Training a puppy or adult dog to go to the toilet outside the house may seem like an impossible task, but almost any dog can learn to wait for you at the door to free themselves outdoors and not in the home. Establish fixed times for your pet's meals and walks, then reward him with food and praise when he evacuates at the designated point. When he gets dirty in the house, you will only have to clean up and continue training, because punishing him would only lead him to be afraid of you. All you need is patience and a sense of humor to help your four-legged companion get used to life as a pet.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Establish a Fixed Schedule
Step 1. Take your dog out often
It is the most important thing to do to teach him how to free himself outdoors. This may seem overwhelming, but you should try to get it out about every half hour. Set times and try not to miss even an appointment with the "bathroom", to accustom the dog to associate outdoor visits with the needy.
If you are training a puppy, you will need to take him outside even more often. Young dogs have small blisters and cannot physically restrain themselves for long periods
Step 2. Set a fixed schedule for your dog's diet
Feed him at the same time in the morning and in the evening, then wait 20-30 minutes before taking him out. Setting meal times will allow you to more accurately predict when your pet will need to go to the bathroom, making training easier as a result.
Puppies need to eat three times a day. If you have one, set their meal times anyway and remember that you will need to take them out more often due to their smaller bladder
Step 3. Learn to interpret the signs that your dog needs to go to the toilet
These can include walking stiffly, sniffing the floor for the best spot to break free, holding the tail in an odd position, and so on. If the animal seems to need to go outside, take it out immediately, even if it's not the right time yet. Use a verbal command, such as "Out". Eventually, you will be able to "ask" him if he should go out just by saying that word.
In the early stages of training, you will need to make the dog understand that when he feels the need to free himself, it is time to go outside. Whenever she successfully sheds outside, the association between being outdoors and going to the bathroom will be reinforced
Suggestion:
remember to take your dog out 20-30 minutes after each meal and after he has been drinking, as he will likely have to go to the toilet.
Step 4. Choose a spot in the garden that is reserved for the needy
If you don't have a garden, a lawn next to your home will do as well. Always take your dog to the same place every time you go out. These animals are habitual, so help your four-legged friend to feel calmer and more comfortable by choosing the best place for him to use as a "toilet". Use a verbal command, such as "Go to the toilet," when you are at the designated location. He will soon learn to associate order with action.
Remember to follow your local dog poop recovery laws. If the animal has to go to public land, you must bring a bag with you where you can put its feces before throwing it away
Step 5. Keep an eye on your dog during training
When you bring it home for the first time, you'll need to take a very close look at it to make sure it doesn't come loose inside. It is necessary to do this, because you will have to teach the animal in a short time to associate the need to urinate or defecate with that of going out. Starting before you even enter the house is the best way to start.
If you can't stay home all day to keep an eye on your dog, you'll need to ask another person to do it for you. Make sure he knows he has to take the animal to a specific spot every time he lets it out
Step 6. Keep your dog in a cage at night and when you are not at home
If you leave it free to roam all the rooms in the evening, the next morning you will undoubtedly find some unpleasant surprises. Keep him in a comfortable cage when you can't control him, to reduce the chances of him going to the house. Dogs don't like to soil their burrows, so your dog will try to wait to get out before breaking free.
Do not leave your dog in the cage for too long before letting him out. If you wait too long, he won't be able to hold back. These animals take a long time to play and run, so you should never leave them in the kennel for more than a few hours or overnight
Note:
dogs should consider their cages safe places and have fun inside them. They shouldn't associate it with punishment. Never punish your dog by sending him to the kennel, otherwise he will only associate it with something to be afraid of.
Step 7. Clean up the dirt immediately
If your dog gets dirty anywhere in the house (and it will), wash the area right away with an enzymatic cleaner to remove the odor. If she were to recognize the smell of her own needs, she would think that spot is her bathroom.
Do not punish the dog if he has soiled. Just clean up and stick to your schedule
Part 2 of 3: Reward the Dog for Behaving Well
Step 1. Indulge your dog with food rewards and praise when he goes outdoor
Whenever he goes to the bathroom where he should, reward him with treats, lots of praise, and a pat on the head. These animals learn best from positive reinforcement and quickly understand how to get it.
Of course, you can reward your dog for other actions as well, such as sitting or standing still. Reward all desired behaviors
Suggestion:
be consistent about dog rewards. Give him a treat every time he goes to the set point.
