How do I teach my dog to pee?

peterinwa

Geeze Louise, not long ago the problem was just the opposite!

Muka's a year old now, and I have a new problem. He only seems to want/need to pee a couple times a day.

He has water available 24/7, seems to pee just fine, and his stools are normal. So I'm not worried about his health. It's just very inconvenient for me!

The problem is that sometimes I leave home and if he needs to pee while I'm gone, he'll do it in his pen. I should add that this happens only very rarely, so it's not that he isn't house trained.

It's just so frustrating. He'll pee when I walk him early in the morning, and still not need to when we go for a walk maybe 5 hours later at noon. But then when I leave for the gym, I have to worry about him peeing while I'm gone.

Yesterday he only peed at 8 in the morning and 5 in the evening. I changed my schedule and went to the gym early so I wouldn't be gone in the afternoon when he might need to pee.

But he didn't pee when I got home... not till 5 pm. Then he didn't pee 6 hours later at bedtime. He went 15 hours overnight and seemed fine about it.

It would just be nice if I could get him to pee after he hadn't gone for 4 hours or so... that way I could time things better.

Thanks for any ideas... I've already tried rewards which work well for teaching him tricks like putting away his toys or jumping through my arms!

Peter

hbark

I'm no expert and a pretty recent dog owner, but I read this somewhere and it's seeming to work for me and my dog.

When the dog does pee, say some word/command over and over -- that the dog will associate with peeing. I just say "Do it", "Do it" (not very creative, but it's something I can say in public and not feel weird like if I was saying "Make a pee pee" or something like that!

Anyway, that's what I was doing each time. Then when she was hesitant to come out like onto the wet grass -- or when she was just standing around and I wanted to get on with it -- I started saying "Do it", "Do it", and wouldn't ya know, she did it!

I know, it could be and may be a coincidence. But it worked for my wife too.

Just a thought. Good luck.

txcollies

What I did was add a word to whatever the dog was doing.

It worked like a charm.

I always said "take a break".

peterinwa

Well, if you can teach your wife to pee on comman it must be good! Haha.

Thanks for both of your replies, but unfortunately, that's what I've been trying. I've been saying "go potty" for 9 months, and he follows other commands. So he must know what those words mean.

Recently I've tried coaxing him with a handful of dog food, to no avail.

I'll just keep working on it. I do have a friend who can get his dogs to pee on command.

Thanks, Peter

Dogstar

Are you only using the command you want to associate when he's already peeing?

peterinwa

Not sure what you are asking, but I say "go potty" when I am trying to get him to go, and then when he is I keep telling him "good, go potty... good, go potty."

Today he went at 7:30 am, then I took him out and went to a number of lawns at 1 pm and he had no interest. He really just doesn't need to go, or he'd go to the door now.

It's just that I want him to go sometimes when he doesn't want to.

Thanks, Peter

Peter

Dogstar

Three things I'd try.

First, I'd pick a new word/cue, and I would ONLY use it when he is actually IN the act of peeing.

Secondly, I'd up his fluid intake in the evening- try putting a few tablespoons of milk (or chicken broth) into his water bowl to make it a little more palatable. If you put down a bowlful of something tasty with a high water content as SOON as you get him, eh's more likely to pee in the evening. :P
I wouldn't expect him to drink an excessive amount, but upping his water intake by a reasonable (you didn't say what breed he is, but figure 1/2 cup for a medium sized dog and 1 cup for anything bigger than say, an average lab. Also- and this is gross- consider if he's drinking enough water, period. It should NOT be dark yellow or even too yellow- it should be pale- if you've had him checked and ruled out medical problems, it's a sign that he's not drinking enough water. A friend of mine's dog does NOT like strongly-mineral city water and has to be 'bribed' with a few tablespoons of milk (or frozen yogurt, or sour cream- whatever we have handy) to drink on hot days when we're not near home.) may make him more likely to pee late at night for your last walk or first thing in the morning. When he DOES pee, give the cue (once he's started, not before) and make a fuss (just ilke you did when he was a puppy) and treat. Do this for two weeks- do NOT use that cue unless he is actually peeing already. Your goal is to get that cue said EVERY time he pees- and NEVER when he does not.

Nextly, introduce the cue a second earlier. Does he lift his leg? If he does, your job is easier. When his foot leaves the ground against a tree, you can use the cue. Even if he only pees a tiny bit to mark, praise and treat. He's just responded to a cue to pee. (Even if it was mostly his idea.) Spend another week on this step.

After he is RELIABLY peeing every time you cue (because YOU are being observant), it's time for a real test. One morning when you have time, the first time you take him out, before he can start going, cue him to pee. Say it ONCE. If the morning is the main time he pees, he's going to be fairly eager to go and will oblige. If he does, make a fuss, praise him, and treat. Keep up the routine of being VERY observant and you'll get the trick in short order. If you're not sure enough to bet $50 that he is ABOUT to pee, don't use the cue. Once you've gone a few weeks with NO missed cues when you're giving it ahead of time, try using it when he's NOT already sniffing around.

This is fairly basic conditioning. You're conditioning him that this sound means he gets relief from a full bladder. It just takes time and patience.

peterinwa

I can try that. I have the patience to do things that take a long time with my dog. In fact I think that's the reason most dogs are not trained well... people don't have the patience.

BTW, last night he barked quietly at the back door to go out and pee, which he did for the first time in a few days. The problem, though, is getting him to pee before I leave the house during the day.

Mukaluka Dirtypaws is a black Miniature Schnauzer. I have pictures on his website but wasn't sure if I could post that here.

Thanks for your time!

Peter

Dogstar

Given that mini schnauzers are somewhat prone to kidney problems, you might talk to your vet.

peterinwa

Thanks, I will if it continues over the weekend. I just got excited because I'm about to leave for the gym and market -- the problem time when he might pee in his pen -- and he went to the door to go out. But he had no interest in peeing.

My first question will be is twice a day okay. Maybe it is. I have a friend with a Miniature Schnauzer and on work days the dog only goes out twice a day and seems fine with it.

BTW, if I didn't mention this above, he seems to pee as much as ever. What I mean is that when he pees only twice a day, he does it for much longer each time. When he pees more frequently, he does it for shorter times.

Also, whatever happens short term, I still want to teach him to pee "on command" as you suggested.

Thanks, Peter

ScoobyDoo

Use some words for particular action he does. Like when he is doing his jobs say go potty, do it etc. So the next time u take him to the potty place, repeat the command and he knows why he is there. Same thing for Peeing.

Dogstar

The reason I suggested upping his liquid intake is that it should get him to pee a little more often than he currently is. Putting down a bowl of water with some milk or soft cheese in it as soon as you come in in the afternoons SHOULD result in him drinking that (if he doesn't, experiment) and needing to pee at SOME point that evening.