Help with Potty training in the yard?

[sarachristina1]

Does anyone know how to make the dog go to a certain part of the yard to potty? When he was really little we took him to a part that people didn't go (where we wanted him to go), but now he poops and pees everywhere. Any suggestions??? He's killing ALL the grass!

[IceyBlueSibes]

Try taking his waste from the other areas and placing it in that spot. When he does go there, praise him like CRAZY.

To avoid having him eliminate in any other area, take him out on a leash, and walk him strictly in the area you prefer that he go.

I've never minded where my dogs went to the bathroom. If I didn't like the spot it was in (i.e. on the patio), I'd simply hose it off or pick it up.

Those are my only thoughts. As I said, I've never trained for this, so I can't really say. Best of luck!

[trainingrixie]

Icey, that's what I would say too. I'm not picky where Trixie goes either, especially since the neighbor dog poops in our yard all the time! My mom's dog shelby goes in the field in front of the house instead of the lawn. And what you said to do exactly what she did. It took a while, but now even at my house shelby goes in the field behind my house. He potty command is "in the field," people think we are crazy because instead of "good potty" we tell Shelby "good in the field"

[IceyBlueSibes]

He potty command is "in the field," people think we are crazy because instead of "good potty" we tell Shelby "good in the field"

Tehehe! That does sound silly, but hey, atleast it works!

[trainingrixie]

Yeah, everything about that dog is comical...so it only seems right that her commands are goofy too. I swear though, sometimes she "pretends" to potty if she doesn't have to go so you let her back inside. She squats looks back at you like she's really doing it, but there will be nothing there. It's especially obvious in the snow.

[Rivsky]

Originally Posted by trainingrixie

Yeah, everything about that dog is comical...so it only seems right that her commands are goofy too. I swear though, sometimes she "pretends" to potty if she doesn't have to go so you let her back inside. She squats looks back at you like she's really doing it, but there will be nothing there. It's especially obvious in the snow.

LOL - River used to do that too - go outside and assume the squat position then come back and wait for a treat!!! Too bad for him that he got busted!!!

[Kona]

The way to get a dog to only relieve in one specific spot is to keep him on a leash, walk him to that spot when it's time to do his business, and praise him when he's done. Do this over and over, and he'll soon realise that this is the spot where he's supposed to go.

Here's spmething that I wrote in another thread (Inside Potties and Larger Dogs/ home alone issues):

I very strongly suggest that you get the dogs used to the new way of doing things while you are home to train and reward them. Any time you are going to change a dog's potty routine, always start on a Saturday. What I mean is, if you have two days off in a row (which would traditionally be a Saturday and a Sunday, but of course the actual days don't matter), then start the new routine on the "Saturday." You know that the dogs need to relieve themselves first thing in the morning, so put them on leash and walk them onto the sod and use the leash to encourage them to walk in a circle. Use calm and encouraging tone of voice and body language, and if you already have a word cue that they know means to "do their business" then that will really help.

If the dogs just look at you like you're crazy, give them maybe ten minutes to figure it out. If they still don't go, put them right back in their crates (if they sleep in crates), or keep them on a leash and close to you. Then twenty minutes later take them on leash right back to the new potty area and try it again. On the one hand they may be very confused by the whole deal, but on the other hand they haven't had a chance to relieve since last night so eventually they're going to have to "get busy." Once they do, throw them a "potty party." Lots of praise and a yummy treat. This might take many repetitions the first day, and that's why you don't want to start this on a day that you are in a hurry to leave for work.

After the dogs have done it the first time, they are more likely to do it again later in the day, but again keep them on a leash in order to limit their options and keep them focused on the task at hand. Take them back to the new potty area at their regular potty times, including right after meals and again one last time before going to bed, and then start the routine over again exactly the same the next day ("Sunday").

Once your "Monday" rolls around, the dogs have had two full days of you helping them to figure out what they are supposed to do, and therefore they are much more likely to do it again on their own while you are gone.