It’s Go-Time!

I referenced the idea of a “potty phrase” a few weeks ago – do you have one in your household? I don’t mean the typical “do you have to go out?” query you ask prior to a walk … a potty phrase is more of a request than a question. The phrase basically enables you to “ask” your dog to eliminate. It’s a way to help your dog remember why you’re both standing outside in the rain at 2AM, or convince your dog that the grass at the rest stop on I95 is just as good as the grass in your back yard. The potty phrase is an often-overlooked cue that’s incredibly helpful … even though it’s really geared to puppies just learning the “grass = good, carpet = not good” potty concept, I still use “go ahead/hurry up” with my guys even through they’re eight and nine years old. How do you teach it? When your dog is outside exhibiting his pre-elimination behaviors, like sniffing the ground, moving very slowly or circling, quietly chant your potty phrase. You can get creative with your phrase, like one of my clients who used “zoom-zoom”, or stick with the standard “go potty.” Continue to chant your phrase as your dog commences his tour of doody, and throw in some quiet praise and encouragement for good measure. Once his lawn ornamentation is complete, celebrate! Break out a few treats and reward your dog for a job well done. It’ll take a bunch of repetitions (that’s my scientific measurement: a bunch) before your dog makes the connection between your phrase and what he’s doing, but once he gets it you’re golden. I use it with my guys when we’re road tripping and they just can’t seem to figure out why we’ve stopped on this curious patch of Earth … a few “Go aheads” and they can’t resist the urge to squat. For more on housebreaking, see petside's article A Quick Guide to Housetraining your Dog