
Our dog’s pee causes brown spots on the grass in your lawn, making it less attractive, and there’s also a probability that you might poop with the scoop and then step on it later in the day. The issue of dog poop is one of the reasons that discourages some people from owning a dog, as dogs can make a mess of your surroundings when they relieve themselves anywhere. The way of solving this common issue of dogs pooping in one place is only by training your dog to poop and pee in one area that pleases you. Additionally, it is not so appealing to spend time in the yard if your dog does its business anywhere and everywhere, which is a concern for parents.
However, you can teach your dog to poop and pea in a designated area if you give them good potty training. Here are tips to guide you while potty training your dog.
Tip
Some dogs might exhibit good potty when they grow older, but this does not happen in all dogs. It mostly happens in well-trained dogs. you don’t have to wait till your dog is grown to figure out if they can potty train themself or not. It’s better that you start their potty training at the puppy stage.
Choose a Spot
The first thing to do when you want to start potty training your puppy is to get a spot that is distant from the high-traffic areas of your yard. The spot you are choosing for your pup to relieve their selves should be appropriate for their size, as a small area might be quite okay for a small breed dog, but larger breeds are going to need more space as they sometimes move while doing their business and sometimes kick their legs back after. Your large dog won’t want to keep peeing and pooping in a tiny area that you designated for her until the place becomes very smelly and dirty, so do the needful.
Additionally, a dog will choose its own spot to poop and pea, though its mostly common in smart dog breeds. If your dog often returns to a particular spot to relieve itself, try to make this the potty area and get them used to it. Just make sure the spot your dog chooses is fine by you, but if not, you might consider changing their potty area.
Keep the Area Clean
It’s important to keep your dog’s potty area clean, as leaving the area can discourage the dog from using that spot again, and then your dog might find somewhere else to relieve itself. However, it can be recommended that you leave one pile in the area during training, as this can help your dog smell and remember the right spot, but make sure not to leave any more than that.
Train to Go on Command
One of the stress-free ways of training a pup to relieve their selves in their spot is to train them to go to the spot on a command. You can do this by taking your dog on a leash to the area you want it to be using and saying the command word that you want. Keep the pup in that spot until it goes, then offer a reward afterwards. Although this might take some time, be patient. Positive reinforcement is still the best method for training, so reward the dog only when it goes to that chosen spot.
Stick to One Spot
Just as you don’t allow a dog that is not housetrained to roam around in your house, a dog that has not been trained to poop in one spot should not be allowed to run freely in your yard. Just know that the best method of keeping your dog from going outside of the spot you have picked for them to relieve themselves is to keep the dog on a leash. It is mostly recommended not to explore other areas of the yard with your dog until he knows the spot he is to poop.
Aside from putting your dog on a leash, you can try an alternative method by using temporary fencing to block off the chosen spot. You can then place your dog within the enclosed area, give them a potty command, and then let your dog out of the enclosure after he has done his business.
Reward Good Behavior
Rewarding after a dog does something you like is known as positive reinforcement, and it should be encouraged when your puppy goes to do their business in the sport you have chosen for it. As soon as your dog goes to the spot, with or without a leash, praise him or reward him with a treat or their favourite toy and then give them some time to play in the yard. During potty training, never allow your puppy to have a free play time in the yard if he didn’t get the training of the day, what you should do is to take the dog back inside and try again if he doesn’t get it.
Read Body Language
During the times of training, when you allow your dog into the yard, you should keep an eye on your dog as most dogs do give somebody language when they are about to relieve themselves, signs like bending their backs, pacing the area, sniffing, and scratching the grass. If you notice your dog exhibiting any of these body behaviours outside of the selected area for potty, be quick to interrupt them and then bring it to the right spot where you want them to do their business.
In some cases where you don’t notice fast and then your dog eliminates before you stop them, what you should do is stop their playtime and take the pup indoors. But if you didn’t notice fast and then your dog went straight to the proper area to do their business, remember to apply positive reinforcement by rewarding them.
Problems and Proofing Behavior in Potty Training
Teaching a dog to do something is not so easy, so you should also know that you will encounter some problems until the dog masters it. During training and then your dog manages to relieve itself outside of the spot that you have chosen for them to use, be sure to clean it up quickly, as the dog might smell the poop another time and poop there again.
Dogs might be frustrated sometimes during training; nevertheless, do not punish the dog by scolding it if he doesn’t get the idea of relieving itself in that spot. What you should do is ignore the behaviour and immediately take the dog inside. By doing this, your dog will get to know that relieving itself in the appropriate spot that you have chosen for it will give him an avenue to get free playtime in the yard and do its business aside; the spot won’t give room for any playtime.
You can reinforce this training whenever you are away from home with your dog. For example, when visiting someone’s home, ask them where they would like your dog to go. Take your dog to that designated area, give the potty command, and wait for your dog to respond. The same approach can be used in a public park by choosing a quiet spot. Remember, it’s important to clean up after your dog no matter where you are.
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