Dog Training 101: How to Train a Dog to Use the Bathroom

Puppies, like babies, learn a lot during their early years. And if your new furry friend is a puppy, it’s best to start training it, especially potty training.

Knowing how to train a dog to use the bathroom outside is important and requires a lot of patience. You don’t want your dog peeing inside the house!

How to train a dog to use the bathroom outside

If you are potty training your puppy, it’s better if he can let you know when he wants to go outside to potty. This training technique is very simple to teach. All he needs to do is ring a bell.

This technique is called the bell training technique. And if you’re looking for a way to learn how to train a dog to use the bathroom, this is it!

This technique is not difficult to teach, even for puppies! With this, your puppy will learn to ring a bell to alert you when she needs to go potty.

Bell training technique

IThe bell training technique is not something you want on cue. The objective is for your dog to learn that ringing the bell equals potty time outside.

Furthermore, this training is not just for puppies. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? You can successfully train an older dog to do this too. Some owners can even train their adult rescue dog in a matter of days!

Before the training

Now that you know what the bell training is, it’s time to use it and learn how to train a dog to use the bathroom outside.

Begin by hanging a bell or bells over the handle of the door where your dog goes outside by.

Remember that every time you take your dog outside to go to the bathroom, you have to get him to nudge the bell with his nose or paw.

Getting started with the training

To begin training, make sure he is in a calm state and preferably, sitting. You can gently take his paw and make him touch the bell. Or you can gently position him to nudge the bell with his nose.

They keyword here is ‘gently’. Because we don’t want any fear associated with this training.

As soon as the bell rings, say the words ‘”go potty” or whatever words you choose. Praise him lavishly or give him a small treat and then go outside immediately.

Once this is established, always remember to be consistent and do it every single time your dog or puppy goes out to potty.

How to train a dog to use the bathroom: Positive reinforcement

For a young puppy, take him outside once an hour or a couple of minutes after eating or waking. Stand with him but don’t distract him at all.

Let him sniff around. If he goes to the bathroom while outside, tell him what a good dog he is while he is actually peeing or pooping. This is actually a method in dog training called positive reinforcement.

And praising is a type of positive reinforcement.

For example, while he is peeing say, “Do a pee, good boy, well done” or “Go potty, great work, good dog”. By saying these words, your puppy will then be able to learn them. And they’ll associate them with the action. Now, you need to say the same words when your dog rings the bell to go outside.

Do not let them ring the bell if you are going out for a walk or a game in the yard. This would be a recipe for disaster. You don’t want him ringing the bell every time he wants to go out to have fun.

It is important to choose a word or phrase for your dog’s elimination. You can call it what ever you want as long as you are consistent with it.

Remember to be consistent and apply positive reinforcement during the bell training. And do it every single time your dog or puppy goes out to potty.

Products to aid with training

Other than potty training bells, you can use other products to really help you in knowing how to train a dog to use the bathroom.

There is a product on the market called ‘Pet Chime’. This is a wireless doorbell that allows your pet to tell you when it wants to go out. It’s a two piece device – a paw-shaped remote control transmitter and a receiver chime.

To activate a chime, a dog can simply step on or push the paw with its nose. You can even select from two chime sounds, a dog bark or traditional ding-dong.

The paw’s battery life can be used up to 10,000 chimes. And the remote control works up to 100 ft. away from the chime.

Conclusion

Learning how to train a dog to use the bathroom outside with the bell training is easy and fun. Furthermore, it can be applied to dogs of all sizes, ages and breeds. And they can master it in a couple of days or weeks!