Potty training a stubborn puppy may be a very difficult but fun experience. You believe you’ve done everything right, yet there are still everyday accidents that disrupt your time with your dog and make cleaning up a chore.
How to potty train a stubborn puppy that he should not go pee in any place he pleases? Is it possible to potty-train a stubborn puppy?
The first thing that every dog owner should teach their dog is potty training. Potty training is essential since it reduces the discomfort and inconvenience for the both of you in waste disposal.
Also, it makes your house cleaner and smells nicer because you don’t have to clean up your dog’s pee and poop on the floor.
Proper waste disposal also reduces the risk for contamination in household materials of bacteria and viruses from poop.
Proper potty training requires patience and certain equipment in order to be completed successfully.
Consistency of the house training should also be present since failure of being consistent in house training will just waste the first effort in training steps.
However, teaching stubborn dogs to potty train raises the level of the difficulty. Stubborn dogs tend to refuse to follow orders and the training regimen that was set by the dog owner.
Below are some tips that would help in training stubborn dogs.
1. Limiting your dog’s access to your home
If you have a home with a large yard, you can have it prepared to make an area that is exclusive for your dog.
Limit your dog’s access inside your home but let him go to that area only. This can work by setting up small fences in the doorway that cannot be easily passed through by dogs.
Establishing a designated area for your dog or puppy to relieve themselves is an important first step in potty training.
Preparation is key to ensuring that your dog has only restricted access to certain areas of the house. This might include erecting a baby gate across a doorway or restricting them to the kitchen or laundry area.
Solid surface flooring, not carpet, should be used in this space. Prepare the place by placing their container there. It’s important that your dog’s box be large enough to allow them to stand, turn around, and stretch out as they sleep.
Don’t hurry the process of crate training your dog.
IF a solid surface is available, it could work better rather than using carpeted surfaces.
Having a crate is also plausible and you can leave it in there, so it can serve as a mini roofed area where he can sit, stay, and lie down whenever he wants.
2. Using potty training pads
There are commercially available potty training pads sold at pet stores which could help in potty training dogs, even the stubborn ones.
You can use sheets of old newspapers on the floor of his selected area underneath the assigned potty training pads in the middle part.
It is very helpful if you have a limited outside area to teach your dog using training mats. Comfy and outdoor-themed training mats are excellent in this situation.
These have a plush imitation grass surface, making them ideal for dogs that are picky about where they go.
The visual signals of proper potty breaks may be easily transferred from training pads to the outdoors with these alternatives.
Most of these pads are treated with chemicals called pheromones that help in signaling your dog to make him go pee in that area.
Also, assign a separate feeding area along with a steady supply of fresh water in order to make him easily distinguish the areas for potty.
The short video below shows you how to potty train a puppy on pads.
3. Set a schedule for feeding and napping
Most dog owners unconsciously do this, especially those who are eating three balanced meals in a day. Usually, they would feed their dogs after eating.
However, stubborn dogs do not follow these feeding schedules and usually go on their own time to feed and nap whenever they want.
Both the feeding and watering schedules are included in this. Predicting the optimal moment to take your dog out for bowel relief is easy with their help.
That way, you don’t have to keep guessing or chasing false alarms in order to clean up potty accidents at the most inconvenient of times.
This implies that you should never leave food or water available for your dog if it is not hungry. The best thing to do is avoid feeding or drinking your dog just before going to bed if you don’t intend on waking up to let them out.
Younger dogs would need to have a schedule of eating for thrice a day, while feeding twice a day is enough for older dogs. This should go on until your dog is able to pee and poo outside the house and not inside.
4. Organize potty breaks
After feeding or napping, you may take out your dog to the selected potty area to make him understand that it is where he should go.
As soon as he finishes his food, take him to the area as dogs usually dump their wastes from the previous meal after eating.
The actual potty break routine is also a critical part of potty training your dog. Most dog breeds are motivated primarily by routine. This implies that once they’ve established a habit, they’ll go to great lengths to maintain it.
Understanding how much your dog can retain depends on his or her breed, and some dogs have a lesser capacity than others. You’ll be able to come up with something that works quickly if you combine this with your dietary plan.
Also, digestion is happening even during naps, so you might as well introduce him to the area every time he wakes up.
You may include signals and phrases such as “go potty” before letting him inside the area so he could get accustomed to the command.
