Advice Please - He Is Toilet Trained But ...

[allie181]

My courtyard is a timber patio plus a small grassed area (about 1m x 1m) specifically for my 10 month old Cavalier, Dallas.

Dallas does #1 on the grassed area. However he only occasionally does #2 on the grass. He usually does #2 on a specific corner of the patio (not near the grassed area). How do I get him to stop this? I've tried catching him and redirecting him to the grass but because he has a doggy door to get outside I often find that he's slipped out to do #2 without me realising. I've also tried picking up his #2 and putting it onto the grassed area but that doesn't seem to make any difference. I've also cleaned the patio thoroughly with disinfectant to try and get rid of any 'markings' he might have on it but that's also done nothing.

I'd really appreciate any other suggestions. Thanks

Edited May 1, 2011 by allie181

[Nushie]

I am in the same situation as you, we have a paved courtyard and have a small grassed area and he is 100% on the grass for #1 but often did #2 on the pavement.

He is slowly improving, and what we are doing is praising him wildly and treat him when we see him go in the right spot. If we see him go in the wrong spot, give him a firm "No" and move him to the right spot, then praise and treat. If we miss him going in the right spot, when we clean up we praise and treat, if we miss him going in the wrong spot, when we clean up we give a "No" and then move it to the right spot and praise.

I dont know if this is ever going to work, but it is improving and he is getting more and more on the grass. Its been a loooong road with toilet training and after thinking we were going so well when he was about 5-6 months old and then all of a sudden it went backwards and backwards and its only been the last month or so that we are getting back on track. Still not sure what we did to throw him off, but hopefully we are getting there.

Its really about going all the way back to basics. Just watch him as much as you can and praise and treat when he goes in the right spot.

Good luck

[corvus]

In my mind it's worth just putting him on leash and taking him out to the grassed area when he often does #2s and walk him around a bit. If he starts to go, say "number 2s" and when he's done, throw a party and give him a reward. It doesn't take long to condition them so that even just being on the right spot can prompt them to go. And if you say "number 2s" you can prompt it. We have just recently been doing this with one of our dogs. First thing in the morning is a good bet. My boys both nearly always do #2s not long after they get up in the morning. Keep moving any that end up in the wrong spot to the right spot. Assuming you don't end up with a mountain of poop. Just one or two is enough.

[allie181]

Thank you both for your tips. I'll give that a shot. I guess I got a bit lazy after he became essentially trained. He is a little champ with #1s and goes on command now (if he needs to - but he usually tries if I say "toilet"), so I just have to get serious about training him with #2s now because clearly he doesn't understand where I want him to go which is obviously my fault

Thanks again

Edited May 2, 2011 by allie181