I am trying to get this potty training thing under control. We have tried a couple of things with Simba. The very first thing we tried was litter training. Yes, an actual litter box with litter in it. Am I confused about Simba being a dog? Of course not! I know he’s not a cat, but this is something that I read about on Animal Planet and something that my boyfriend suggested that we try. You can read the article by clicking HERE. This method seemed to work okay after a couple of tries, but then it just ended up being messy with litter trailing on the floor and just way more work than we expected. We have a balcony so we put the litter box out there for less mess and easier clean up, but we still didn’t like the method.
The next method and the method we are currently using is the puppy training pads. At first he just laid on it like it was his dog bed or something. He also tried to play with it like it was a shiny new toy. He finally got the idea and did his business there, but if there is a pad in the house he won’t use it…he will only use it if we take him out to the balcony. So of course when I took him to my sister’s house while we were away at the beach, he did his business on her floor. He wouldn’t use the pad or do his business outside. Oh dear. We also found out that sometimes Simba has been doing his business under the kitchen table at times. We MUST get this potty training under control. He is so much like a toddler! Imagine training your pet and 2 year old at the same time. The horror!
How did you potty train your dog? Are you currently potty training your dog now? How are you doing it? How is it working for you? Any tips? Share your tips and I’ll feature you on a post about potty training tips.
It took a while for me to figure out the potty training thing. But eventually I realised that if I went on the right spot I got a treat. My humans didn’t explain this very well so took longer than it should have, but now i go outside all the time. I guess the thing is to be consistent and to persevere – and give lots of treats 🙂
We are not doing any training right now. All the dogs we have had I trained this way…I started them off using a newspaper in the house I would take them to the newspaper often. After they learned to use the newspaper without prompting then I took the newspaper outside. Most times it was after 3 or 4 weeks some took a little longer. After the paper went outside they would sometimes use it and sometimes they would go ahead and go some place in the yard. I also took them outside often until they learned that outside was where they did their business and would let me know when they wanted to go out.
Wishing you luck and success and hope you find a solution soon. Hugs
Thank you very much for your feed back! 🙂
My dogs have always been crate trained. Only until they “get it” – they’re crated whenever they’re unsupervised. They will not poop in the crate, as long as it’s the right size. As soon as they come out of the crate, they go outside, and go back outside every 20 minutes till they do something out there. Once it’s done, they have some relaxing play time woth no worry about accidents. Also, after eating/drinking, outside every 20 minutes till they do something out there. It sounds exhausting (and it is, sometimes), but once it’s established, and they get a little older with more control, all that work pays off for the rest of their lives. Good luck. ANY kind of potty training is gnarly!
Thanks a lot for your feedback. Yeah, it can be exhausting, but I’m sure he’ll get it soon. He’s doing better…we just need to be more consistent with him.
I cast my vote for crate training with a strictly adhered to schedule of going out every three to four hours and after meals. When dog goes on the ground excitedly say “do business” while dog is going (name the behavior) and afterwards praise profusely and give a treat.
Thanks! Yeah, I need to be more strict with the schedule!
Being consistent. The first bit if advice I got was that puppies can’t hold it for more than two hours max. Since I was home most of the day cuz I had an easy load at the University, I took him out every two hours on the hour. As he got older, he was able to hold it longer and now he’s got the concept of going outside down. Oh and pee pads never worked with Ollie. He thought they were toys.
Consistent is something I’m hearing/seeing a lot…definitely have to work on that. Thanks 🙂
Taylor had the advantage from the very beginning of always having a parent at home, since I work during the day and my hubby works nights. So, we started by taking Taylor out every two hours, with a “Good girl, go potty” as she did her business, followed by a treat. And, yes, if a two-hour mark fell at 3am, one of us took her out. If she by any chance did not go potty during her potty break, I waited an hour and tried again. Keeping Taylor’s feeding schedule the same everyday helps, too. You will be able to observe your doggy’s bodily functions more easily and you will see that his body will develop a potty “schedule” of it’s own.
Thanks so much for your feedback 🙂
My boyfriend, the genius, figured out potty training and it’s worked on four dogs.
We started by taking them outside for a potty break 2x an hour. Then stretched it to 1x an your. We announce “want to go potty?” or some variation and then when we go outside we say “go potty.” Each of our dogs quickly understood the concept and were potty trained in no time.
All with the exception of Sydney, who took months of convincing, especially on rainy days. But she got it.
Blue, our latest puppy, was potty trained in a week or so.
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Thanks for sharing! I think we need to be more consistent with his potty schedule. He’s doing better now. He has only had one accident since this post.
It took Yuki 3 weeks to be housebroken and Rocket only took 5 days. Although Yuki is trained to go on the puppy pads, Rocket refuses to go on them, he will only go outside. So we don’t use them unless the weather is bad outside. Now are you trying to teach Simba to use the pads, or go outside? The way we got Yuki to use the pad is rub a little of their number one or number two on the pad. They will smell it and know thats where they go. First thing though, you need to clean all the places Simba has gone in the house with one of those odor neutralizing sprays so they will no longer go in those same spots. If you want housebreaking tips on learning to go outside, just let me know. Yuki and Rocket ring a bell to let me know they have to go outside.
Hmmm interesting. Well, we live on the 3rd floor of our apartment and going up and down the steps consistently to let him go outside would be a bit much. We have a balcony and we have it set up where a spot is squared off using like a “fence” made of plastic and we put the pads out there. That way if he doesn’t go all the way on the pad or decides not to use it…the mess will be easier to clean up and whatnot. The spot is also big enough for him to eat and drink water away from the pad. He usually uses the pad with no problems out on the balcony, but sometimes he has an accident in the house. He won’t use the pad in the house…only outside. We bought these little bells to hang on the door for him to hit when he has to go out. I ring the bell and then take him out and say “go potty”. He hasn’t quite gotten the hang of it yet as far as hitting the bells on his own to let us know he needs to go out, but earlier this week he went to the door to let us know he had to potty. He didn’t hit the bells, but at least he went to the door!
Yes, I use the odor neutralizing spray. Also we may just have to start going down the stairs sometimes to at least teach him how to go outside because he will only go on the pad on the balcony. He has went to the potty outside a couple of times…but not much. I guess he thinks he is only supposed to do it on the balcony? I read somewhere that we should teach him how to potty various ways. Yes, you can give me tips on housebreaking outside! Thanks! 🙂
I found that taking my little guys outside to a set spot every couple of hours and especially first thing in the morning and just before bed was the way for us. It is sometimes a pain and there are little accidents along the way, but with patience and praise for good behaviour, the little furkids finally get it and go out on their own. Mine also use it as the time to go and scout the yard in their patrol duties. Thanks for the story about your little guy.
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Hey Just found out that dogs can get hypothyroidism like us and it may change their behaviour, so they may need medication not retraining. if your dog has skin / hair issues. unexplained weight gain and lethargy, ask your vet to run the blood tests.