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How to train dogs to defecate and urinate at designated times

When we welcome our dog into the house with joy, it becomes an indispensable member of the family, bringing endless joy and warmth.

When we welcome our dog into the house with joy, it becomes an indispensable member of the family, bringing endless joy and warmth. However, the problem of dogs' urination and defecation often causes headaches for their owners. Watching the corners of the house marked by dogs at will, I believe every owner is eager to find effective training methods to teach their dogs how to defecate and urinate at designated times. In fact, as long as one masters scientific skills and has enough patience and love, this problem can be easily solved.

Understand the excretion pattern of dogs

Dogs, like humans, have their own excretion patterns. Generally speaking, dogs have a need for excretion within 15-30 minutes after eating and drinking, as well as for a period of time after waking up and playing. This is because after eating and drinking, the gastrointestinal tract begins to digest food, which stimulates intestinal peristalsis and produces bowel movements; After waking up, the body's metabolism accelerates, which also prompts dogs to want to excrete; And activities during play can also affect gastrointestinal function, leading to a desire for excretion. Careful observation of these time points can help us better grasp the timing of training. For example, after feeding a dog, pay attention to its behavior. Once you notice that it starts sniffing and circling around, it may be a signal to excrete.

Preparation before Training

Before formal training, it is necessary to prepare some necessary items. A dedicated dog restroom is essential, which can be either grid or tray shaped for easy cleaning of urine and feces. If you don't want to use the dog restroom, you can also prepare a larger urine pad and place it in a fixed corner. It is best to choose a urine pad with a fecal attractant function that can attract dogs to excrete on it.

In addition, prepare some snacks as rewards. Dogs have no resistance to food. When they make the right excretion behavior, giving them snacks as a reward in a timely manner can help them quickly understand what is right. For example, chicken jerky, cheese cubes, etc. are all snacks that dogs like.

Gradual training steps

Select a fixed location: Determine a fixed excretion location for the dog, and once selected, do not easily change it. This location can be a balcony, corner of the bathroom, etc. in the home, ensuring good ventilation and away from the resting and eating areas of dogs. Place the dog restroom or urine pad in this location to familiarize the dog with the scent.

Guiding excretion: When the dog has a need for excretion, gently hold it to a fixed excretion location. You can hold it while softly saying simple and clear instructions such as "go pee" and "go poop", gradually linking this instruction to excretion behavior. At the beginning, dogs may not understand, but in this process, it is important to have enough patience, not to force them, but to gently guide them.

Timely reward: When a dog completes excretion at a fixed location, it should be immediately given enthusiastic praise and snack rewards. You can touch its head and happily say 'Baby, you're amazing', letting it know that if it does it right, it will be loved and delicious by its owner. This positive incentive can strengthen its behavior of excreting at a fixed location.

Common problems and solutions in training

Random excretion: If you find your dog defecating randomly in other places, do not scold or beat it loudly. This not only fails to solve the problem, but also makes the dog feel scared and confused, and may even lead to a sense of fear towards its owner. The correct approach is to clean the excrement with a tissue or urine pad, then place it on the dog toilet or urine pad, let it smell its own odor, and guide it to a fixed location again.

Repeated mistakes: During the training process, dogs may experience repeated mistakes, which is normal. After all, it is still in the learning stage and requires time to consolidate memory. At this point, the owner should maintain patience, continue training, and reinforce correct behavior. You can increase the frequency of training to help dogs develop habits faster.

Consolidate training achievements

As dogs gradually develop the habit of defecating in fixed locations, they cannot relax their vigilance. To continue consolidating the training results, regularly check the position and cleanliness of the dog restroom or urine pad to ensure a stable odor at the discharge site. At the same time, in daily life, it is also necessary to continuously use excretion instructions to strengthen the dog's memory of the instructions.

Training dogs to defecate and urinate at designated times is a challenging yet incredibly heartwarming process. In this process, we grow together with the dog and witness its every progress. Every time the dog obediently defecates at a fixed location, it is the result of our efforts. Let us use love and patience to help dogs develop good habits, so that they can grow up healthy and happy under our care, and spend every beautiful day together.

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