- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Teaching a dog to pee on command can be incredibly convenient. Imagine never running late because your pup took too long to find the perfect spot for a potty break. With a potty cue, you can make those rushed mornings or rest stops a lot more manageable.
To learn how to teach a dog to pee on command, we spoke with two professional trainers: Rachel Lane, certified behavior consultant, dog trainer, and the owner of Leash & Learn, and Alexandra Bassett, CPDT-KA, lead dog trainer and behavior consultant at Dog Savvy.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for teaching your dog to potty on cue—followed by an explanation of when it’s best to use this skill.
Teaching a Dog To Pee on Cue
According to our experts, teaching a dog to pee or poop on cue is absolutely possible. It just takes practice and patience. “This is most easily taught to a young puppy, but older dogs (without any medical complications) can also learn this skill,” says trainer Rachel Lane.
To teach your dog to potty on cue, you’ll use a technique called “capturing.” That is, you’ll be reinforcing a behavior that your dog already naturally does. As Lane puts it, you can use every bathroom break as an opportunity to teach this new skill.
Follow these five steps to teach your dog how to potty on cue.
1. Take your dog to their designated potty spot.
It will be much easier to teach your dog to potty on command if they already have a dedicated area for relieving themselves.
Trainer Alexandra Bassett recommends keeping your dog on a leash to take them to their potty spot (whether that’s outside or indoors on a pee pad) before letting them roam free.
Lane also suggests minimizing distractions during this time. “While you are walking around waiting for them to potty, don’t talk to them, don’t let other people or dogs approach,” she advises. “Let them sniff, but overall, it should be boring for them until they have gone potty.”
2. Add a verbal cue while they’re going potty.
When your dog begins to go potty, it’s time to bring in a cue.
Tell them, “Go potty!” or a similar phrase of your choice. Say the cue only one time, then be patient. “Pet parents tend to want to repeat the cue multiple times, but this only teaches a dog or puppy to ignore the cue, so this should be avoided,” says Bassett.
Make sure to use a calm, neutral tone of voice. If you’re too loud or excited, it may distract your dog and interrupt the process. When your dog has finished eliminating, lay on the praise and give them a treat.
Repeat this every time your dog pees or poops for several days or weeks, saying the command right after they’ve begun their business.
3. Use the verbal cue when you see pre-potty signs.
Now that your dog has had ample opportunity to hear the cue paired with the action, you can begin to ask them to “go potty” before they’ve begun.
Most of us have some idea of when our pups are about to begin their business. They usually circle or curve their bodies in a certain way, or they may go to their favorite trees or bushes.
Start by saying your “Go potty!” cue when you first notice these signs. Ideally, you want to say the cue right before their business begins.
Give your dog a treat when they’ve finished to reward them for their behavior. Repeat this every time your dog goes for several days or weeks.
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4. Use the verbal cue before pre-potty signs.
Finally, you are ready to make the request before your dog has given their pre-potty signals.
Bring your dog to their designated potty location, and ask them to “go potty!”
Be patient and give them time to respond to the request. If your dog doesn’t go potty within five minutes, Bassett advises returning inside to their crate or pen for 10-15 minutes before trying again.
If your dog successfully goes potty when and where asked, give them lots of praise and treats. Bassett also recommends letting them explore and play outside for a while as a reward.
5. Generalize this skill to other areas
After your dog reliably goes potty on cue in their designated area, Lane says it’s time to generalize this skill to other locations.
“If your dog only associates one location with their potty cue, they may have a hard time pottying on cue in other environments,” she explains.
Teaching a Puppy To Pee on Cue
According to our experts, the steps for a puppy who’s still in potty training will be the same as a house-trained adult. It may just require a bit more care. “A puppy generally requires more patience and supervision because they may have to use the potty more frequently than an adult dog with more bladder control,” Bassett explains.
You may also want to limit a puppy’s ability to potty in unwanted areas by using crates and playpens. According to Bassett, this helps to establish good potty habits from the get-go. It also gives pet parents a break from having to constantly supervise their pup.
If you want to teach your puppy to use an indoor potty spot, you can follow the same process. But you may need to put a gate around the area. “I recommend using a BarkPotty, Fresh Patch, or an indoor potty tray rather than wee wee pads or artificial turf,” says Lane.
For puppies still in potty training, it’s a good idea to dole out rewards any time they eliminate in the correct location—whether you’ve used a cue or not. After three months accident-free, you can start treating strictly for pottying on cue.
Should You Rush a Dog’s Potty Break?
Teaching your dog to pee on cue can feel like a superpower, but it’s important to use this skill appropriately. There are times when using a cue is beneficial. But there are also times when your dog should have the freedom to potty on their own terms.
Finding a balance between the two is key. Ideally, you’ll use the cue when necessary and sprinkle in plenty of opportunities to sniff and explore freely.
Times when a potty cue comes in handy include:
- Before entering public indoor spaces. Bassett recommends using a potty cue before entering places like the grooming salon or a friend’s home. “This is the best way to make sure your dog is a welcome guest wherever you are taking them,” she says.
- During travel. On a road trip, your pup may need encouragement to potty at a rest stop.
- In bad weather. When a storm is howling, you’ll appreciate being able to speed up the potty process.
- When you’re pressed for time. If you’re about to dash out the door, you may need your dog to take a quick potty break before leaving the house.
When to let your dog decide
While pottying on cue is a worthwhile skill, sometimes it’s better to let your dog decide when to do their business.
“For example, if you are at the park on a walk with your dog, they should have time to ‘be a dog,’” says Lane. “This includes sniffing, eliminating as they want, and/or marking.”
It’s worth noting that some dogs may have issues with being leashed while going potty, especially fearful rescues or puppies unaccustomed to wearing equipment. Bassett explains that dogs need to be relaxed to go potty. So it may be better to let leash-averse dogs roam and choose their own potty spot in the yard.
Finally, even if you’ve taught your dog a potty cue, remember that have physical needs that may not correspond to our oh-so-human impatience. Just because you want them to pee or poop doesn’t mean they immediately can. Some dogs even need a short walk before their bodies are ready to evacuate. “Go potty!” is a request, not an instantaneous demand.