5. Rewards for your dog
You can issue rewards for your dog every time he poops or pees in the right area. Issuing rewards will make him associate the behavior of pooping positively.
While he is learning, he may accidentally poop and urinate in unintended areas and situations.
Do not give him treats whenever he does this. This is to ensure that only pooping on the selected areas will be positively associated and not just pooping anywhere.
Rewards can be performed in the form of a toy, a delicious treat, or a head and tummy rub.
6. Incorporate crate training
Some dog owners use crate training as a gateway training regimen for potty training their dogs. Proper crate training is very rewarding and is not inhumane. Even stubborn dogs would learn to love their crates if they are well trained to go inside.
To successfully potty train stubborn dogs, the most important key is crate training. In part, it’s due to the fact that dogs have a great deal of interest in keeping their surroundings clean.
Because they sleep, play, or just hang out in their crates, they are less likely to waste or pee there.
With schedule training, the dog must learn to wait until a set time before they are let out for pee breaks. This method is very effective.
Crate training your dog for long hours is just normal, and their urge to pee and poop afterwards is unavoidable. You may crate train him for hours and let him go to his special spot after releasing him to make him go do his business there.
7. Be consistent in training your dog
As stubborn dogs don’t usually a follow proper schedule and training regimen, you have to be consistent in the methods that you are employing.
They need to observe how strict you are and of course, even stubborn dogs would want to please you in every way they can.
When it comes to potty training a stubborn dog, being consistent is your greatest friend. Everything from the reward system to the particular procedures must be consistent.
Even once the dog has mastered the art of holding and walking, it is critical that you continue to work with it.
This is due to the fact that even the most well-behaved and well-trained dogs may slip back into negative habits. Fortunately, the effort may not be too demanding in the future, but the consistency is a must.
Teach them how to follow these rules that you set and even older dogs that are difficult and too stubborn to train will follow if you show consistency in your methods.
8. Accidental poops should be cleaned immediately
Dogs have a keen sense of smell. Once they pooped in an area, the smell usually sticks and the chances of them getting to go potty there again will be high.
Residual odors, especially in urine, will attract dogs to go pee and potty in that area. Once accidents have happened in that area, clean it up immediately using bleach and soap.
A dog’s pheromones in their feces and urine serve as a means of identifying their territory. They also tend to feel better at ease taking a break in a place they know by smell.
As a result, it is in your best interest to thoroughly clean the area following a toilet accident.
Do anything to remove the smell even at the smallest detail. This is important especially during the midst of your potty training since a little slip-up in the areas might make your dog think that there are other special areas to go potty.
Make him think of a single area only to go potty and it will be alright.
9. Be patient and use kind words
Be patient with your dog. He might be stubborn, but he wants to learn, and he wants to please you. Use kind words and do not shout as your dog might grow their fear towards your voice.
This is a form of punishment which just wastes the initial training time spent along with your efforts.
Avoid using harsh yelling and just be patient and consistent with your potty training as it would be rewarding afterwards.
As a general rule, positive reinforcement helps people succeed.
If you yell at the dog, chase them away, or become aggressive with them, you run the risk of traumatizing your furry friend and making potty training much more difficult than it has to be.
This means that even if they are going out of their way to be difficult, you should avoid severe consequences. Instead, be patient and teach them one lesson at a time, and they’ll get it gradually.
Related Questions
• Why is it hard to train my stubborn puppy?
Don’t give up on your stubborn dog if you can’t get him for potty training.
Because house training your puppy might be a challenge, you should get to know them well and develop a schedule that includes frequent pauses and rewards for good behavior.
The length of time it takes for your dog to become potty trained might be affected by any changes in their daily routine.
• How often should I take my dog out to relieve himself?
Every one to two hours, you should take your puppy out for a potty break. Setting a timer to remind you to go to the bathroom might also be helpful.
Once you and your dog have established a pattern, you won’t have to make as many trips. For a variety of reasons, toilet breaks are critical during house training stubborn puppy.
Firstly, puppies have smaller bladders than adult dogs, so they will require more frequent breaks until they are old enough to go on walks.
Second, your dog, like you, is learning how to tell when it’s time for a restroom break. Unlike pups, older dogs can tell when it’s time to use the toilet on their own.
Your dog will have less accidents in the home if you take regular potty breaks and reward excellent behavior by going to the toilet in the proper location. Isn’t this a win-win situation?
• Do I have to build a secluded area for my dog to relax in?
