How to wean a dog from marking at home: step by step instructions

It happens that there is no trace of cleanliness and freshness – all because the dog marks in the apartment. What to do? Hill’s Pet Nutrition veterinarians will tell.

Step 0: Toilet Train Your Puppy

In order not to wonder how to wean a dog from shitting in an apartment, you need to start raising a puppy from the first day the puppy appears at home. Here are some tips for toilet training your puppy:

• Choose a specific place near your home where you can always bring your pet. Do not change it until the dog is used to toileting outside.
• Pay attention to the behavior of the pet – for example, barking near the door or trying to sniff under the tail. Try to take your dog outside as soon as you notice one of these signs.
• Feed the dog at certain hours and teach him to walk after eating. If the pet drinks a lot, it is wiser to go for a walk immediately after approaching the bowl of water.

Step 1. Determine the cause

When the order in the house is broken, you want to solve the problem as soon as possible. But it is important to find out not only how to wean a dog to pee on the bed, but also why the dog pee on the bed. Most likely, she does this not out of harm, but for other, more serious reasons:

• Anxiety, fear, increased excitability – for example, due to separation from the owner or loud, sharp sounds outside the window.
• Change of environment – moving, the appearance of a new family member or pet.
• Health problems – this may be due to the pathology of the urinary system.

If a well-bred, toilet-trained dog has begun to defecate in an apartment, it is advisable to show it to the veterinarian after a couple of such embarrassments. Only a specialist can accurately determine the cause and give recommendations.

Please note: the lack of urination or stool is one of the signs of the disease. If you notice that the dog has stopped going to the toilet, be sure to contact the veterinary clinic.

Step 2: Be Patient

If the dog started going to the toilet at home due to illness or psychological problems, complex treatment will be needed and it is unlikely that good habits will be restored from the first days. This is especially true for chronic and age-related diseases: probably, the toilet issue will remain on the agenda until the end of the pet’s life.

Get ready to look for compromises: walk the dog more often, accustom it to a diaper or special diapers. Satisfying the need for frequent toileting will be more effective than demanding the impossible from a pet.

Step 3. Eliminate traces

All traces of the toilet in the wrong place must be removed with disinfectants and cleaning after animals. Otherwise, the dog will return to the smell and will assume that he did everything right.

Step 4. Support the pet

Don’t poke your nose at the crime scene – rather reward good behavior. If your dog has gone to the toilet outside, pet him, praise him, and give him a treat.

Step 5. Support yourself

Do not blame yourself if you are annoyed with a pet – hardly anyone can be happy with an unpleasant smell and puddles on the floor. But if you are able to restrain yourself and not show negative emotions, your dog is very lucky with the owner.