How to Train Your Dog to Poop in a Designated Area
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Introduction
Teaching your dog to poop in one designated area is beneficial for the grass in your yard as well as making clean up easy for you. You can reserve special spaces in your yard specifically for your dog to poop. Giving your dog his own bathroom space will keep the rest of your yard open and free of poop so you will not have to worry about children playing in or stepping in your dog's mess before you can clean it up. Keeping your dog's poop in one area of your yard can save your grass too.
You can train your dog to poop in one area of a grassy space, or you can teach your dog to poop specifically in rocks away from social spaces within your yard. City dwelling dogs or tiny breeds can also be trained to poop in one area of your home or apartment to avoid concrete walks outside or extreme weather conditions.
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Defining Tasks
Giving your dog a designated space to poop takes repetition, treats, and a little bit of time for your dog to get used to new routines. Plan a particular area before you begin to train your dog and avoid changing this particular pooping spot. Especially within your home or your apartment, be sure to designate a special pooping spot for your dog, so he does not have accidents elsewhere where you do not want him to go. If your dog is already house trained, teaching a designated area may require a little bit of extra time because you are retraining and asking your dog to forget old habits. However, if you have a puppy who is house training for the first time, setting your expectations with a place for your puppy to poop all the time instead of having free reign of your yard or home will be much quicker and part of the normal housetraining process.
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Getting Started
You will need a leash to direct your dog to the proper location for designated pooping. Also, be sure to have on hand a supply of special treats specifically for training your dog. As mentioned above, have your designated pooping area already planned out and decided upon before you begin this training, so you do not confuse your dog by changing spaces mid-training. If you are training a new puppy, this may take up to six weeks to house train your dog. However, part of the house training process will include using this designated space specifically for going potty. If you have an older dog used to having free reign of your yard or your home and you are trying to teach him one specific designated area for pooping, you may require a little more time and patience before he understands the new habit and comprehends exactly what you expect each time he needs to poop.
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The Poop Spot Method
Most Recommended
9 Votes
Most Recommended
9 Votes
Pick a spot
Once you have picked your designated poop spot for your dog, place a scoop of your dog's poop in that spot and leave it in the area. Be sure other areas of your yard or the space where your dog will frequent for play are clean of urine and poop.
Go potty
Take your dog to the spot where you have left the poop and use it command such as “go potty.” If your dog begins to sniff around, reward him with praise, repeating the command “go potty.”
No play
Avoid letting your dog play in this area and avoid letting your dog into other areas to play until he has pooped.
Scent
With the scent of the poop you have left in the area, your dog should begin to sniff around with interest and potentially poop there as well.
Poop
If your dog can poop when you show him his designated spot, give him verbal praise as well as a treat.
Redirecting
Avoid punishing your dog if he poops elsewhere. Offer verbal praise and a treat when your dog poops in his designated spot.
One pile
While your dog is learning that this is his special place to poop, keep at least one pile of poop in the area. However, keep the area clean otherwise because too much poop will deter your dog from wanting to go there.
Accidents
If your dog has an accident elsewhere, clean it up quickly so he does not sniff and relate the space as a spot to use. Give your dog zero attention, praise, or treats. Be sure you are consistently taking your dog to the right area every time he needs to go potty.
After meals
Watch your dog after meals after waking and after playtime and be sure to visit the designated pooping spot with your dog during training, so he begins to understand that is his spot for pooping specifically.
The Leash Training Method
Effective
4 Votes
Effective
4 Votes
Leash walk
With your dog on a leash, walk him to the designated poop spot and let him sniff around.
One place
Every time you take your dog outside, use the leash and walk him to the designated spot. Avoid letting your dog play in this area and use the leash to keep him confined to the specific space you have designated as his pooping spot until he has pooped.
Meals and naps
Be sure to take him to the designated spot on his leash after mealtime, playtime, and waking from sleep.
Habit
Over time, your dog will get used to going to that specific spot every time he needs to poop. As your dog begins to walk himself to your designated pooping spot you may begin to let him go off his leash.
Off-leash
The first few times your dog is off his leash be sure to walk with him, encouraging him to use his designated poop spot. After several days of escorting him to the poop area off leash, begin to let him go on his own.
Playing
If your dog begins to play in that area, encourage him to go elsewhere to play, and if your dog has an accident in a zone that is not the designated poop spot, clean it up and take him to your designated area.
Accidents
If your dog has accidents elsewhere, clean up and ignore the behavior.
Reward
Reward your dog's positive behavior with praise and treats every time he poops in your designated spot.
The Desginated Area Method
Least Recommended
4 Votes
Least Recommended
4 Votes
Potty needs
Choose a space specifically for your dog’s potty needs. This area should be free of any distractions and kept clean. Take him to his specific area and use a verbal cue such as “Go potty.”
Stay in area
Keep your dog in that area until he eliminates. Offer your pup a reward in the form of a treat and verbal praise.
Reward
If you are trying to train your dog to go in one spot, bear in mind you may only want to offer the reward if he uses that spot.
Rest and play
Carry on with your day allowing your dog to play and rest.
After meals
After meals, when you return home from being away, and anytime your dog goes outside, take him to his special potty area.
Go potty
Using your command words such as “go potty,” leave your dog for a few minutes in this area and wait for him to poop.
Using area
The more your dog uses this space for pooping, the more the area will smell like him and remind him that this is his special potty place. However, be sure to keep it clean because if left with more than one pile of poop, your dog may begin to refuse the area and want to go elsewhere.
Treat
Reward your dog for good behavior and repeat the steps above. Pay attention to your dog during normal activities and watch his body language. Your puppy may spin around, pace, or wag his behind a little more when he has to eliminate. Knowing these signs will help you to get your dog to his potty place within an appropriate time.
Accident
If your puppy has an accident or poops outside of his designated area, clean it up quickly without punishing the dog.
Special spot
Take your dog to his special potty place and repeat the steps above, rewarding him if he eliminates again.
Written by Stephanie Plummer
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 01/01/2018, edited: 01/08/2021
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Training Questions and Answers
Cuddles
Weimaraner
Seven Years
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
We need to move Cuddles' usual poop spot in the house to a new area... he is 7 years old, what kind of flooring / scents can aid us in this? We wish that he has a dedicated area outdoor in a terrace area. Thanks a lot
June 8, 2023
Cuddles's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello, For the new location, I would purchase a potty encouraging spray, such as "Go Here" or "Hurry!" and spray that on the new location that you want him to potty on. I would also set up a similar area on the terrace as inside, use the same encouraging spray on the terrace and either take him to the terrace on leash when its time to potty, or set up a pen area so that you can have him stay in the large pen with the potty area until he potties on it, then give a treat after he potties in the correct spot while on leash or in the pen, and let him out of the pen after he goes if using the pen, to help him learn to go potty quickly when taken there. In the old potty location, you will need to block off the area. You may even need to cover that area with a piece of furniture or heavy matt for several months to ensure pup doesn't just have accidents in the location where the potty used to be while building a long term habit of using the new location, since indoor potty training is based on location in addition to the surface being used being associated with pottying. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
June 9, 2023
Toby
Sheepadoodle
just turned 4
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
Have had Toby for nearly a year. Adopted. There is a hill on one side of pool. This is where he's chosen to do potty. We now have 2nd pup (4 months old) same breed. She does potty where we have artificial grass for doing potty only. Pup is catching on. Toby likes hillside. How can we break him of hillside and go on side yard like pup.
June 5, 2023
Toby's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello, To train the other dog, you will need to take him potty to the artificial grass on leash also for 6-12 months each time he needs to go potty, and limit access to the hillside whenever his bladder is not empty. After he goes potty in the correct location, praise and give him a treat to increase the chances of him learning to go potty only in that spot more quickly. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
June 6, 2023