Transition from indoor to outdoor potty training

Many people use an indoor potty for their dogs for some time. Testimony to this is the fact that the pet supply market is now awash with many varieties of indoor dog potties to choose from. To name just a few: Simple Solution Jump Start Pads, Patio Park, Porch Potty, Penthouse Dog Potty, PetaPotty, WizDog, Pet Zoom Pet Park, Ugo Dog, Potty Patch, Pup Head, Pee Wee Portable Potty, and Pet Loo.

Some of these products are developed for people who want a dog that is permanently taught to relieve itself in a designated spot indoors. But, the vast majority of people use an indoor potty for only a couple of months, until a young pup has developed the necessary bladder and bowel muscle control to “hold it” for periods of time between walks. Prior to that, a long-term confinement area, such as a bathroom that is locked or an exercise pen, can be used when you need to leave your puppy for longer than you know he can “hold” in his crate. In this enclosure, the puppy has access to an indoor potty.

Most people faced with the task of making the transition from indoor to outdoor potty training are those with puppies. In this case, the goal is usually for the puppy to go from using the temporary indoor potty to relieving herself exclusively outside. However, we certainly hear from people facing a more daunting challenge; Teaching your small dog who has been potty trained indoors to now also go outdoors or, even more difficult, to stop using an indoor potty altogether and instead only relieve himself when take a walk

When I meet with people for puppy lessons, I often start by asking them what their home training goals are. Those with medium or large sized dogs are usually quite light. They want their dogs to be potty trained quickly when properly walked and not to relieve themselves indoors. People with small breed puppies are often not so sure about their house training goals.

In a perfect world of dog training, people would carefully plan their long-term goals for their dogs before they even bring them home. In the case of choosing a potty spot, they would consider that even if having a small dog in an indoor bathroom seems convenient, it may not be wise to have this as a dog’s exclusive potty area, as in the something could change in your life in the future that makes it preferable for the dog to go to the bathroom outside. This could be (among many reasons) bringing another dog into your family or having a new partner who wants the dog to potty outside. Plus, going for a walk can be such an enriching part of a dog’s life (both physically and mentally) that it’s a shame it’s not part of her daily routine. So while one of the many reasons some people choose a small dog is because of the assumption that it will be easier in some way, it is generally recommended that small dogs be house trained outside, even if they are also teaches them to use an indoor potty for added convenience.

In addition to socialization, building reliable home training skills is a top priority. The good news is that once you help your dog develop a strong habit of pottying in a specific place, he tends to be particular about going to that place. But that also means that once you’ve helped your dog develop the habit of pottying her in a specific spot, it can be a little harder to change that habit once it’s become deeply ingrained.

Teaching your dog (whether a puppy or small adult dog) to relieve himself outdoors instead of or in addition to using an indoor potty will require diligent scheduling and time management on your part. Your main focus should be on giving your dog as few opportunities as possible to be indoors with access to the indoor potty when he needs to relieve himself. Instead, when he knows they need to go, he should take them (it is recommended to take them for the first few weeks, so there are no accidents when going out) outside to an area about 10 feet wide and walk. back and forth for five minutes without speaking to them.

If he doesn’t relieve himself during that time, pick him up and take him back where you’ll hold him for five to ten minutes on your lap before trying again. Make sure you don’t put your dog on the floor as he can relieve himself indoors and this will create a behavior pattern where your dog learns to go outside, sniff and then go back inside to relieve himself. In most cases, this in and out routine requires no more than a few repetitions before outdoor home workout success. However, it is advisable that if this is your first attempt at potty training your dog outdoors, you should probably spend a week or two walking your dog on a leash to his indoor bathroom before beginning the transition outside. This will give your dog a chance to become familiar and comfortable with leash elimination, something many dogs that have been potty trained indoors have not done before.

During this transition period, also be careful not to allow your dog to roam freely in your home, even when you are home. Each time you do this, the dog can continue to practice eliminating indoor pottying, which decreases the chances of a successful outdoor potty break. Instead, when you can’t give your dog your full attention, have your dog on a leash tied securely nearby or resting in his crate, either provide a couple of attractive and safe toys.

If you’re trying to eliminate the indoor potty spot, then be more diligent about it. Once you remove the indoor potty area, your dog may be so conditioned to go indoors that he will seek out other areas and surfaces that are similar to the old indoor potty. These can be doormats or bathroom rugs or newspapers lying on the floor.

It’s also vital not to punish your dog if he makes a mistake indoors. This is unlikely to teach your dog much more than to avoid relieving himself in front of you (the big bad pee-and-poop police!). In this case, your dog will surely hold you as long as possible when he leads you outside on the leash while he is standing nearby.

As you focus your energy on being a diligent manager of dog time in an effort to help your dog learn to relieve himself on a new surface (grass or concrete), in a new and potentially very upsetting environment (outdoors, free), remember that it may take your dog some time to develop a strong new habit. Your dog is counting on you to help him understand the benefit of going to this new place (by offering quiet praise and other rewards), and to help keep him from going to other places you’d rather not.

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