How to Teach a Dog to Go to the Bathroom

One of the first things you should teach your new puppy or dog is not to go to the bathroom in the house. Housebreaking a dog is best accomplished when he is a puppy, but even if you adopt an older dog that is not trained you can still housebreak him.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Put your dog on a leash when taking her to go to the bathroom. With the dog on a leash you will have more control over the process of going out and what happens once you are outside.

2. Give the same verbal command every time you take the dog out for a bathroom break. Walk towards the door with the dog and say, "Come on, let's go outside. Time to pee."

3. Use the same door every time you take your dog out to the bathroom. You want the dog to learn to go to the door to alert you that he has to go out. Using multiple doors for potty breaks will confuse him.

4. Teach the dog to give you an audible signal of her need to go out. Some dogs will learn on their own to bark or hit the door to let you know they are waiting for you to open it. If your dog does not do this you might want to hang a couple of small bells on the doorknob. Ring the bells yourself every time you take the dog out; try ringing the bells after you give the verbal command and before opening the door.

5. Praise the dog and give him affection or a treat each time he goes to the bathroom outside.

6. Reinforce learned behavior by praising or rewarding the dog each time she asks to go outside and when she learns to ring the bell on her own to signal you.

Tips & Warnings

• It is important that bathroom trips outside not become confused with outside playtime. When teaching your dog, only stay out long enough for the dog to do what he needs to do. Do not play while you are outside or you will actually teach the dog to ask to go out every time he feels like playing instead of when he needs to go to the bathroom.
• Using a crate to train your dog can be a big help when you need to leave the dog home alone. A dog will typically not go to the bathroom in her den. If she is confined to her crate when you leave her she will learn to hold it until you get home and take her out. Young puppies need to be taken out at least once every 6 hours.