Dogs can be some of the most wonderful roommates. They bring joy to a home, cuddles on a cold night, and an excuse to get outside on beautiful days. But sometimes, even great roommates have a few kinks to work out, like pooping on the carpet.
Nobody likes to find a big “gift” on the ground when they come home from a day at the office. On top of being gross, dog poop inside of a home can attract pests and germs that are harmful to adult and adolescent housemates.
If poop inside is a continuing problem, follow this advice to properly potty train your pet!
Create a routine
The bad habit of pooping inside can be considered a routine in itself, so fight fire with fire, and create a positive routine to combat it! Feeding your dog at the exact same time each day, and subsequently walking them exactly 15 or 20 minutes after their meal, will get them on a regular digestive schedule. If their schedule for pooping is regular, and they know that their morning or evening walk is coming at a specific time, they may be inclined to take advantage of the walk to poop.
Reward a poop
Bending down to scoop a poop in a plastic bag, it may seem understandably counterintuitive to give your pet a big scratch. However, dogs thrive off of positive reinforcement from their pack leader. If you want a dog to poop outside, try giving them a lot of love after they’ve succeeded, maybe even a treat!
Don’t punish
Please, for all that is holy in the world of dog ownership, don’t perform the cliche of rubbing your pet’s nose in their accident. For that matter, yelling or other kinds of punishment can do more harm than good, as certain accidents can be perpetuated by fear and anxiety. Try rewarding good behavior instead, and encouraging it as much as possible through regular outdoor opportunities.
Fabricate an outdoor bathroom
It may sound a little nasty, but smearing some of your dog’s poop on an outdoor space can often encourage the use of that spot as a new bathroom! Try doing this in your backyard, or in a median outside of your house.
Give a little privacy
Sometimes, attention can be distracting or stressful to a pet when using the bathroom. If your animal seems nervous about going number 2, try turning around when they attempt the task. Also, lose the high pitched conversation and the petting, because these too can distract your animal from the task at hand. Would you want someone patting your head encouragingly while using the toilet? Probably not!
All in all, patience is key. Any and all of these tips won’t fix a potty problem overnight, so keep at it with consistency in mind. Over time, with the right attitude and system of rewards, your dog should have no problem using nature’s bathroom.