How to Teach a Dog to Go on Command

One of the most frustrating elements of caring for a house dog, if you have a busy schedule to keep, is the fact that when they are let out to relieve themselves, they take the time to smell every flower, start at every noise, and fairly well do everything except that which you need them to do so that you can get to your three-hour appointment on time, and return to a house free of pet messes. The good news is that you can train your dog too urinate or to defecate on command, and you can even teach them the difference. Here’s how.

Instructions

1. Train the dog to pee on command. emember that the easiest behaviors to train are things the dog engages in naturally. Dogs relieve themselves in the yard if they need to, regardless of training. Training your dog is about associating command with action. For example, when your slow-to-pee dog finally does get around to peeing, say in your command voice, "[dog’s name] GO PEE!” At first, this will distract the dog, but he or she will get past that soon. After hearing this enough times at the point when he is told to relieve himself, he will begin to associate the command with the action. He learns through repetition that that when you say “go pee”, his expected action is to empty his bladder. Keep plenty of treats around for a reward when the dog does as you say.

2. Using the same process for defecating as for urinating, train the animal to defecate on command. When my dogs hear the words, “GO POO,” they squat as if my voice is a verbal laxative. One moment the animal is sniffing a chunk of dried out old poo with white glazing, and the next moment, she hears the command “GO POO!" She simply pushes out another back yard mold platform, and my job is done.

3. Make a point of having distinctly different words for each form of relief. Saying “go to the bathroom” will not work well if you are going to be gone for a long time and need the animal to perform both functions. Once the animal does one, if you use the same command for both, you will confuse the animal, and you will not get what you want. The importance of having split commands cannot be stressed enough.

Tips & Warnings

• Teaching your housebound dog the difference between urination and defecation, and teaching them to do both on commands, is the greatest time saver you will ever find when it comes to caring for your dog, despite your busy schedule. Your animal seeks to please you, and he deserves to understand you. After all, you owe him for all the warmed feet and cuddles that cheer you up after a dismal day.