How Can I Teach to Potty in the Bath tub?

[Whiteshepherds]

Originally Posted by selzer

I like the wading pool, but I would add something, I would put cedar chips in it. Just thinking about smell.

Another thought! The cedar chips will smell good but I don't think they're absorbant like a scoopable cat litter?

You could build something like this:

Plastic wading pool.

Cut a circle of hardware cloth (the one with the small holes, about 1/4") to fit the pool. Make two handles for it. If possible make side walls too.

Put scoopable litter in the bottom of the pool and then put the hardware cloth on top of it.

Then add the cedar chips on top of the hardware cloth.

This way the urine will go to the bottom of the pool and be absorbed by the litter.

The handles will make it easier to lift the section with the cedar to clean out the litter.

Again, I've never seen a large dog litter box trained but that doesn't mean it can't be done!...Any port in storm.

[GSDSunshine]

There was a member that had a nice setup with her puppy, it included a wading pool, a crate and an x-pen. But I agree with who ever was wondering about why she can't hold it while you are gone... I also have a job, and while most of the time Koda is only left to himself for 4-5 hours max, if it is just me and the BF is out of town, I will be out of the house for 8-9 hours and he is fine. he even has access to water while I am gone.

She may just need a refresher on potty training, or she may be experiencing a very mild bladder infection. I would also make sure that where ever she is going while you are gone is very well cleaned with an enzymatic cleaner to remove all traces of urine odor.

[new_wind]

Stogey:
I live in house, is a big hose divided in two and I have one side with half back yard.

crisp
No worries, life goes on.
Every Morning we walk to the park 4 blocks away, we go inside the park and we jog 2 rounds on the track, then I play fetch throwing the ball with a long launcher basically from side to side on the park, she is super agile and fast because of this continuous training, before we leave, practice some commands, recall y and walk home for breakfast.
So she have good time to potty, the 2 times she failed I am sure she didn’t potty in the morning, don’t know why.
I forget to mention, I fed her 2 times a day so her feces are small in size.

WhiteShepherds,
Sounds like a good idea, but people mentioning that it could be a problem with the smell and bacteria just make sense to me and is scary, We live in hot Florida so all the time the AC is On, if the bacteria is inside I don’t think is healthy for my girl, no to say humans.

GSD Sunshine.
I started my message mentioning Couple of accidents, is not like is failing every day, what affect me the most is considering that she just can’t go when she need to, I know I humanize my dog, but I can’t avoid it.

Thank you all again.

[crisp]

It doesn't sound like you humanize your dog. It sounds like a normal pet/human relationship. You don't make her wear sweaters and shoes and all, do you? lol

Have you tried feeding her before you take her out? If I can't take her for a walk or anything, I feed my dog first, then take her out. I don't know if that would help, just thinking out loud. If you try it, very easy on the running with a full stomach.

Also, is it possible she is distracted when outside? It always takes my dog longer when we walk and she's sniffing around. Again, on the days when its just a potty break, I just stand in one spot and she runs around me for a while. If she gets too into a single spot, I say 'go potty' to make her move and in a few moments we're done.

[lovemybuddy]

After reading all your posts, I think she's just fine. You exercise her in the morning, she rests all day, then you exercise her at night. People do have to live, earn money, and just because they are gone from the house earning that living, that doesn't mean they shouldn't own a dog.

If anything, I would get a puppy pad, put a few together and put it by the back door. (They sell them at pet stores, supposed to have a scent on them that tells the dog they can urinate there.)

Also, does she have a command to "go"? Buddy's command is "hurry up." He'll be outside, playing and running, and as soon as I say, "hurry up", it's like a lightbulb goes off in his head, he stops what he's doing, runs to his potty area, and goes. lol! So maybe if you don't have a command, think about starting one. (Just every time she goes, say the same thing. She'll eventually connect the two.)

And I just want to reiterate what the last poster said. Don't run or exercise her on a full stomach, her stomach could twist. Walking is fine after eating.

Good luck!! And don't feel guilty. That dog is pampered and just fine.

[Rerun]

Although I personally don't care for the idea of teaching a dog to potty in the house, as you said, reality is reality. Of all the ideas, I think the kiddie pool is the best. Ceder chips won't be bad if used once a day or so, but if she's urinating in them regularly they are giong to smell in a matter of days. It won't last a week before it stinks.

My only concern with this idea is that she isn't going to know to use it only when you are running late, or for one midday potty break. She will likely begin using it (if you can teach her to use it at all) regularly, and you will have a real mess on your hands.

Best of luck to you.

[Rerun]

I might've missed it, but do you have a fenced backyard? Garage? Is a doggy door (much as I don't care for them) an option? Either into the yard, perhaps an enclosed pen off the back door so full access to teh yard isn't possible (if you are worried about that kind of thing)? Or perhaps into the garage where the mulch area or pool is contained vs in your house?