Indoor Potty Training for Dogs

In many areas, training a dog to potty outdoors is either impossible or unfeasible. In a city apartment or a place in which the humans will be gone most of the day, potty training a dog for indoors is a more convenient option. Indoor potty training for dogs consists mainly of training a dog to potty in a very specific area. There are several different ways to take care of the dog's waste indoors, including several types of products that make dealing with indoor waste easier.

  1. Paper Training

    • Paper training is often done for puppies and small dogs. Because newspapers aren't waterproof, this will likely not be a good option for larger dogs. Smaller dogs can be picked up and placed onto the paper as soon as they rise in the morning, after each meal and right before bedtime. Also place the puppy or small dog onto the paper anytime you see the dog squatting or sniffing around the ground, as these are signs that he or she may need to relieve himself or herself.

      Keep the newspapers in one area, replacing them as they become soaked. If there is a small amount of waste on the paper but it is not soaked through, leave the paper to allow the dog to smell the waste. This will interest him in marking the same place later. If he has an accident anywhere else, clean it thoroughly with a product made to remove the scent of pet urine. This will keep him from marking that space later.

    Pad Training

    • A dog training pad is a paper pad with a plastic lining on one side. The plastic keeps the urine from soaking through to the floor. The paper has gel inside it, much like a diaper. The top of the pad is scented with a synthetic smell that makes the dog believe that another dog has urinated there. This will make the dog want to mark the spot as his own. Use the same paper training principles to get the dog to use the pad.

    Dog Litter Training

    • Just like cats, dogs also have litter that is made for them to use indoors. Dog litter is usually larger in size than cat litter, though it is often made from the same materials. Clay and paper dog litter can be placed into a dog litter pan and used just the way a cat would use them. Use the same principles to get the dog to use the litter, bringing the dog to the litter pan often and cleaning up any accidents elsewhere in the house.