Raising a dog is fun, but one of the most troublesome problems for new dog parents is that the dog pees and pees everywhere at home! On the sofa, on the floor, and even in your new shoes, anywhere can become its “toilet”. Don’t worry, it’s not that difficult to train a dog to urinate and defecate at a fixed place. As long as the method is right and you are patient, the dog will soon learn to “do it” in a designated place. This super detailed 2000+ word guide will take you step by step to train your dog to urinate and defecate at a fixed place in plain language, from preparation to actual combat, to handling common problems, the whole process is full of practical information, and you and your dog can easily get started!
Why do you need to train your dog to urinate and defecate at a fixed place?
Dogs are not like people. They are born to know that they have to go to the bathroom to go to the toilet. When they first arrive at their new home, they may regard the whole house as a “toilet”. After all, in their eyes, they can poop wherever they feel comfortable! Fixed-point toilet training not only keeps the house clean, but also allows dogs to develop good habits and reduce your cleaning burden. More importantly, this can help dogs understand the rules and establish a trusting relationship between you and them.
The best time to train a dog is when they are 3-6 months old. Puppies learn quickly, like little sponges. But adult dogs can learn, too, but it may take more time and patience. No matter how old your dog is, the following methods can work!
Preparation before training: both equipment and mentality must be prepared
Before starting training, prepare the “logistics” first, and adjust your mentality.
1. List of necessities
- Pee pads or newspapers: Pee pads are highly absorbent and suitable for indoor training; newspapers are cheap and suitable for beginners with limited budgets.
- Cleaning supplies: Deodorant spray, enzyme cleaners (specially decompose urine odor) to prevent dogs from smelling residual odors and going to the old place to poop.
- Training snacks: small pieces of chicken jerky, duck strips, for rewards, choose what the dog likes but not too greasy.
- Fence or dog cage: Define the range of activities for the dog to prevent it from running around and pooping.
- Leash: If you want to train outdoors at a fixed point, a short leash can help you control the dog’s position.
2. Select the location
- Indoor fixed point: Choose a quiet and easy-to-clean place, such as a balcony or a corner of the bathroom, and lay a urine pad or newspaper. Don’t put it near where the dog eats and sleeps, they don’t like to go to the toilet in the “dining room” or “bedroom”.
- Outdoor fixed point: Choose a fixed area of grass or trees in the community, and the dog will remember the “toilet” by smell.
3. Mentality adjustment
Training dogs to urinate and defecate at a fixed point requires patience. It may take a week or two to be effective, or it may take a month. Dogs are not machines, and it is normal to make occasional “mistakes”. Don’t lose your temper, don’t beat or scold, the dog will be afraid, and learn slower. Use encouragement and rewards to double the effect!
Training steps: Let the dog get new skills in stages
Fixed-point defecation and urination training is divided into indoor and outdoor. The following is mainly indoor training, and the difference between outdoor training will be explained separately. The whole process can be divided into five stages, step by step.
Stage 1: Observe the dog’s “urinary signal”
When a dog wants to go to the toilet, there will be obvious signals, such as:
- Turning in circles, sniffing the ground
- Suddenly quiet or anxious
- Running to a corner or hidden place
- Lowering the head to smell around
Puppies usually want to poop 10-20 minutes after eating, drinking water, playing, or just waking up. Adult dogs may hold it in for a little longer, but they also have similar signals. Observe more every day and write down the dog’s approximate “toilet schedule” for later guidance.
Practical Tips:
- Puppies may poop 8-10 times a day, and adult dogs 3-5 times.
- Take it to a designated area after feeding, wait quietly, and encourage it to “go” as soon as the signal appears!
Stage 2: Guide to a designated area
- Set a fixed area: Lay a urine mat (or newspaper) in the selected place, and the area should be larger (1-2 square meters) to make it easier for the dog to “hit”.
- Take the dog over: When you see the signal of peeing, immediately hold or lead the dog to the designated area. You can use commands, such as “go to the toilet” or “pee pee”, in a light tone.
- Wait: Stand by, don’t stare at the dog (it will be nervous), give it a few minutes to smell and turn around. If it poops in the right place, reward it immediately!
Reward skills:
- The moment the dog finishes pooping, immediately say “Great!” or “good boy/girl” and give a small snack.
- The action must be fast, so that the dog can associate “pooping in the right place” with “reward”.
- Don’t wait for it to run away before rewarding, it is easy for it to mistakenly think that running away will get snacks.
Stage 3: Strengthening habits
Repeat the guidance of stage 2, reward the dog every time it poops in the right place, don’t scold it if it poops in the wrong place, and clean it up silently.
- Add commands: Say “go to the toilet” every time you take it to the designated area, so that the dog can associate the command with the behavior.
- Reduce the fixed area: After the dog is familiar with it, the area of the urine pad can be gradually reduced (for example, from 2 square meters to 1 urine pad) to make it more accurate.
- Regular work and rest: Fixed feeding and walking time, the dog’s defecation time will be more regular, and training will be more effective.
Time reference:
- Puppies: 1-2 weeks can basically learn to poop on the urine pad.
- Adult dogs: Maybe 2-4 weeks, especially stray dogs or dogs with bad habits.
