How to Train a Great Dane to Use the Toilet

Before you can direct them to your actual toilet, you need to get them associating going to the toilet with a word or phrase. So say ‘toilet time’ just as they go for a pee or poo. Say it in a high-pitched voice. Note you can use any word or phrase you like.

After a few days your dog should associate the phrase with going to the loo. Now place a plastic tub outside in the spot they usually go to the toilet. Use the ‘toilet time’ command and point to the plastic tub to draw their attention to it.

As soon as your Great Dane has finished going to the toilet in that spot, hand over a tasty reward and give them lots of verbal praise. The happier they feel at this point, the more likely they are to use the tub again. Practice this for a few days.

Now bring the tub inside next to the actual toilet. Follow the same steps as above to get them using the plastic tub. This should help get them used to going to the loo inside.

Once your dog looks comfortable using the plastic tub inside, place it in the actual toilet. Again follow the same steps, using the command and rewards to encourage them to go. After a few days of that, lose the tub and continue to use the command. Before you know it they will be in the habit of using the toilet.

The first thing to do is get the dog familiar with a clicker. A clicker is a fantastic way to communicate with your dog and signal to them when they have done something right. In fact, it could significantly speed up the learning process.

Start clicking whenever they go to the toilet outside. You can then give them some verbal praise and a treat play around with a toy for a minute or so. It’s important you click within a few seconds of them finishing their toilet, otherwise they may not associate the action with the reward.

Now you need to introduce a verbal cue when they go the toilet. Great Danes can learn hundreds of different commands, so use any word or phrase you like. Just make sure you give it in a playful voice and stick with one command.

Now you need to get them used to going to the toilet inside. So take them to the toilet area and point, use the command and encourage them to go. It may take them a little while to catch on, so be patient.

The command will get them going to the toilet, you just need to click and encourage them if they go in or near the toilet to begin with. You want to encourage any promising signs. Just like humans, they will get more accurate with practice.

The first step is getting your Dane to associate going to the toilet with a command. You can use any word or phrase you like, just make sure you only give it once. Also, give it in an animated voice.

Now place a small plastic tub outside where they normally go to the toilet. Use the command to encourage them to go there and then reward them with a treat or toys straight afterwards.

It’s important you clean the tub regularly. However, if they are struggling to go then you may want to just pour the last toilet visit away. This is because if they can smell they have been there before then they will be more likely to go again.

After a few days take the tub inside and place it in the toilet. However, you may want to place a plastic step in front of the toilet. This will be particularly useful if your Great Dane is a puppy as it will help them get high enough. Then continue to reward them when they go to the toilet in the tub following your command.

After several days your dog should be comfortable going in the plastic tub in the toilet. Now you just need to remove the tub and encourage them to go there with the verbal cue. Then several days later, you can lose the command. They will now be in the habit of using the actual toilet.