How to Train Your Dog to Signal for Potty

Hello Shelby, You will need to crate train her for potty training. Check out the Crate Training method from the article linked below. Make sure that the crate doesn't have anything absorbent in it - including a soft bed or towel. Check out www.primopads.com if you need a non-absorbent bed for her. Make sure the crate is only big enough for her to turn around, lie down and stand up, and not so big that she can potty in one end and stand in the opposite end to avoid it. Dogs have a natural desire to keep a confined space clean so it needs to be the right size to encourage that natural desire. Use a cleaner that contains enzymes to clean any previous or current accidents - only enzymes will remove the small and remaining smells encourage the dog to potty in the same location again later. The method I have linked below was written for younger puppies, since your dog is older you can adjust the times and take her potty less frequently. I suggest taking her potty every 3 hours when you are home. After 1.5 hours (or less if she has an accident sooner) or freedom out of the crate, return her to the crate while her bladder is filling back up again until it has been 3 hours since her last potty trip. When you have to go off she should be able to hold her bladder in the crate for 5-7 hours - less at first while she is getting used to it and longer once she is accustomed to the crate. Only have her wait that long when you are not home though, take her out about every 3 hours while home. You want her to get into the habit of holder her bladder between trips and not just eliminating whenever she feels the urge and you want to encourage that desire for cleanliness in your home - which the crate is helpful for. Less freedom now means more freedom later in life. Crate Training method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-poop-outside If she is not already used to a crate expect crying at first. When she cries and you know she doesn't need to go potty yet, ignore the crying. Most dogs will adjust if you are consistent. You can give her a food stuffed hollow chew toy to help her adjust and sprinkle treats into the crate during times of quietness to further encourage quietness. If she continues protesting for long periods of time past three days, you can use a Pet Convincer. Work on teaching "Quiet" but using the Quiet method from the article linked below. Tell her "Quiet" when she barks and cries. If she gets quiet and stays quiet, you can sprinkle a few pieces of dog food into the crate through the wires calmly, then leave again. If she disobeys your command and keep crying or stops but starts again, spray a small puff of air from the Pet convincer at her side through the crate while saying "Ah Ah" calmly, then leave again. If she stays quiet after you leave you can periodically sprinkle treats into the crate to reward her quietness. Quiet method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Only use the unscented air from the Pet Convincers - don't use citronella, it's too harsh and lingers for too long so can be confusing. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Eileen, This will take longer than a bell because it's more abstract, but since pup is afraid of the noise I suggest teaching pup a Touch command, and commanding pup to touch you right before you open the door to take them outside. At first, reward pup right when they do it, then when pup begins to do it automatically when you pause at the door, reward that. Next, praise when pup automatically touches you at the door before you open it, but give the treat after they touch, go outside, AND go potty. Next, start further from the door, command pup to touch there, then walk up to the door, progressing from pup getting a treat right away, to when they do it automatically, to after they go potty. Gradually add more distance between you and door right before taking pup potty, until pup can do it from another room with you. Continue this until pup starts to touch you on their own when they need to go - how long this takes will depend a lot on pup's motivation to go outside, so continue the treats during this time to help motivate pup to want to go outside. Anytime you command pup to touch, the praise or reward needs to be immediately followed with a trip to the door and outside to help pup make the connection between touch and going outside. If pup is having any accidents, in order for pup to be motivated to alert, the accidents will need to stop through better management in the meantime. This means either a more strict potty schedule, tethering pup to you with a hands free leash when their bladder isn't completely empty, or using crate training and crating pup any time past the first 2 hours after going potty outside, until they have gone potty outside again. I would do this for two months to help the habit of keeping your home clean become a long-term habit. Touch: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/what-tricks-can-i-train-my-dog/ Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Felicia, When pup taps you and goes potty, give a treat. When pup taps you but doesn't go potty and only wants to play, go back inside if pup hasn't gone potty within 10 minutes of walking around, and crate for for one hour - then take pup back outside if she may really need to go potty for real by then. When you take pup potty, keep the trip boring and take pup on leash, walking her around slowly and keeping her from running off to play right now. Also, when you do take pup outside to play, use a different phrase, like "Need to go potty?" vs. "Want to go outside?". If you have two doors that lead outside, choose one for potty trips and another for trips outside just to play. Phase out the treats for pottying within a week - those are only to help pup understand that the crating is because they didn't go potty, and not for asking to go out in general. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden