Successful Potty Training

by PSullivan
(Nevada)

This works great. Take your dog outside to potty with a little twist to it. In a fun and excited tone of voice, loudly say, "outside, outside" while clapping your hands and head to the door. If you have a dog door, go out the door without the dog so that they will use the dog door. When you're out the door reward your dog with love and affection only, no food. Play with them and let the potty part be a by product of the outing. When they do potty, make a bid deal of it. Once they are finished with the potty part, clap your hands saying, "in, in" and go in your house with your dog to follow. If necessary pick them up and take them in. You are the boss.

Repeat this over and over back to back (they won't always potty) but they eventually get that clapping hands is a clue to go outside. In time you should be able to say outside, clap you hands and your dog will go outside with or without you. When they go outside without you, follow them and reward them with over the top affection. Put them down, run around with them eventually they will be distracted, potty and again you will reward them with over the top affecetion.
Over time, you tone down your behavior and taper this process off until it is just, "the way things are", dogs potty outside, period!

If you find a mess inside the house, blot the pee and/or pick up the poop and take it outside with a firm loud (not yelling and not angry) tone of voice "outside, outside". Pick up the poop and pee blot taking the gift and dog outside to the area you want them to do their business. Leave it the gift to be picked up later. Then, if you catch them in the act, all the better, same as above only move towards them clapping your hands saying with a firm loud voice, "outside, outside". Follow them out and reward them for their efforts.

My daughter has to male dogs that have been trained like this. Now, when they come to visit, the first thing they do is take a trip outside, mark their territory and then come in for loves.

Like anything, the more time you put into this process, the more success you will have. By the way, a similar version works for potty training kids too. Make sure you have a good potty dance to celebrate your success.

Dog and kids alike like an over the top showing of their success. It might look silly for a while but the results are worth it.