One potty spot in yard, when out alone

[gunter]

I have an 8 month old male puppy. I started training him to "go to his spot" on the treelawn out front, but we've just fenced in the backyard for him. We take him out multiple times a day on his leash to his "new spot" in the back. He usually goes pee immediately, but rarely poops there. When he does, he gets a treat and lots of praise. I've noticed he tends to go poop a few minutes into a walk (but I don't like carrying a poo-bag around the neighborhood), so I've started walking him on his leash around the backyard (no playing) until he signals "poop time" then I take him directly to his spot, where he finally poops, and then sometimes we go for a walk. So when I'm with him, he's really good about going to his "spot". I'm concerned about when I'm not with him; when I let him play outside by himself for an hour or two. He goes poop wherever he darn well pleases when he's alone! How do I get him to know he needs to go to his designated "spot" no matter if I'm with him or not?

[TsPlace]

I have 2 GSD puppies at the moment (4 and 5 months old) and they actually have been really great about going potty in their "pee spot". From day one, I have taken them out to the same area on a leash to go to the bathroom, give them great praise when they did. Then I slowly started them letting them out on their own to go the bathroom, but I would stand on the back deck (our back yard is fenced of course) and say "go potty". They both would go over to or at least close to the "pee area" and when they went potty I would praise them from the deck. I still take them out in the early morning and late late evening to go to the bathroom, but I have noticed when it's "together playtime" outside and one of them has to go potty, they will head over to the "pee area" and go. It takes time, and consistence, but it does work (just remember that when the dog has to go very badly - they might not make it to the "pee area" but at least they made it outside and that's praise in itself.

[Caledon]

Dakota has her washroom spot too. Trained it from day onw. She will be out playing with me in the back yard then take off to her "spot", do her business and back to play. Always makes me smile.

She does both in her spot. After she pees and I know she has not gone for a while I will send her back and tell her "go poop" and she does.

What I did was to teach her the words, go pee, go poop. I prefer she goes in her spot before walks. Also the motion of walking makes them need to go too, so I always carry poop bags in my pockets.