A great way to keep your yard clean and make cleaning up after your dog easier is to train him to use only one part of the yard. The ideal time to do this is at the same time as you housebreak a puppy. However, it is still possible to train an adult dog to go to the toilet in one spot.
Things You'll Need
- Area for the dog to use
- Leash
- Treats
Instructions
Decide where in your yard you want to make the area for your dog to go to the bathroom. The only criteria for this area is that it is big enough for your dog. The general rule to follow when determining the size is to make it six feet by six feet. It may be a good idea to separate the dog toilet area from the rest of the yard by using mulch, wood chips or sand. Make sure male dogs have somewhere to lift their leg.
Announce to your dog that is "potty time" every time you take him out.
Use a leash. When you are first teaching your dog or puppy to go to the bathroom in one spot, always use a leash. Take the dog straight to the designated area of the yard and keep him in the toilet area.
Reward your dog. When your dog or puppy goes to the bathroom in the correct area, give him lots of praise and a treat.
Let your dog play. After successfully using one part of the yard to go potty, allow him to play in the rest of the yard. He will eventually learn that if he goes to the toilet in the correct area, he will have some play time.
Continue the process of leashing your dog and taking him to the potty area for at least two weeks. After two weeks, you can try letting him out on his own, but watching where he goes. If your dog does not use the correct area, use the leash for another one to two weeks.
Keep the area of your yard designated for the dog to use as a toilet clean. Try to clean the area once a day, but leave one poop out during the training period so he has an idea of where he has to go.
Don't punish your dog for making mistakes. Your dog may have an accident and use the wrong part of the yard when he is first learning to used a certain spot. Don't punish your dog for this. Instead just ignore him, give him no praise or no play time. You also need to make sure you clean up the mess straight away.
Don't always take your dog into the yard to go to the bathroom. It is important that your dog knows he can only use one part of the yard, but that he can also go to the bathroom in other areas outside the yard. For this, take him for walks and let him go to the bathroom elsewhere. Otherwise you will run into problems while travelling or out walking as your dog will think he can't go to the toilet. Always be considerate and clean up your dog's mess if he goes outside your yard.