand and train them based on those habits.
Please research the habits, timing, and signs of when dogs want to relieve themselves. From there, you can develop a comprehensive plan for teaching your dog to go potty in the right place. Dogs often want to relieve themselves when they wake up, after eating a full meal (or drinking), or when they leave the house (or their crate). Before going potty, dogs usually run around, sniff around, and make a lot of noise. Just paying a little attention can help you easily grasp your dogs’ habits and facilitate their training.
Reward and Encouragement – Punishment
It may not seem related, but this is an extremely effective way to train a dog to go potty in the right place. Dogs are very loyal to their owners and love to be cherished and praised, as well as rewarded when they do something well. Give your beloved pup a toy or a small treat when they go potty in the designated spot as you’ve taught them. This will encourage them to continue doing the right thing.
Reward when your dog goes to the bathroom in the right place.
However, when you catch your beloved dog going to the bathroom in the wrong place, you need to reprimand them on the spot. You can gently pat their buttocks, scold them, guide them to the correct spot for going to the bathroom, and then praise them. However, avoid scolding or punishing your dog while they are in the act of going to the bathroom, as this can create a negative association and make them think that going to the bathroom is wrong.
Teaching your dog to go potty outside.
For those of you who have a yard where your dog can go potty outside, making cleanup easier, or to avoid the expenses of indoor potty solutions, you can train them by leading them to the designated spot. Only open the door for them at specific times to go outside and potty. This way, your dog will learn to hold it until they are allowed to go outside and will remember the route to go potty outside on their own.
Lead, don’t carry your puppy outside to go potty, so that the dog remembers the way and develops a good habit when going outside to relieve itself.
How long does it take to potty train a dog?
Typically, for intelligent breeds like German Shepherds or hunting dogs, it may take around 4 to 5 days to become accustomed. For other breeds like Pugs or Chow Chows, it might take about 1 week.
Furthermore, the time it takes for a dog to learn to go potty in the right place also depends on each individual dog and their mood during training. However, patience is essential when training any pet. Avoid pressuring or punishing them for mistakes as it can make them fearful and less focused on practicing.
Training a dog isn’t overly difficult, and potty training is relatively simple if you have enough love, care, and a good understanding of your furry companion. The most important thing you need to invest is time, because ultimately, our beloved dogs are sentient beings, and they can’t be expected to learn or do things right in just one go.
Hopefully, the simple methods mentioned above will help you and your furry friend have a more comfortable life. To take care and train your pet well, it’s crucial to have a good understanding of their health, physiology, and if your dog is experiencing issues like loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, etc., be sure to bring them to the nearest veterinary clinic.
