Some dogs regress in potty training due to lack of consistency, lack of clear expectations, lack of fluent communication, or stress and anxiety. Potty training is all about structure, clear expectations, and fluent communication.
If you open the back door and tell the dog to go potty, and the dog chases squirrels, what does go potty really mean to the dog?
The trick to potty training dogs is consistency. Be intentional about the picture you paint for the dog. The dog should always be on leash when potty training. The moment the dog is off leash, you lose the ability to control the outcome for success.
Like all things in dog training, potty is more dynamic than you think. Superficially, the dog is relieving itself, at a deeper level, the dog is gaining confidence and marking its territory.
Dogs rely on their sense of smell above all other senses. Confidence and security is derived from smelling familiar scents associated with territory. Take the dog to the same place every time you want it to party to paint a black and white picture for the dog.
Will Greenway, Training Director at Dynamic Canine Solutions, is a puppy development expert and pioneer in holistic dog training. Will’s dynamic training methodology promotes the canine teaching itself to find the advantage through desirable behaviours such as pottying on cue without reliance on pressure or fancy equipment.
