Getting our doodle to "go" where we want to

[Gabby]

Our goldendoodle is 4 months old and just a love bug! As with any puppy, training has been essential and overall he has done very well with most everything except going to the bathroom where we want him to. For months my husband and I have taken him over to the side yard to potty. Used the words "go potty" and highly praised him when he goes. However, if we are not present or if we do not physically walk him over to the sideyard he will just go in the nearest grassy area. I'm a little frustrated because I was hoping to bell train him and have him run to the side yard, do his business and come back in the house. Am I expecting too much? Should I just be happy that he's going outside? The reason we don't want him pooping just anywhere is because we have a fairly large yard and I would prefer not to spend hours hunting down his "surprises". Also, we have small children that might accidentally step in it. Any tips from anyone?
I also have a new update to add. As of the last week, we noticed that Duke would pee in the sideyard circle, sniff but then hold it until we walked over by the playground area and when I wasn't looking let it out. I am pulling my hair out! So last night, he started to do the same thing and my husband says to him " if you go potty here I'll give you a treat". Within seconds, he circled and let it go. We were astonished!!!
Are treats for going in the right area the way to go? Would love to hear your tips. Also, if any of you have bell trained, I would love to hear about it.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

So last night, he started to do the same thing and my husband says to him " if you go potty here I'll give you a treat". Within seconds, he circled and let it go

I want to follow the discussion about this smart doodle!  I certainly see why you want to do this.  Some dogs naturally go in one place.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Wow, already at 4 months!   So much you have achieved already.  Great.

My first question, " are you cleaning that side yard daily?"   A dog, like people, do want a fairly clean area to go potty.   Leaving maybe ONE pile to establish scent is okay, but too much will turn them away. 

[Gabby]

Hi Joanne, Yes-- in answer to your question. Since we wait with him "to go" we clean up as soon as he is finished. In writing this, I'm wondering if this in itself might be the problem? "Oh they are cleaning it up, maybe I shouldn't go here" Lol! Dogs probably dont reason this way, but after the whole "treat" conversation with my husband I wouldn't put it past them!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Don't give him too much credit.  Great to teach a dog to go on command. I have with the command, 'Go Out',  but just because of this one incident doesn't mean he knows and has this perfected  :)

I do see my dog pick a few  places in the yard that he prefers and he rotates them, for Poo that is, but for urine, he goes all kinds of places. Especially if there are scents of squirrels or stray animals along the fence line.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

"The reason we don't want him pooping just anywhere is because we have a fairly large yard and I would prefer not to spend hours hunting down his "surprises". Also, we have small children that might accidentally step in it. Any tips from anyone?"

I really feel very strongly that it's important to pick up poop as soon as possible, especially with a puppy. I also think it's very important to go outside with a young puppy every time. (My guy is 8.5 years old and I still almost always go outside with him.) Knowing when your puppy poops & pees, and seeing it, is one of the best and easiest ways to stay on top of health & GI issues. If you're out there with him every time, you never have to hunt it down and there is no worry about your kids stepping in it. And of course, you can't praise if you're not there to do it when he goes. :-)

Most dogs will naturally gravitate to the area furthest from the door to do their business. It's instinctive, and has to do with trying to protect the pack. In the wild, the smell of urine and feces alerts other animals to the location of the pack. That's also why a dog kicks his hind legs after going, as if he's trying to bury it...he is. I'm guessing the side yard is closer to the door by which Duke exits the house than the playground area is, which may be why he prefers going there. 

[Becka]

I agree with this completely, Karen. Sadie is so accustomed to me going outside with her that she won't actually go out without me, and that's fine by me.

I read somewhere that dogs like to see you pick up their poop--could that possibly be true?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I've never heard that, but I do know they don't like to be in an area where their feces are lying around, so I'm sure they're glad to have it removed. :-) 

[Gabby]

Thank you to everyone on this thread for their input!  I'm learning a lot!  And, most of you are right--4 months is Very young,.. We have a long ways to go!  He is incredibly smart and is VERY responsive to my cues and training and sometimes I forget that he is still a puppy.   I think I might just start the bell training pretty soon.  And, I will be consistent with treats as well as lots of praise.  Sometimes at 5am, its darn hard to be that excited about potty :) LOL!

Karen,

Thank you so much for your input--I never knew that their instinct is to gravitate furthest from the door and in order to protect the pack--this makes so much sense.  The areas he chooses are pretty far away from the door... Hmmm... I'm wondering if we should change his designated area, knowing this...? I honestly chose this current spot because of its proximity to the door in preparation for the rain and colder weather... I was also not too keen on encountering a scary raccoon or skunk in the furthest part of my yard in the night. 

 

You all have given me a lot to think about!  Thank you so much!

 

 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Several years ago, Victoria Stillwell did a show about having a spot in the yard.  This spot though,  like Karen said, was closer to the back of the yard.

I'm sure the video is out there in re-runs somewhere. 

[Kary, Sparty & Stella]

Hello, you can start the bell training now. Every time you take him out say "ring your bells, lets go,outside, go potty." Take him to his bells and have him nudge them with his nose or take his paw and swat them. They pick this up really fast. Your guy is young yet and maturity isn't established. My boy is ten months and I still say the thing at the bells and we go out together. He doesn't always want to potty where I would like him too, I'm in the same situation, larger yard and young kids, so id like to keep it contained. It's a work in progress. Repetition, repetition, repetition. I just know one day he will do it alone unsupervised. Is there a place Duke would go everytime without persuasion? Maybe you could compromise? When I mention maturity, in my doodles case, he gets distracted...oh look a smell! Oh look, a stick! On and on. So, that is why I just continue going out with him and I can try and keep it focused. I also don't want the last potty run of the night to be, oh look, a skunk! :). The upside, our doodle rings his bells if he needs to go out, that only took about two weeks to establish.

Lastly, I am in COMPLETE favor of giving treats and doing a silly happy dance when he goes where I want him too, even if it is playtime in the yard and not potty necessarily potty time. Duke is still young, keep up the good work and the routine.

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

Where ever it is settled as the potty spot for your little guy, I say yes, use treats, give praise...let that be a happy spot when he does his business THERE. 4 months is still young to expect him to go there on his own consistently. He may not have made the connection that that spot is his loo if he hasn't been rewarded (verbal or treat) when going. Keep taking him out consistently, it will work but may take awhile. Your next doodle should be easier with a brother to show them the routine :-),

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

We also trained Daisy to use a "spot" unfortunately for us it was the dead of winter and the spot was covered with snow. She did very well with this concept until the "spot" started to disappear. When the snow started to melt our little girl, who was about 6-7 months old she would walk around and look for piles of snow to do her business in (it was very cute by the way to see her back up to a small snow pile to do her business). She eventually realized that her spot was not snow but an area. She still does this every morning and every evening. When we go out to play she does not potty, when we go out to potty we say "let's go potty Daisy" and she goes to the right to pee pee and if we say "now go poopies" she goes to the left and poops. It is awesome to have a dog that does her business on command.

We also go outside with her pick up immediately...don't want to find it later