How to Train Your Dog to Pee on Command

By AnneElk

Instructions

Step 1:
Pick a Command: Some trainers suggest "hurry up," but then you might be sorry one day when you're standing in the living room asking your spouse to rush and the dog hears you. Something unambiguous like "go pee" is better.
Step 2:
Be a Naturalist: Observe your dog and get to know what are the signs that she's about to go. There's sniffing, and there's sniffing. For some, sniffing and walking rapidly back and forth is the sign. Also, take note of places that she seems to particularly like to go.
Step 3:
Say the Word: Every time your dog pees, say your command. Every time. Say it twice if the peeing takes long enough; but don't make it sound like "Gopeegopee" is one long word.
Step 4:
Keep going: Do this every time for a week or so. Your dog will be learning to associate peeing and "Go Pee" like Pavlov's dog associated the bell with food.
Step 5:
Try the Command: After a week, take your dog to one of his favorite spots, at a time when you think he's likely to need to go. Say the command and see if it works. Your dog may not go immediately; but if you see the pre-peeing behavior that you learned to identify in Step 1, wait and see.
Step 6:
Reinforce: When the dog pees, praise him like crazy.
Step 7:
If it's not working yet, go back to step 4 for another week. Have faith--it will work eventually.

Tips & Warnings

You shouldn't need food rewards to train this. The dog needs to pee; so it's a behavior that's going to happen anyway. All you need to do is associate the command with the behavior while it's happening.
Remember that the dog doesn't understand English, so it doesn't matter what the command word is. If you're embarrassed to say "go pee" in public, "rutabaga" will work just as well. Just choose a word that's not easily confusable with other commands that your dog knows.
In the training period, it's important not to say the command when the dog is NOT peeing. This will make it take much longer for the dog to make the association. For example, the first time you try Step 5, resist the impulse to keep repeating the command till the dog pees. If it doesn't work at that point, you need another week of Step 4.

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