Set aside a designated place in your yard (or wherever your outside space is) for your puppy to relieve himself. They should get familiar with one location so they know where to go.
Bring your dog with you whenever you need a bathroom break. Use a leash to keep them in the same place each time you walk them.
Please be extremely clear or even show them where this location is in order to facilitate a smooth training session.
• How should I reward my dog for good behavior?
Make sure to reward your dog with plenty of praise and positive reinforcement after they’ve done their business. Using little rewards is a fantastic way to do this!
It’s best to have a small pouch or fanny pack full of snacks on hand. Use your fanny bag or pouch as a disguise. When it comes to food and treats, you don’t want your dog to anticipate them.
Also, don’t wait for them to return inside before giving them their goodies and praising them again. As soon as they’ve finished their business, you want to give them a little token of appreciation.
Don’t be afraid to show your appreciation here! If you lavish your pup with attention and praise, he’ll learn to do it again and again.
Before you start heaping praise on them, make sure they’ve completed their business. Treats and praise might motivate them to accomplish their task within your home if you give them a reason to be enthusiastic.
• What to do if I have to be away from home?
It’s not a good idea to have a puppy if you have to be away from home for more than four or five hours a day.
Consider instead an older, house-trained dog who will be patiently waiting for your return. Take very good care of your puppy in the event that your schedule requires that you be away from home for an extended amount of time.
Make sure they have someone to go to the restroom with them, such as a neighbor or a professional pet sitter.
Alternatively, you may teach them to go to the bathroom in a designated area of the house. Be aware, however, that this may extend the time it takes to educate your pet at home.
Even as an adult, if you teach your puppy to defecate on a newspaper, they may do it on whatever newspaper that happens to be lying about the living room.
If you want to create your own sod box, you may use a small plastic swimming pool. A pet supply shop also carries dog litter products.
Put dirty rags or paper towels within the designated elimination area after you clean up an accident outside of it to assist your dog associate the scented area with where they are meant to relieve themselves.
• Should I keep watching my puppy during potty breaks?
Your ability to comprehend your puppy’s behavior will improve the more time you spend with them.
As you begin the process of potty training your puppy, it is critical that you pay careful attention to what your dog does when he or she needs the restroom.
When it’s time for them to go outdoors, their behavior will sometimes be a clear signal. The following are some of the most typical warning signs:
• Bending or squatting their lower body toward the ground.
• Pacing and circling in the area.
• Standing near a door or a surface where they’ve been before.
• Ground-sniffing
• Dogs whining and barking.
Puppy instinctively exhibits each of these actions when it is time to relieve itself. There is a good probability that your puppy is acting up because he or she is needing to go to the bathroom.
It is hard to emphasize enough how important it is to spend as much time as possible with your puppy in order to get familiar with their individual signs.
Other instances when your puppy may need to relieve themselves include naps, mealtimes, or if they have been left alone for a lengthy amount of time.
It’s common for pups to urinate after playing or when they’re ecstatic. Keeping a tight eye on your dog as they play, or even encouraging them to use the restroom before playing, might be beneficial to you.
Take your dog out as soon as you see any of the indicators listed above. You’re probably correct if you believe your dog needs to go outdoors. Keeping your dog with you at all times throughout the process of potty training is essential.
• How effective do puppy pads to use as potty training?
Accidents may and will happen when you have a brand new dog at home.
Real grass pads are now being manufactured and as a natural attractant and odor neutralizer, grass is invaluable in the backyard or anywhere else.
It’s a terrific option if you live on the second story of a duplex or in a high-rise building where access to genuine grass is difficult, such as in a condominium.
Grass pads provide your dog a more authentic outdoor experience. If you must use training pads, make sure they are made of genuine grass so that your dog may learn to relieve himself outdoors more easily.
Final Thoughts
There is no shortcut to house training a dog or puppy.
Even though mistakes are inevitable throughout the potty training process, you can set your new family member- your stubborn puppy on the proper course if you follow some basic guidelines.
A professional dog trainer can guarantee that your dog is well-trained even if you aren’t there to supervise the potty training process.
You may look and hire one if you think you do not have enough time to potty train a stubborn puppy.
How is your experience with your dog? Do you find this article helpful for potty training a stubborn puppy? Comment down below and share your experience with us!
Recommended Reading
How to Potty Train a Puppy in 7 Days
How to Train Your Puppy to Go on Potty Pads
