Housebreaking is one of the chief complaints our trainers receive from small dog owners. Many small dog owners opt for an indoor dog potty system to simplify the housebreaking process, only to end up with a dog that thinks the entire house is his toilet! So how do we teach dogs to use an indoor potty and prevent them from going elsewhere?

First, it is important to keep in mind that dogs are very picky about their potty spots. A dog will choose his potty spot based on sight, smell and feel. Dogs that are taught early on to potty on grass for instance, will gravitate towards pottying on grassy areas down the road and teaching them to go on concrete can be a challenge.  In addition to finding a spot that looks and feels familiar, dogs will also base their selection on scent – a spot that smells like a potty spot will be a more likely candidate than one that doesn’t.

When selecting a dog potty system, keep the sight, smell and feel idea in mind. Potty pads are a popular choice for a lot of dog owners. They are made from diaper material and are scented with doggy pheromones that encourage appropriate elimination. However, keep in mind that once a dog gets used to the “feel” of a potty pad, he might find anything remotely similar in texture appropriate as well. You might find your dog having frequent accidents on kitchen rugs, bath mats or anything with a similar look and feel to a potty pad. If you plan to use potty pads, place them inside a doggy litter box so that the look and feel is different than say, your favorite area rug.

Another alternative is doggy litter. Doggy litter can be a challenge for small dogs to get used to. It feels unlike anything they might be used to and it isn’t scented as well as potty pads. However, it has a very different look and feel than anything you might have lying around your house so it is a good option for housebreaking small dogs. If your dog is used to using potty pads and you’d prefer to switch to litter, just place the potty pad over the litter in the box for a week or so and then slowly remove the pad until the dog is pottying on the litter alone. Regardless of which option you go with, invest in a good housebreaking spray and coat either the pad or litter box with it to give it the scent your dog is looking for in an acceptable potty spot. Also, make sure the potty spot is in an area of the house that is easily accessible to your pooch and in an area where you spend lots of time. Placing a potty pad upstairs would be tricky for a dog that spends all it’s time downstairs with you.

When training to use any indoor potty system, it’s critical that you get your pooch into a routine. Feed structured meals so you can predict your pet’s elimination schedule. After mealtime, upon waking or after heavy play, when your pet is most likely to eliminate, place them in the box and tell them to “go potty”. Praise overzealously and offer a treat if they use the box. If not, try again a few minutes later. Continue this routine until you have a success. If you cannot supervise your pup, keep them confined to a small area with only their bedding, water dish, and their litter box. Because dogs naturally don’t want to potty where they eat and sleep, confining pets to a small space when unsupervised is a great way to prevent accidents. When you are able to supervise, catch your pooch in the act of inappropriate elimination and take them immediately to their potty spot, praising them if they use the potty correctly. If they use the bathroom elsewhere, take some of their excrement and place it into the litter box so they can see and smell it there. This will also help encourage them to use it. While your pet is loose and you are closely supervising, periodically take them to the box to potty, and if they do, reward them!

The idea behind teaching your dog to use an indoor potty system is simple – either prevent them from pottying somewhere else or catch them in the act of inappropriate elimination and fix it by taking them to the appropriate spot and praising heavily when it’s used. Never let your dog out of your sight – one missed accident can set back your housebreaking quite a bit. If you can’t give your pooch your undivided attention, confine them so you can to prevent any setbacks.

For more information on housebreaking issues, contact the trainers of The Collared Scholar at 619-916-8710.

Visit the Collared Scholar Website http://www.collared-scholar.com/training.html