April 21, 2011
I'm trying to train my male Black Lab to poop in a certain area so my kids don't step in his messes. Any suggestions?
Full Question:
Hi!I have a male Black Lab (3 years old). I'm trying to train him to go poop in a certain area of the yard so my kids (ages 4 and 1) don't step in his messes when they are playing. I've tried a lot of positive reenforcement when he goes where I want him to. I've even tried putting a temporary fence around our yard so he only has access to the areas I want him to go. The positive reenforcement worked when I could take him to the spot, but the first chance he got to go in the yard, he would. He's broken through the temporary fence 4 or 5 times and gone in the yard as well. I can't figure out why he prefers the yard so much as the area I want him to go also has grass. Any suggestions? ...or should I just learn to deal with it?
Thanks!
Paul
Cindy's Answer:
Unless you can retrain the dog to a different surface (say wood chips) he likely thinks that anywhere that there is grass (his desired bathroom surface) is a great place to relieve himself.
I have trained pups to go on pine shavings and then when I send them to their new homes, the people sprinkle pine shavings in the areas of their yard that they want the dog to use as a bathroom.
With a 3 year old dog, I'm not sure this is possible.
In the meantime, it may be less stressful for everyone to just pick up the dog's poop a couple times a day.
Cindy
I have trained pups to go on pine shavings and then when I send them to their new homes, the people sprinkle pine shavings in the areas of their yard that they want the dog to use as a bathroom.
With a 3 year old dog, I'm not sure this is possible.
In the meantime, it may be less stressful for everyone to just pick up the dog's poop a couple times a day.
Cindy
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