Copyright 1999 By Adam G. Katz
http://www.dogproblems.com
Teaching your dog to defecate or urinate on
command is actually just a process of creating an association.
The command I use is, "Get Busy." But you can
use any word or phrase that you please.
You're probably wondering why anyone would want
to teach their dog an elimination command. And probably the best answer
to this question is that it enables you to establish both a time and a
place for your dog to eliminate.
For example, if you decide to go to bed early,
and you don't want your dog to be uncomfortable for the next 7 or 8
hours, you can very easily take him outside and tell him to "do it
now," because, "You won't have a chance to do it later since I'm going
to bed."
Having an elimination command also allows you
to tell your dog WHERE he should urinate or defecate. For example, if
you're taking your pup for a stoll and he indicates that he needs to
eliminate... you don't want him to merely stop and do his business in
the middle of the sidewalk. What an elimination command allows you to
do is to walk the dog over to some bushes, or behind a building and
tell him, "Here! Here is where you can 'get busy.'"
How to
teach the "Get Busy" command
Just like with any other command, your goal is
to associate the phrase, "Get busy," with the action of either
defecating or urinating.
Here's what you need to do in 5 easy steps:
1.) Take note of the usual times your dog needs
to defecate or urinate.
2.) Take him to the usual spot where he likes
to eliminate and walk him back and forth, repeating the phrase, "Get
busy, get busy, get busy."
3.) When he begins to eliminate, continue
saying, "Get busy." After five or six different occasions, your command
will start to link with the behavior.
4.) A half second after he finishes, praise
him.
5.) Repeat this process every time your dog
needs to eliminate, and you'll soon find that he will begin to
understand and at least make an attempt to evacuate the contents of his
bladder on command.
