Training My dog to do his business outside

[DustyRose]

My toy poodle is 6 months old and I am trying to train her to go outside to pee and poop. I take her out for 30 minutes and she pees but then comes in and poops on the paper or tile floor. How do I break this?

[Neo]

take the paper she has pooped on, outside where you want here to do so, that usually helps

[zefi]

You're doing the right thing. I normally take puppies out every 30min or so when they're awake and playing. Also right after waking up from a nap or after eating or drinking. I also say 'go pee' once they start doing their business and always praise and sometimes give treats for peeing or pooping on command. That usually teaches them to do it on command to get a treat! 

The main thing is to watch them. If they start circling or sniffing, take them right out. Watch that they actually DO their business while they're outside and only bring them in once they have done. I dont play with them or let them play with me when we're outside for that. I watch but ignore them so they get on with it. Soon as they do their business they get rewarded with 'good boy' or girl and praise, a treat, pats, and getting to come back into the house with me.

Bonnard has been wonderful. He had a few accidents when he was a baby cause I wasnt paying attention, but he learned so fast and easily. So did all the sps I've had. The toys were a bit harder but I think part of that was having taught them to pee inside on paper first, then switching to outside later. Neo's suggestion of taking the paper outside is a good one.

[Michael]

All good suggestions so far. I'll just add that there may be an attention span issue as well. Particularly with a puppy. I've had dogs that think they do one thing and they're done, so it's time to come in, then they have an accident inside shortly after (the other thing they hadn't done outside). With one dog in particular, I learned.....just not let her in after she's done one thing....even if she thinks she's done....she's not! I kept her out a bit longer, then she realized, oh, guess I gotta do the other thing, and she would. So, once I figured the routine of go, pause, go, it started to work well. Since your puppy is doing one thing, then coming in and doing the other thing, maybe trying extending the time outside to go to the bathroom. Maybe just make it clear she's not coming in yet...that she has to stay out a bit longer.....she may just realize, oh, I gotta go, so guess I better do it out here. Hopefully she'll start to get the hang of things soon enough. Let us know how it's going!