Dog Training FAQ

thanks

Hi Andy, Thanks for the question. You can train your dog to go in just one spot and it is probably easier than you think. The key is to make sure that for a time (the conditioning stage) he only has the chance to go in one spot. Dogs are creatures of habit so if you can condition him to go in only one spot that will become 'his' spot. During this conditioning stage it is very important that you eliminate his opportunity to go to the bathroom anywhere that isn't the spot you have chosen for him. That means that every time you take him out to the bathroom for the next few weeks you must keep him on a leash. Walk him to the area you want to go and just lead him back and forth until he goes. When he does, give him tons of praise. If he tries to go to the bathroom before he is in the new spot give him a quick, hard jerk on the leash, tell him 'no', and keep going right to his new spot.

Do you see why this will work? You will build a positive association to his new spot with praise and you will build a negative association to other spots by giving him a jerk on the leash. You must be consistent for a few weeks, though. Any time you let your guard down and he goes where he shouldn't you are un-training him.

Once you see that he is getting the idea of where he should go to the bathroom you will wean him off the need for your help. Now, instead of taking him all the way to his spot you can take him within a few feet and allow him to go the rest of the way on his own. Then a few feet further and so on until you can just open your back door and he is so conditioned that he goes right to his spot.

Check out this article that I wrote as well.
Potty Training

Let me know how this works or if you encounter any troubles along the way. Good luck, Ty Brown

Dog Training FAQ