One of the biggest questions first-time pet parents have is how to teach their dog to go potty in the right place. No matter the age: puppy or adult, they must learn where to pee and poop without making a mess and causing unnecessary stress. It's part of the pet's adaptation. The good thing about all this is that even if you don't know how to make the dog defecate in the same place at first, with anlittle bit of practice and the right tricks, he will eventually learn where to turn for relief.

If you don't want to have problems with dog pee and poop, the Paws of the House has put together the best tips for the first weeks of adaptation with your pet! Take a look and learn how to get your dog to potty in the right place once and for all!

Understand the importance of dog training

Dog training is a fundamental process to educate and teach animals to behave in the expected way, such as teaching a dog to go to the right place. There are different techniques and methods that can be used at these times, but the most suitable is to bet on positive training. These trainings consist of rewarding the animal whenever it has a "right" attitude,encouraging them to repeat the behavior.

The rewards can be varied, from dog treats to affection and words of encouragement. ""It is always good to reinforce with praise and with treats. If you saw him pee in the right place, say 'how beautiful!' The very fact that the dog is doing the needs is already rewarding and then, if you enter with another reward, he will quickly associate that doing in that certainpoint will be rewarded", comments trainer Renan Berçot.

However, it is important to keep in mind that rewards alone are not enough: the constancy of training is another indispensable factor to have a satisfactory result. This way the dog learns more easily, because it memorizes what must be done.

How to teach a dog to potty: does the age of the pet influence learning?

When it comes to welcoming a new pet home, many people give preference to puppies, but it is also possible to adopt an adult or elderly animal. In all cases, a major concern is how to train a dog to potty train in the right place. The learning process, however, varies according to the age of the pet.

Puppy - One of the ways to teach a puppy to potty in the right place is to take advantage of the first days of living with the animal to educate it. As it is still learning what is right or wrong and has no past experiences, the puppy learns faster than older dogs.

Adult puppy - In adulthood, the dog usually already has behavioral addictions, which can make the learning process a little difficult. So be persistent, but without fighting or punishing the animal when it makes a mistake. It is important to keep in mind that if the puppy has not yet learned where to pee and poop, it is because no one has ever taught it to him.

Elderly dog - Knowing how to teach an old dog to potty train in the right place is not as difficult as it seems. Even if they have lived a long life, dogs tend to be calmer at this stage. They may have behavioral vices inherited from adulthood, but nothing that training done with a lot of patience and love does not solve.

Step by step how to teach a dog to potty in the right place

Step 1: Establish the location

It is essential to choose a suitable space to be the dog's bathroom. It can be the service area or the balcony, for example, and you should gather there the toilet mat, feeder and drinker - with a considerable distance between each one. This will help the animal to understand the concept of the right place for each of the activities and it is valid both for teaching a puppy and for teaching a puppy.old dog.

Step 2: Choose the most suitable material

There are at least three accessories to meet the needs of the animal: the dog newspaper, the hygienic mat and the sanitary tray. Therefore, decide in advance which will be the most appropriate material to deal with both dog pee and poop. Evaluate the pros and cons of each option and make the adaptation of the pet before learning how to teach a dog to potty train.right place.

Step 3: Create a routine with your pet

Routine is one of the greatest allies when it comes to learning how to teach a dog to potty in the right place. Establish a schedule for feeding your puppy and, to make it work, the ideal is that you stay around after he eats. Watch for signs that the dog wants to pee and poop and direct him to the right place. A very valid strategy is to let the dog go to the right place.restricted to that space from eating to peeing and pooping.

Step 4: Give a command for action

Having a command for this moment helps in the process of how to train a puppy to potty in the right place. When you see that the animal is cramped, take the opportunity to indicate the bathroom. After he does everything, release access to other rooms in the house.

Step 5: Offer rewards when the dog gets it right

During adaptation, it is very likely that your dog will pee and poop in the wrong place a few times and the ideal is that, instead of fighting with him, you do the opposite: reward the animal whenever he does the needs in the right place. Thus, he will begin to associate peeing and pooping on the mat with something positive and will understand more easily that this is the right way to do itThe reward - which could be a treat or cuddle - needs to happen immediately after the hit.

Step 6: Alert the error when it goes wrong

If the dog makes a mistake - and this is very likely to happen - there is no point in fighting or scolding: he will not understand and will probably associate pee and poop with something wrong. From then on, it is quite common for the animal to be afraid of you and try to hide the needs whenever it does - either by going to a hidden corner or even eating the feces. Therefore, the alert must always besubtle, without punishments or punishments.

Step 7: Clean the wrong place with specific products

When the dog goes potty in the wrong place, you should take him to another room and clean the place with products that will completely remove the smell from the floor. This will prevent the dog from being able to sniff and think that this is the right place - it is also a way to remove his territory marking. The dog hisses after going potty as a territorial issue, but by cleaning thespace, that smell also fades away.

