How hard is it to potty train a dog?

I definitely suggest using the crate at night and taking the puppy out every couple of hours during the day, and immediately after it eats, every time, for as long as it takes for the puppy to do its business. But even in the night, while it is a puppy it can’t hold its bladder for very long and you do not want it to ever learn that it can go in its crate.

I would say it isn’t hard so much as time consuming. Someone needs to be around the puppy a lot of the time to make sure it goes well. Sometimes this means putting your life on hold, or getting someone else to let it out during the day. Smaller breeds are harder to potty train, but this might be just because people work way harder at keeping their Great Dane from going in the house because it is so much bigger of a mess.

@athenasgriffin Thanks. what do you call the thing they use for a potty? I misused the term “crate”.

”I definitely suggest using the crate at night” and ”you do not want it to ever learn that it can go in its crate.” I’m kind of confused.

@Flo, a crate is a contained cage/box the dog sleeps in. So, @athenasgriffin is saying keep the dog in the crate at night to contain its movements but you don’t want it doing its business in there. You don’t want the dog to associate the crate with being its toilet area.

I have a feeling you might be asking can you train a dog to use a litter tray or something similar? Is this right?

@Bellatrix yes, I see, thank you. ”…asking can you train a dog to use a litter tray or something similar?” Yes. that is what I mean. The youtube has a few dogs and cats using the toilet, but any way of having them trained so you never having to go out at ungodly hours and scooping the stuff, ...etc.

Wait, what’s the question? Training dogs to use a litter box? No, I would much prefer to let the dog out to go to the bathroom. Keeping the cat’s litter box cleaned is a big enough chore.

OMG I can’t imagine having a litter box for the dogs! I hate having one for a cat. Google crate training, it is the easiest way to housebreak a dog.

@flo I’m sorry, I misunderstood your question. I’ve never taught a dog to use a litter box, but I have heard that the way to do it is first start using potty pads and giving it treats whenever it goes, and once it has that part down, put the potty pad in a litter box, and once it is reliably going in the potty pad in the litter box, add a sprinkling of kitty litter on top of the potty pad, and keep adding more every few weeks until you have enough kitty litter to remove the potty pad.

@syz @rooeytoo @athenasgriffin
Aren’t there dogs,and cats that use the people toilet with an adapter seat? Without the adapter seat it doesn’t seem safe, what if they fall in? I was trying to find one on Youtube but the ones I found, this and this
don’t even seem legit.

Or how about a shallow container instead of the pad here

@athenasgriffin Actually you didn’t misunderstand my question, I mistated it. I later edited it. And yes I would think something like what you suggested is easier rather than having to get up in the dark in the cold etc. They complain about it that is why I asked.

I mean if they can train them to do just about anything for movies/ads/security etc.

@flo – It is enough of a pain cleaning up after the males in the family, I don’t want to clean up after the dogs too! I have heard of cats using the toilet, but I feel the same way about that. Easier to take the litter box outside, dump it and hose it!

What cleaning up @rooeytoo? They use the toilet they flush it, what is there to clean up?

..Re. the shallow container I mentioned, why not dump the poop in the toilet, rinse it over the toilet bowl, and that is it, no fuss no muss, no?

@flo – I can’t imagine a dog or even cat being all that concerned with their aim or tidiness! But I could be wrong???

@rooeytoo but this is for people who would love not to have to get up for the sole purpose of walking the dog, and the rest of it, it is not for people who find training them to use the toilet is more trouble than it’s worth. To them the aim/tidiness thing may be nothing.

Well then by all means, go for it. Don’t forget to teach them how to flush too!

@rooeytoo that is what the thread is about. Training them to use the toilet including aiming right, and then flushing. .

@flo – I must have misinterpreted the question, this is what I thought it said, “How hard is it to potty train a dog?

EDITED: There are cats and dogs that use the toilet. That must be hard I’m thinking. I can’t imagine people would rather have to get up to walk the dog, do the scooping etc. Can’t owners train their dogs to use a litter tray?”

I don’t see where it says anything about aiming or flushing??? But hey, it’s your question, I’ll just tuck my tail between my legs and wander off into the night (getting exercise that is good for me and the dog).

@rooeytoo You have a point there, ....somewhat anyway since the OP isn’t strictly about toilet. But the crux of the question is no need to get up, walk the dog and get back to bed, or scooping, or stepping on other dogs poop and scrapping it off, or tracking it into the house if it isn’t noticeable enough. and on and on. So whether it is toilet for those who don’t think it is too much work to train them or the litter tray….