6 Simple Steps to Teach the Dog to Do the Necessity in the Right Place
Here are six simple steps on how to teach your dog to relieve themselves in the right place.
1. Show the correct location
The first thing you need to do when your puppy gets home is to take him to
the appropriate place to do his business. Regardless of your life
situation or where you would like your dog to relieve itself, you should take
him there immediately. The dog must be on a leash so that you can keep him
in the proper place until he relieves himself.
If the idea is that the dog does it outside the house, you must make clear
the difference between what is inside and what is outside the house. Many
people simply leave the door open in the belief that the puppy will have easy
access outside. This in itself can only create another problem, as the
puppy may not recognize the difference between the two areas. When your
puppy is learning to relieve himself on the street, it's best to make it clear
that there is the indoor living area and the outside, which are two completely
different things.
2. Reward proper behavior
Dogs love to be praised and rewarded by their owners, and as they
only understand if something is “right or wrong”, it is very important that you
show your puppy that you are happy with him when he relieves himself in the
right place. So be sure to reward your dog as soon as he's finished
relieving himself in the right place. You can do this verbally with a
compliment or using a treat. The idea is that the puppy associates the
fact of doing the needs in the right place with something very positive.
3. Associate a phrase
Choose a phrase like “pee!”. This is an association, not a command,
because you can't force a dog to do its business. Your goal is for your
dog to eventually understand that this is their opportunity to relieve
themselves and they should use this moment for that. Unlike most commands,
you can continue to repeat this to your dog until he relieves himself.
4. Establish a routine
Set some times to take him to your “bathroom” often and be patient! Try
to feed your puppy and take him to the site at the same times each
day. One of the most common mistakes people make is to only give the dog
5-10 minutes and then give up. If your pup hasn't relieved himself for a
while, he probably needs to, but he's just too distracted to do it.
Puppies need to go to the bathroom every 1 or 2 hours (depending on the
breed) as well as 15 minutes after eating. If you're not getting it at a
certain moment, but you still believe he needs to do it at that moment, don't
let him be free in your room. It is best to keep your dog on a leash close
to you and then try again 10 or 20 minutes later.
Prevention is the best way to deal with potential accidents. If your
pup is having accidents during the night, try to feed him earlier or get his
water out after 7 PM (unless it's a very hot night).
5. Start small
Confining your puppy to a small area at first is by far the quickest way to
teach him. When you're home, leave him in a room with you at all
times. When I leave I leave it in a small space.
Dogs like small, enclosed areas as they feel safe, as well as having their
own space to relax. The area needs to be small enough that your dog can't
get away from the dirt if he relieves himself on the spot. Dogs don't like
to sit in their own dirt, so they're more inclined to "hold on".
If the area is too large, they can simply move from corner to corner
avoiding dirt. This then negates effectiveness. Your space needs to
be just big enough for your dog to get up and turn
around. A playpen or small room can be used. The puppy must
earn its freedom in the house.
If you're constantly relieving yourself around the house wherever and whenever
you want, you can't keep letting him roam free. Keep your puppy with you
on a leash or confined in your space.
6. Deal with accidents
If you catch your puppy urinating in the wrong place, say "No",
lift him up and put him in the proper place. You shouldn't yell at your
dog, but just say "No" firmly. If you scream it can scare him
and he may be reluctant to do his business.
If you find an accident and you haven't seen when your pup did it, don't say
anything to him. Simply clean up and move on. Dogs live in the
moment. You can't bring the dog back to the scene of the accident and
expect them to understand what you mean. Learn the signs that your puppy
needs to go. Most dogs sniff the floor before urinating and turn around
before pooping.
Keep an eye on your puppy and try to establish a pattern in his behavior
before he relieves himself. If your puppy has an accident, use an
appropriate product to remove the smell so he doesn't want to go to the same
spot again. There is a wide variety of odor removal products on
the market. Make sure the product has enzymes to break down the
odor. White vinegar also works and can be used on hard floors.
Prevention is always best, and we often think our puppies understand a
concept before they really do. Remember, even after your dog has learned,
they will continue to have accidents. Puppies are easily distracted, and
sometimes they just forget to go until it's too late. Every dog can
learn, it's just a matter of being consistent, persistent and patient!