Dog potty training is a great way to prevent a dog from going to the bathroom in unwanted areas of your home or yard. Potty training a dog is best done when your dog is still a puppy, since this is also when they are most impressionable. Puppies have a much easier time learning new commands, and will be relatively easy to potty train (as long as it is done properly). Understanding how to train a dog to go to the bathroom in specific areas is essential to building a good relationship with your dog. Here are some tips that will help you to most effectively potty train your dog.
CLICKER TRAINING
When clicker training your dog, this method may also be used to help with potty training. Clicker training emphasizes positive reinforcement of good behavior with a specific sound, which is produced by a small clicking device. The idea behind the training is that this sound will encourage your dog to repeat this behavior, since it encourages rewards. When potty training, give your dog a click (as well as a small treat) when they go to the bathroom in a designated area outdoors. By shaping your dog’s behavior with positive reinforcement, you are subsequently increasing your chances of being able to successfully potty train your dog.
VERBAL COMMAND
Another effective way to help reinforce the idea of potty training for your dog is to use a verbal command. Decide on a verbal command that can be used to incite your dog to go to the bathroom. It can be “Do Your Stuff!”, “Go ahead!” or any other phrase that you choose. When your dog is going to the bathroom in the proper area, repeat the verbal command, giving your dog praise and a reward when they finish. This is a great way to teach your dog that obeying this command while in the proper area is good behavior, and will be rewarded.
BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP
A lot of dog owners don’t connect the concept of potty training with building a quality relationship with their dog. However, in reality, teaching your dog to become potty trained is extremely important to your relationship with your dog. One of the most common reason why people become frustrated with their dogs is due to improper potty training. When a dog goes to the bathroom indoors, the natural reaction of a dog owner is to become extremely upset. However, in reality, dogs that go to the bathroom indoors are often improperly trained, which is usually the fault of the dog’s owner.