Potty training a Service Dog differs in a few ways. Primarily the dog must be able to eliminate when and where we ask them. Some dogs will not have access to potty areas during a work day, some may live with mobility limited handlers. Some dogs will be eliminating in the bath tub of the home. The dog must be able to potty where you designate, they cannot pull children or other vulnerable handlers to “the good spot”. It cannot be on their time table. They are not going to be able to investigate where other dogs pee/poop and add to that invisible message board. If you plan to have your dog with you many places, it's a great piece of mind, to be able to have them eliminate on command. (great for rainy or snowy days too!)
Observations to Increase Success
-
After sleeping, eating, play sessions or when they are leaving their crates, take them outside
-
Control the environment. Teach a pup to have clean habits in one room, baby gate the exits.
-
If you cannot/are not actively watching the pup, pop them in their crate.
-
If the pup starts to turn/pivot in circles or sniff the outer edge of the room, they need to potty
-
When a mess happens inside, zero eye contact, words or expressions. Clean it up and review which of the preceding points were missed.
-
No praise outside until the elimination is complete. Praising/rewarding during the pee, promotes ½ pee and a future mess. We really want bladders empty the first time.
Foundation Work
-
Take the pup (carry until they are old enough to hold it to get there themselves) to the spot you will use for a potty area. (Use his schedule/cues to increase success)
-
With the pup on leash, as you arrive at the spot, anchor yourself. No meandering about, limit the environment. The leashed pup will only have a few square feet to investigate, get bored, and “Get Busy”
-
Let the pup sniff around and when you see he has decided to eliminate give the pup the cue (Get Busy)
-
Wait for him to finish eliminating before praising/rewarding
-
After a few days of success, you can start to give the “Get Busy” cue as you anticipate he is about to eliminate.
Build It
Once a pup is pottying on cue 4 out of 5 times, start to vary the surfaces (still around the house). Leaves, grass clippings, driveway, small or big rocks, drain pipes, under trees, bushes. Get creative but only one spot at a time. Build on success of understanding the "cue" before moving to a new location When they are going potty like a pro, add some distractions, toss a ball, have a person walking around, another dog, traffic, squeak toy. The pup needs to learn to eliminate first, have the fun/do the work after.