Dogs are not born to find the toilet like cats. Many dog owners have had trouble with their “little naughty” dogs peeing and peeing everywhere. To keep your home tidy, here are some effective ways to train your dog to use the toilet in a specific area.
1. Grasp the dog’s toilet time
Usually, puppies must defecate about 30 minutes after a meal or 15 minutes after drinking water. It would be best to be alert when your dog sniffs around on the ground. He may be looking for a suitable place to go to the toilet. Puppies have high defecation frequency and irregularity, but generally, after 6 months of age, they will defecate twice a day and urinate 2-5 times a day. Every dog has different habits, so you need to pay close attention.
In addition, dogs usually have a bowel movement after waking up in the morning. You can take your dog to a designated potty spot when he wakes up and let him stay there for a while. At the same time, use a unique tone to say commands such as “Hurry up” to the dog. Doing so will help your dog develop the habit of going to the toilet at a fixed location and also help it gradually understand your commands.
2. Recognize the signs of dogs going to the toilet
The signs before a dog poops are obvious. They will sniff around the ground, circle, and choose a suitable spot. At this time, you can take the opportunity to carry it to the designated toilet location. In contrast, the signs before a puppy urinate are less noticeable. Sometimes, the puppy urinates immediately as soon as its hind legs bend. This requires you to have quick eyesight and quick hands to carry the dog to the designated place when it is about to urinate.
3. Set up obvious toilet signs for dogs
Newspapers or dedicated dog toilets can serve as obvious toilet signs. Especially for a puppy one or two months old, you can carry it to the bathroom when it wants to defecate. After using it a few times, it will remember to go to the toilet in the designated place. For indoor dogs, it is recommended to purchase professional dog toilets and pee pads for easy cleaning and identification. You can put some dog urine on the pee pad to help it adapt to the new environment faster and find the right place to go to the toilet.
When you see your dog sniffing around or defecating in the wrong place, pick him up immediately and place him on the dog toilet. At the same time, leaving a pee pad with dog excrement daily will help it develop the habit of going to the bathroom at a fixed location more quickly.
4. Give your dog timely rewards and encouragement
When the dog successfully defecates in the designated place, reward and encourage it in time. The reward method can be chosen according to the dog’s preference. It may not necessarily be a food reward, but it can also be verbal praise or gentle stroking. Doing so can enhance the dog’s positive association with the designated toilet behaviour and stimulate it to maintain this good habit. It should be noted that avoiding constantly performing excretion to obtain food is necessary.
Conclusion
Training a dog to go to the toilet at a fixed location requires patience and care. If you put in enough effort and time, your dog will become a good companion who abides by the rules and loves to be clean!