Stage 4: Reduce dependence on urine pads (optional)
If the ultimate goal is to let the dog defecate outdoors, you can slowly reduce the urine pad:
- Move the urine pad to the door, and move it outside the door after the dog is used to it.
- Take the dog to a fixed area outdoors, lay a urine pad, and remove it after it is familiar.
- Use a leash to control the dog to defecate in places such as the grass, and reward the command as usual.
Tips: Don’t let the dog run around during outdoor training. Use a short rope to control it within a range of 1-2 meters first, and then let it go to play after pulling it.
Stage 5: Consolidation and error correction
After the dog has basically learned, it will occasionally make mistakes, such as peeing on the floor when excited. Don’t panic, continue to guide:
- Clean thoroughly: Use enzyme cleaners to wipe off the smell of the wrong place to prevent the dog from “revisiting the old place”.
- Increase supervision: Before the dog has completely learned, don’t give it the freedom to run around the house, and use fences or dog cages to limit its range of activities.
- Persistent rewards: Even if the dog is already very skilled, occasionally give some snacks to reinforce and maintain good habits.
Special attention to outdoor fixed-point training
If the goal is outdoor fixed-point, the steps are similar to indoor, but there are a few differences:
- Fixed time and place: Take the dog to the same piece of grass at a fixed time every morning and evening, and the smell will help it remember the “toilet”.
- Don’t rush to play: After arriving at the designated area, let the dog poop before playing, otherwise it will forget the main task.
- Weather influence: On rainy days, the dog may not want to go out. Bring an umbrella and take it there with you. It will be fine after it gets used to it.
- Recommended equipment: Short leash (1.5 meters) for easy control; portable feces collector for more civilized feces cleaning.
Common problems and solutions
1. What should I do if the dog always poops in the wrong place?
Reason: It may be that the smell is not cleaned up, or the dog has not fully learned it. Solution:
- Use enzyme cleaner to thoroughly clean the wrong place and spray some deodorant.
- Increase supervision and take it to the designated place immediately when you see the signal.
- Reduce the range of activities and use a fence or dog cage to reduce the chance of mistakes.
2. The dog refuses to poop on the urine pad and prefers the floor?
Reason: The urine pad may have a strange smell (such as plastic), or the dog feels more comfortable on the floor. Solution:
- Change the brand of urine pad, choose unscented or grass-scented ones.
- Put some dog urine on the urine pad (dip a little with a paper towel) to attract it.
- Wipe the floor clean and spray some citrus spray (dogs don’t like this smell).
3. The dog has learned but suddenly poops randomly?
Reason: It may be stress (moving, new pet), illness (urinary tract infection), estrus, etc. Solution:
- Observe the dog’s condition and take it to the hospital for examination if it is abnormal.
- Dogs in estrus may mark their territory, so consider sterilization.
- Re-strengthen the training and return to the guidance of stage 2.
4. No progress after a long time of training?
Reason: The method may be wrong, or the dog is too nervous. Solution:
- Check whether the reward is not timely or the command is inconsistent.
- Relieve the dog’s stress, play with it more, and increase trust.
- Consult a professional dog trainer, especially for adult dogs or dogs with bad habits.
Extra Tips: Make training smoother
- Keep consistency: The whole family should use the same command and the same fixed area. Don’t say “go to the toilet” today and “poop” tomorrow, the dog will be confused.
- Control diet: Feed regularly and avoid random snacks, so that the defecation time is more controllable ulcerative#2. Avoid punishment: Beating and scolding will make the dog afraid of you and destroy trust. Clean up silently when you make mistakes and reward vigorously when you are right.
- Record progress: You can use a small notebook to record the dog’s daily performance. Draw a smiley face when you succeed and draw a cross when you fail, so that you can adjust the strategy easily.
- Appropriate exercise: Play with the dog for a while before and after training, relax and learn quickly.
Attitude during training: Love and patience coexist
Training a dog to defecate and urinate at a fixed point is a “slow and fine” process, especially for puppies or stubborn dogs, which may take weeks or even months. Don’t think of dogs as “deliberately making trouble”, they are actually working hard to learn! Every success is progress, and it doesn’t matter if you fail, just clean it up and try again.
Every time a dog defecates correctly, it is a reward for your patience. Imagine that after a few months, the dog obediently runs to the urine pad or grass to “do it”, you are relieved and proud, how great it feels! Moreover, this process can also deepen the relationship between you and the dog, it’s worth it!
From random defecation to fixed point, dogs can do it!
Fixed point defecation training is a compulsory course for raising dogs, and it is also an important step for dogs to integrate into the family. Remember, observe signals, guide fixed points, reward in time, and correct mistakes patiently. These four steps are repeated, and the dog will learn sooner or later. Whether you have a lively Corgi, a simple and honest Golden Retriever, or a stubborn Shiba Inu, these methods work!
If you encounter a problem, such as the dog does not listen to you no matter how you teach, or has health problems that affect training, consult a veterinarian or dog trainer immediately, don’t force yourself. Raising a dog is a long journey, and fixed defecation and urination is just the first step. There are more fun things waiting for you and your dog to explore together!
If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask me and I will give you some advice! I wish you and your furry child can become “bathroom partners” soon!