Step 8: Be patient with your dog

Knowing how to teach a puppy to potty train in the right place is a training that also consists of patience and persistence with your dog. This goes for puppies, adults and seniors. Your puppy will probably make mistakes a few times, and that's normal. But with time and the right training, he will eventually learn.

My dog hasn't learned to potty in the right place: what could it be?

If the puppy returns to do the needs outside the indicated place, it is because the training was not done well or the location of the dog toilet is not the best. However, there are some tricks for dogs not to urinate in the wrong place. In addition to cleaning the space, there are some products that can be applied to prevent new occurrences of peeing there. Here are some product tips fordog urinating in the right place (homemade or not):

• Vinegar (can be applied alone, or with an alcohol mixture);
• Health educator;
• Dog repellent.

The product to teach the dog to go to the right place has the function of repelling the animal from the spaces that he usually urinates, but that are not his bathroom. They have a smell that the dog does not like, and so the pet only has the option of resorting to the mats.

Pay attention when there are signs that something is wrong with your pet's health

The reason why the animal is not using the toilet properly is a health condition, which can be physical or psychological. A dog with urinary incontinence, for example, simply cannot contain its own pee in time to resort to the mat. The behavior can also be derived from emotional or psychological disorder, such as separation anxiety.

The main reasons why a dog unlearns to potty in the right place are:

• Urinary tract infections
• Urinary incontinence
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Locomotor difficulty
• Separation anxiety
• Stress

How to make the dog defecate in the same place if he is used to the street?

If your dog only goes potty in the street, know that it is possible to reverse this situation so that he can also use the bathroom at home in times of distress. It takes time at first, mainly because dogs tend to hold their pee and poop, but one tip is to isolate the animal after meals in the place that will be the toilet.

On the other hand, if you want to know how to teach your dog to go potty outside, you need to identify the moment when your dog is in the mood to pee or poop in order to take him for a walk. Be sure to use the positive reinforcement techniques mentioned above and remember to bring an appropriate material to pick up the feces.

Dog newspaper or toilet mat: which is the best material?

In addition to knowing how to make the dog go to the right place, another important point is to define the material that will serve as the pet's toilet. One of the most economical and popular options is the dog newspaper, but it is important to be very careful. Although it seems like a good way to reuse that old newspaper that is of no use, the newspaper is not the most appropriate material forthis is because it can leak and cause allergies in the dog.

The hygienic mat for dogs and the sanitary tray are perfect for taking care of your friend's needs. The mats come in two versions: disposable or washable. Disposable ones are more practical and must be disposed of daily; while washable ones are sustainable and need to be washed to be reused. The sanitary trays work as a "smart toilet" for your friend.and are very similar to cat litter boxes.

How to teach a dog to go potty in the right place: meal times must be observed

Routine is the ideal partner for your dog to get used to any behavior - including the right place to pee and poop. It all starts with feeding: from the number of times and times your puppy eats every day, you will be able to predict the time of need.

In puppies, this interval is usually very quick: pee and poop come almost immediately after they eat. Adults usually take 15 to 30 minutes to fully digest - but if they are in the habit of walking and prefer to do their business outside, they can hold the urge to poop for hours. So the best way to know how to teach a dog to poop is to teach them to do it.needs in the right place is by creating a routine with it.

Other common questions about dog training

How to make the dog go potty in one place?

The process of how to teach a dog to potty in the right place requires constant training with positive associations. In addition to establishing a routine and the dog's bathroom, the guardian must always be attentive to direct the pet to the right place when the urge strikes.

How long does it take for a dog to learn to potty in the right place?

The minimum time it takes for a puppy to learn is two to three weeks, while the maximum time is up to four months. It depends a lot on the breed, the constancy of training and the age of the pet.

How to teach a puppy to potty in the right place?

The way to teach a puppy to potty in the right place is very similar to teaching an adult or elderly dog. The difference is that puppies usually learn faster and more easily, as they don't have pre-established habits.

What is the smell that the dog does not like?

The canine sense of smell is very sensitive, so citrus smells - such as vinegar and lemon - are very unpleasant for these animals. Other smells that dogs do not like are: pepper, alcohol, mothballs and perfumes in general (because they are very strong aromas).

How to teach a 2 month old puppy to potty train in place?

Puppies pick up on what's happening through stimuli, so if they go in the wrong place, you should ignore it or direct them to the bathroom before they're done. If they get it right the first time, make sure you celebrate with them: give them treats, offer them affection and show them you're happy about it. Over time, they'll learn and you won't have to worry about issues anymorehow to teach a dog to potty in the right place.