[MinnesotaVizsla]

How difficult is it to train a puppy to go to the bathroom in only one location? I am tryint to prevent the yellow spots in my yard, and I have heard that it isn't out of the question to get the dog to go in the same area all of the time.

So, I was thinking about creating an area in my yard that has pea gravel as it's base. Will this work for both pee and poop? How large of an area should I create for a dog the size of a Vizsla?

[Swissmiss]

You can very easily train your dog to use the same area everytime. But you have to bring him there EVERYTIME and go in and out of the same door EVERYTIME until he has it done pat. I don't know the best materials to use for a special spot maybe someone else will have good ideas - but some dogs are picky and if he is use to going on grass he may take longer to train if he is not comfortable on a new surface.

My dog goes in one spot and we worked hard and long to get him use to this. When we eventually allow him to go outside on his own (in a fenced in yard) we had to watch and remind him at times. If we let him out the front door and not the back door at a time he has to poo we sometimes catch him going somewhere else and we yell "poopie garder"! and moves his business. But if we let him out the back door (that he was trained to go in and out when he went to for the bathroom walk he always goes where he is suppose to. A trainer many years ago told us the importance of the door and it is true.

[Melos]

We never had a problem with that. My mom's dog (that I grew up with) was trained to go only on the far side of the shed. She would get let out the back door and she would streak across the yard to the shed, do her business, and then romp around on the green, pile-free yard.

[Benji_mybaby]

Hello MinnesotaVizsla

Mr. Gary L. Clemmons has written very useful and helpful information about house training Housetraining

Preventing your puppy from having accidents in the house is the most important thing you can do to assure rapid success. The first few days you take your puppy home are very critical. If you allow your puppy to eliminate on the carpet or inappropriate areas, it will often want to return to this "favorite spot". If your puppy does go in an appropriate area, it is very important to immediately clean the area with an odor eliminating product such as "Nature's Miracle". This will help assure your puppy won't be attracted back to the area when it smells the urine or feces odor. The training method that will achieve the most rapid results utilizes CRATE or CAGE training. I prefer the plastic "airline type" crates because they are easy to clean, light to move around and are very durable. Some people prefer metal cages, play-pens, a small bathroom or even a cardboard box for very small breeds. We will use the terms CRATE or CAGE to refer to any of these types or enclosures.

I have found this article today and wanted to share with all our forum members.

Benji.