How to Toilet Train Male Dogs

Understand toilet habits. Dogs have minimal bladder and bowel control; so they have to relieve at regular intervals like after waking in the morning or from a nap, within about 30 minutes of waking and before going to sleep. Read up from dog training books and on the Internet sites like Dog Owner's Guide.

Establish a schedule. Take time off from work if required to toilet train your dog. Take him out as soon as he wakes in the morning and after every meal. Wait patiently for him to complete his work before you take him back inside. Use an encouraging tone and give a word to what he is doing. For instance, say "Good boy, do a pee," or "Go potty, great work." Use the same words and language every time, so he learns to associate the word with the activity. Going further, he will be able to go when you command using these words. Show him you are happy by playing and petting him after he does his toilet outside.

Watch for warning signs. Before the dog is completely trained, restrict his access to parts of the house. Close room doors and use baby gates to prevent him moving out of an area you choose. Watch your dog as much as possible and learn to identify signs that he wants to use the bathroom. Often, there may be no sign at all; but if you are watchful enough, you can begin to recognize certain behavior. This may include circling a space, whimpering, sniffing around, and suddenly wanting to move to another room.

Handle accidents with care. Be prepared for accidents before your dog is perfectly trained. If your dog begins his work inside the house, immediately take him outside and say you don't like his behavior by using a tone different from the happy one. Don't shout or scream; this will make him afraid or make him associate the activity with pain. When he does his toilet outside, go back to the happy tone and words.

Maintain cleanliness. Regularly clean up the outside place that the dog uses as a bathroom. If this place is littered with old stools, the dog will not want to go there; he will use your home instead. If your dog has accidents within the home, clean up immediately using paper and disinfectants that remove the smell of the urine and stools which attract him to use the same spot.

Handle "marking" behavior. Male dogs begin using their urine to mark their territory -- the trees and shrubs outside and even places inside your home like a table leg or some specific furniture. This marking is different from a toilet accident. Large puddles of urine indicate an accident; if you catch your dog lifting his hind leg and depositing a small quantity of urine somewhere, it indicates marking. Such marking of territory is his way of claiming possession of the object and can lead to various problems like aggression and fighting with other male dogs. When this starts, it indicates that your dog has become sexually mature. See your veterinarian about having the dog neutered.