Ways to Keep a Dog From Wetting on a Rug

Although a dog is man's best friend, sometimes that best friend needs a lot of motivation to go outside to go to the bathroom. The breed of dog will determine how easy or how hard it is to train the dog. All dogs are trainable, but some require patience when it comes to bathroom training.

  1. Early Training

    • When housebreaking a new puppy, be patient. Puppies on average will need to relieve themselves six times a day. This means that an owner must keep an eye on the puppy, while also letting the puppy outside to relieve itself after every meal. According to dogbreedinfo.com, housebreaking a new puppy will take patience and practice. Take the puppy out often and consistently.

    Crate Training

    • Crate training is another popular method for housebreaking a dog. The crate should be big enough to be a bed for the dog. According to peteducation.com, dogs will not soil in their beds because they will not lie where they go to the bathroom. A dog pacing, sniffing around and turning in circles around the crate is signaling that it needs to go to the bathroom. Crate training helps the dog learn that when she has an urge to go to the bathroom, she can "hold it," even when it is not inside the crate or cage.

    Belly bands

    • Belly bands are mainly for male dogs. They are effective tools for male dogs to keep them from marking their territory, such as lifting a leg on furniture. They can wear them in the house and you can take them off when outside. Some owners choose to keep the belly band on their dogs at all times to avoid accidents in the house.

    Paper Training

    • Dogbreedinfo.com recommends paper training for small-breed dogs that will be indoor pets. Place layered newspaper in a corner away from where the dog eats. After each meal, take the dog to the newspaper. And after the dog goes to the bathroom, remove the top layer of newspaper. Be consistent.

    Exceptions

    • Some dogs, even trained ones, will have accidents. The owner must be consistent with feeding times and outdoor times. The owner also needs to recognize when the accidents are not necessarily accidents, but indicate a medical condition. In that case, take the dog to a veterinarian.