Step 2. Choose the right time to reward your dog
When you press it because it went to the bathroom where it should, do it as soon as it's done. If I rewarded him too early or too late, he would not associate the reward with the right action.
Step 3. Consider using a bell to better train your dog
Some people have also been successful with this method. When the pet goes to the bathroom at the chosen spot, you must ring a bell as part of the reward. He will learn to appreciate that sound and will want to hear it again; therefore you should only use it in this specific situation.
The downside to this method is that over time you will want to stop using the bell. When you no longer use it, your dog may get confused
Step 4. Keep your voice light and friendly
When you take your dog to go to the toilet or when you talk about that topic, use a cheerful and pleasant tone. Do not raise your voice and do not be threatening, otherwise the animal will associate its normal bodily functions with fear and punishment. If he gets dirty in the house, don't praise him, but don't scream or scold him.
If you choose to use a verbal command, such as "Out", "Go to the bathroom" or "Good dog", be consistent. Repetition of words, combined with action and environment will help the dog form the right mental associations
Step 5. Never punish the dog when it gets dirty
He wouldn't respond well to punishment. He would get scared and, instead of learning to behave, he would be afraid of you. Don't yell at him, don't hit him, and don't do anything that might scare him.
Do not rub the dog's face where it has soiled. Contrary to popular belief, this punishment does not serve to make him understand that he should not go to the toilet at home. The animal will not learn anything and you will only end up scaring it
Part 3 of 3: Train the Dog to Needs on Paper in an Apartment
Step 1. Choose an isolated spot in the house that your dog can easily access
If you live on the upper floors, you will not be able to get outside every time the animal has to go to the bathroom. Choose a point of the house that is out of the way, but which he can reach at any time; a corner of the kitchen or bathroom will do. Check that the floor is wood or tile and not carpet.
Step 2. Line the chosen spot with newspaper or absorbent paper
You can use a simple newspaper to create an inexpensive bathroom for your dog, or buy some paper towels from pet stores. Choose the option you prefer.
You can also use a dog litter box. If you occasionally take your pet outside to go to the toilet, you can fill it with soil. This way he will understand that he can evacuate indoors and out
Note:
consider that the dog may get used to only going to the newspapers, if you put only those on the ground.
Step 3. Take the dog to the spot designated as the bathroom at set times
Follow the same method described for teaching him to do outdoor toileting. Accompany him several times a day and when he shows signs that he needs to break free.
Step 4. Change the surface often, but leave a spot with dry urine
The smell of the excretions will help the dog remember where to go to the bathroom. Remove the stool right away instead.
Step 5. Reward your dog when he needs to go where he needs to
Every time he evacuates to his "bathroom", reward him with food, petting and praise. Over time he will learn to associate the point chosen for needs with positive feelings and will begin to use it even without your guidance.
Advice
- Start training your dog as soon as possible.
- Remember that accidents are likely - and often inevitable. The dog is learning to understand what you expect of him and may learn to restrain himself, but not for very long. Puppies, in particular, have extremely limited control of their blisters. If you have to leave your puppy alone for eight hours every day, an "accident" is likely to happen. You can hire a dog sitter to take him out on a regular basis, or you can find a secluded area of the house where any messes won't damage the carpets and can be cleaned easily.
- If you leave a puppy alone for eight consecutive hours, it will get dirty somewhere. Hire a dog sitter or confine your pet to a space where it cannot stain anything valuable and where it is easy to clean.
- If your dog happens to dirty where he shouldn't and if the floor is tiled, clean with paper towels and a disinfectant, then wipe dry. This usually prevents the animal from returning to the same place, because it cannot find it (it does not smell!).
Warnings
- Quick exits for needs shouldn't be a substitute for exercise or walking. Keep your dog trained regularly.
- Don't punish your dog for accidents. Yelling, hitting him, or pushing his muzzle into his stool won't teach him anything useful. If you haven't caught him, he won't even understand why you're angry.
- A dog's "guilty looks" do not show that it has understood that it was wrong. He is sick because you are angry. Even if it does link your anger to dirt on the floor, it could be counterproductive. Your dog may come to the conclusion that you absolutely don't want to see him when he goes to the toilet and will try to hide from you when he needs to, making training even more difficult.
