To deter your dog from peeing and pooping in their indoor pen:
(1) Swap the pen for a crate
Most dogs don’t like to relieve themselves in the spot where they hang out. When selecting a crate:
- Choose a metal mesh crate so your dog can see what’s going on at home.
- Remember the crate shouldn’t be much bigger than your dog. Your dog should be able to sit, stand, lie down, and turn around, but he shouldn’t be able to do laps. This is especially true if your dog isn’t housebroken, as you don’t want him using one part of the crate to hang out and one part to pee and poop.
The moment you allow your dog any freedom from crating (or holding or penning or tethering), it’s important to bring them to the appropriate “go” spot right away. And, if you have a puppy and you’re bringing them outside via stairs or an elevator, carry them outside so they don’t make a mistake on the way out.
(2) Remove items that might encourage an accident
If your dog has a history of relieving themselves in a pen or crate, avoid putting blankets or bedding inside, as this might encourage your dog to pee.
(3) Learn to spot the signs a pee is about to happen
Most dogs have a series of things they do before peeing or pooping; by learning to notice these behaviors, you can up your chances of getting your dog to the “go” spot at the perfect moment. Some dog’s signs are more obvious than others, but here are a few telltale signs:
- They spin a few times before going
- They will sniff more than normal before going
(4) If they (inevitably) make a mistake, refrain from scolding
If your dog starts to go in the wrong place, stick out your hand, palm up, and bang yourself in the forehead! Why? Because it’s ill-advised to do anything that might cause your dog to be fearful and there is no way to be sure that your dog is making the right association. For instance, they may think going in front of you is the wrong thing to do, or that a specific room should be avoided. The point is, scolding is likely to do more harm than good.
(5) Reward generously!
When your dog goes in the right spot, reward them with an extra special reward. Make sure to give it to them after they go, not while they’re going — you don’t want to distract them!
(6) Erase mistakes to avoid repeated mistakes
If there is a place where your dog repeatedly makes mistakes, your first plan of attack should be removing access to that spot without supervision. You can also remove the culprit (like lifting up a rug) or block an area that tempts problems. You should also make sure to do the best job you can at getting rid of any reminder that it was ever a good place to go. An enzymatic cleaner should be part of your cleanup routine. At Petcademy, our preferred one is Anti-Icky-Poo.