Dogs that repeatedly urinate in a particular area are only following the same natural instincts that make it possible to house train pet dogs by teaching them only to eliminate outdoors. Unfortunately for dog owners, sometimes dogs choose a toilet area either indoors or outdoors that is undesirable from the owner's perspective. Changing this behavior requires time, patience and some careful scrubbing if the dog has been urinating indoors.
Things You'll Need
- Enzyme cleaner
- Black light
- Telephone
- Clicker
- Treats
- Plastic carpet runner (optional)
- Dog toys
Instructions
Clean any indoor urine spots thoroughly with an enzyme cleaner. Use a black light to ensure that you have found and cleaned up all urine spots inside your home.
Take your dog to the veterinarian for a checkup, particularly if inappropriate urination is a habit it recently developed. A urinary tract infection may be to blame. If your vet diagnoses a medical problem, treat it according to the vet's instructions, taking special care to correctly administer any prescribed antibiotics.
Reward your dog each time it urinates in an appropriate area. Use a clicker and dog treats to provide an incentive for urinating in your preferred area. In order to give rewards at the correct time, you'll need to accompany your dog on potty breaks outdoors, rather than just putting it out alone or installing a doggie door.
Alter the area where you want your dog to stop urinating. If the area is indoors, you can put a plastic carpet runner on the floor with the little feet turned up, making it uncomfortable for a dog to squat and relieve itself. Then scatter toys and treats over the area to show that it is a place to eat and play, not a place to eliminate. If the area is outdoors, prune any tall plants that make it an attractive place for marking territory, then scatter toys and treats.
Continue to take your dog outdoors for regular bathroom breaks in the area where you do want it to urinate. Go straight to the designated toilet area each time you take your dog outside. Don't leave your dog inside without a break for too long or send it outside unsupervised. You will need to observe and praise correct elimination behavior consistently for at least several weeks in order to permanently change your dog's urination habits.