DOGwatch information and tips

Hilary Allen is a member of the DOGwatch group and a volunteer puppy trainer/raiser for Guide Dogs and has helped train 10 puppies since 2011.

Here Hilary outlines how to train a dog to ‘spend’ – pee and poo – on command, so they can go in an area of their own backyard/garden making it easier for you to clean it up, before going out for a walk!

1. Be prepared – have lots of old tea-towels/towels to hand! (cheaper to wash and reuse and better for the environment than using kitchen roll)
2. When you first bring your puppy/dog home let it have a good roam – but follow and watch it closely for any signs it’s about to spend – keeping old cloths to hand to deal with it.
3. Keep a note of how often/when your dog pees/poos according to when it last ate. This will help you work out when it will be due to pee/poo, then take it outside. If you can anticipate when it’s likely to spend, you’ll soon have a dry and unsmelly house!
4. Put it in the area where you want it to ‘go’ – in your garden or yard. As it squats say “busy, good girl/boy” (but not too excitable). Then when they come back in, reward them with a treat or piece of kibble/food for being ‘busy’ outside. DO NOT be cross if it comes in and immediately does another pee (busy) or poo (busy busy) – puppies can’t hold it. It may take just a few days, or perhaps weeks, before they get the hang of it – but don’t give up, persevere!
5. A few weeks before your pup is old enough to be taken for walks outside, practice by putting pup out in your yard/garden and saying “busy” or “busy busy” (whatever you think it is likely to do). After it has done its business, bring it inside, praise and reward it, then put its lead on and walk it through to the front door and just stand outside for a few seconds.  This gets them used to the lead as well as learning they have to pee and poo before they go out properly.
6. Then, when your pup is old enough to be taken for walks outside - before leaving, take it outside and ask for a “busy”.  Once it’s “spent”, been praised and rewarded, pop the lead on and off you go.

(NB: for pups this will be around 13 weeks old – one week AFTER their 12-week jab, no earlier because the inoculation will not have kicked in and you cannot take your pup into an area where lots of other dogs have been)

Be patient, and consistent, and remember some breeds learn quicker than others. Guide Dog pups have to learn to ‘spend’ on command because their visually impaired person cannot see them – so if you can train your dog to do this you won’t have any (or not many) embarrassing moments when you’re out!

Keep your words, and commands, short and sweet and your pup will soon pick things up. And remember to praise them - “attaboy xxx” or “good girl xxx” with a smile on your face and in your voice, followed by a small treat, when they get it right - they will soon learn and remember!

TIP: if your dog spends on a carpet, dry it/pick it up, then apply some bicarbonate of soda and leave that to soak in – it absorbs the smell, which hopefully prevents them peeing again in that same area.

Anyone wanting more information or tips can email Hilary Allen at [email protected]