Unfortunately for every owner, there are those days when you can’t take your dog out for a walk or poop because of bad weather, so is it a good idea to teach indoor dog potty training during winter or not? Training a pet can be a tough job, but it doesn’t mean that it is impossible. Once you and your pooch successfully achieve it, both of you can bring a lot of conveniences.
Not all dogs are the same. Some breeds adjust enormously during the winter, while others are unaffected at all. Indoor winter potty for dogs is beneficial, especially for canines that can’t stand extreme temperatures. If you and your pooch live where winter and snow happen a lot yearly, here are some pointers to achieve successful potty training.
Is an Indoor Dog Potty During Winter a Good Idea?
Whether your dog can stand the cold snow or not, indoor dog potty during winter is always a good idea. Moreover, extreme coldness can cause sickness even if your pet is prone to cold weather. It is one of the activities that you can teach your pup during winter, and there’s nothing to do outdoors.
Some dog owners buy indoor dog toilet to protect their dogs from going out into the cold. Although some perceive it as a waste of money, other pet owners believe that it’s a necessity. Indoor winter potty for dogs is an excellent idea. However, it can still be a challenge, especially for new puppies.
Fortunately, there are several aids that you can use to help you do potty training a stubborn puppy. For example, you can use dog pads, litter boxes, or even old newspapers as a make-shift bathroom for your pet. Regardless, consistency is vital when it comes to training your dog to poop in the right place.
Indoor Potty Training Tips for Dogs
Indoor potty training is a stage that every dog owner must get through, no matter how challenging and frustrating it could go. It is an essential part of growth for all dog breeds, and it is your job to do it right and with love. If you want to stop seeing the dog’s excrement on your couch and the floor, here are some tips that you can use for your dog’s indoor winter potty training.
Use Commands
When it comes to potty training, you can teach your dog using commands to send a message that it is time to poop. You can start by creating a schedule for the day, put your dog in a designated spot, like a magazine cover or litter boxes, and say a cue word like “be quick” or “go potty.” Be mindful of how many times your dog needs to pee and start with it as training. Say it just once or twice to prevent the signal from losing its meaning, rather than repeating it several times.
Pair the message with early signs of an impending potty, such as sniffing and circling. When the cue is familiar to your puppy, you can tell it as soon as it gets to its potty spot. It is essential to establish a unique word for your dog that it can associate with “potty” time. For first-timers and puppies, say the word excitedly before your dog does it, and again after dropping the excretion. It will help your pooch pick up your intonation and understand that the “keyword” you were saying is about doing the pooping action that your dog just did.
However, you have to make sure that your pooch listens, and its attention is with you whenever you say the command. Repeat this one easy step for a week, or until you finally think that your pup gets it. If you see the dog responding whenever you say the order, or it will run to the door or start barking as a response to the word, you’ll know when it’s beginning to understand the term.
When you’ve developed this habit with your canine, it makes the rest of the process much more straightforward, mainly if you’ve already set up a particular place for your dog to poop.
Check out all these channels on YouTube to learn more dog training techniques.
Make a Regular Spot
Whenever you say the word, make sure that you teach your pup to excrete waste on a single spot only. You can start by using tools for toilet training a puppy. Usually, the dog would go on an area where it has been pooping or peeing. So it would help if you have pads or, better, the best litter boxes for your canine. Never force your pup to put on that spot because it is a negative reinforcement that can cause trauma. As a result, it would be a lot harder to do potty training.
Depending on your dog’s breed, age, and behavior, this part of excreting waste on the same spot may take a week or even a month. Hence, it is essential to be patient in letting your pet know that there is a designated spot for pooping. You can also time your pup’s toilet training by observing when it often does it. For example, some pets do it every morning after waking up, after walking, after a meal, or after playing with you.
Reward your Puppy
For every command followed and correct actions, make sure that you reward your dog for it. Giving rewards through praises and dog treats can work wonders for dogs. Next time your pup goes potty on it’s designated toilet, make sure that you correspond it with a reward. If you don’t have dog treats left at home, prizes can be as simple as verbal praises with a sweet and excited tone. Even petting your puppy can send a strong message of affection towards your pet.
Indoor Dog Potty During Winters – FAQ
Indoor dog potty training is not a bad idea, especially during winters. A stash of potty pads or even a litter box is essential once the snow starts pouring. Even several newspapers spread on the floor can do wonders when it comes to indoor potty for dogs.
If you don’t want to see those unexpected excretions on the floor or, worst, your furniture, potty training is the key to a disciplined dog.
Some pet owners would say that indoor dog toilets are only expenses, but for those dog parents who have seen the results, these dog items come in handy for potty training. A dog toilet is an answer to giving your pooch a place to do its business without going outside the home. Not all breeds are comfortable pooping outdoors, so indoor dog toilets come in handy. However, just like any other training, making your poop in the toilet can be a challenge.
As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to provide a place for your dog to do its business. However, take note that potty training requires patience and consistency in letting your dog what you want it to do. As a result, you don’t have to worry that your pup would be making excretions on the floor whenever you are not at home or while you are asleep.
The hardest part of potty training is getting your dog understand what you are trying to say. Not all dogs are the same. Some breeds are stubborn, while others are smart enough to pick up various commands.
However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t train a dog. Indoor potty training is one of the most fundamental skills that you can teach to a canine. Pets would always want to please you, but you need to show how. Even stubborn and senior days can learn tricks if you are consistent with your methods.
According to studies and dog owners, female dogs tend to be easier to train and feel connected with their owners. However, there are certain circumstances where female pups demand more attention compared to their counterparts. Still, it depends on the dog breed. For example, male or female, working dog breeds are incredibly smart like Bernese Mountain Dog, Border Collie, German Shepherd, Standard Poodle, Doberman Pinscher, and Labrador Retriever.
During the indoor winter potty for dogs, you have to remember to use the command word diligently. Never hurt your pooch when it doesn’t understand you. Training requires patience and being consistent. If you want your pet to be smart, you have to help it to behave well.
More importantly, don’t forget to give praise whenever your fido follows your command. It is a great way to tell the dogs that they are doing it right. Dogs are families and treat it as your little sister or baby. If they don’t understand things at first, teach them right and let them learn through positive reinforcement.