How to Teach Your Dog to do His/Her Business Using The ‘Eliminate Command’.

Spending time out on walks with your beloved dog is a thoroughly rewarding experience. Apart from the exercise you both get, it helps to build a strong and positive bond between you both.
Most of the basic commands and advanced dog training commands we’ve covered so far, are primarily used for control and used in public places, but there’s a helpful command you can teach that will make routine pit-stops planned instead of them being taken at inconvenient locations.

As this command involves your dog needing to empty his/her bowls, you need to make sure it’s full enough to want to be emptied.
Most adult dogs, especially large breed dogs’ poop once a day on average, but puppies, on the other hand, often need to go as much as five times a day.
When your dog feels the urge will also depend on when and how regularly your dog eats. For dogs, especially older dogs, this means once a day, typically first thing in the morning.

This dog obedience training article will teach you how to train your dog to poop, or as we’ll use ‘Eliminate’, using the ‘Eliminate Command‘ by utilising positive reinforcement training techniques.

The following list is what we recommend you have handy for this dog training command session:

• Dog Poo Bags
• Collar and Leash
• Clicker
• Quite public place, park with trail is ideal

If you don’t have, or prefer not to use a ‘clicker’, you can substitute it by using the word ‘Yes’, which I prefer to use, simply so you don’t have to constantly carry the clicker around with you.

Dog training essentials available from Ezydog Australia

Steps to Teaching the ‘Eliminate Command’

Before we get started, it’s worth clarifying what we’d like from our dog after using this instruction.
Once your dog is at the location of your choosing, you want to be able to get your dog to defecate, or poop on command!

Eliminating for dogs is something that obviously comes naturally, and most dogs will do it within a half hour after eating, typically at the back of the garden, in the same place that offers a bit of privacy.

When teaching this dog training command, it’s going to be helpful to go for a walk you regularly go on and pick a spot that’s easy for you to collect their droppings with a ‘Doggy Poo Bag’. Ultimately, after the initial training, choosing a spot that’s off the path, perhaps near a tree would be ideal.

1/ After your dog has eaten, wait 15 minutes and take your dog for a walk outside in a public place. Keep an eye of his/her sniffing and walking action, showing signs of what he/she is ready to do.
To start with, you’ll want to make the ‘drop zone’ quite close to the beginning of the walk, especially for young dogs or puppies, who will have trouble holding it in.

2/ As soon as your dog stops and lowers his back legs in readiness, say the verbal cue ‘Eliminate’. It’s important to say this command before your dog starts the drop, not after, or they won’t be able to associate what the command is linked to.

3/ As soon as your dog starts, ‘mark’ the event by saying ