How to transition your dog to Porch Potty
You’ve watched the videos on the website, you know the purpose of the Porch Potty, you know how to clean it, but how do you get your dog to use his/her new Porch Potty?
As with most things, there is a broad spectrum of Porch Potty experiences. Some dogs have naturally affinities to Porch Potty take to it straight away. Others need a bit more coaxing and formal training. It can be frustrating to read our rave reviews that brag about how easy the transition was, when Miss Pancake doesn’t even sniff at it with any kind of interest.
If you haven’t already, get your free download “The H.A.B.I.T. Method” to get started with house training Spot to the new Porch Potty. It breaks down the importance of consistency, patience and clearly communicating your expectations in a way that Max will understand.
In addition to using The H.A.B.I.T. Method, other ways to make the transition to using Porch Potty are:
Limit your four-legged friend’s access to the whole house until they understand the areas that are no-potty zones. This is mostly directed towards puppies that are not fully house trained yet but may also apply to older rescues. Crate training can be a useful tool in this process.
Use your dog’s nose and unique scents to your advantage. Dogs are driven by smells. While it may not seem like it, they actually prefer to eliminate in predictable places. Since their noses are far more sensitive than ours are, they can smell enzymes in their pee and poo that we can’t. Those enzymes will encourage them to continue using the same place over and over. Invest in a product like TURFtastic that breaks down odors on an enzymatic level, making it harder for them to detect where past accidents have happened in the home.
Use their own scents to make Porch Potty more attractive. Some Porch Potty community members have had great success with cleaning up urine with a paper towel and placing the soiled paper towel under the synthetic grass or wiping it on the Scenting Fire Hydrant. The same goes with feces. Simply place it on their Porch Potty long enough that some of your dog’s natural scents transfers onto the synthetic to interest them.
By combining The H.A.B.I.T. Method with these tips, you and Fido could be Porch Potty experts in no time!
Are you and your pampered pooch Porch Potty fans? Do you have tips that can help new Porch Potty families? Comment below: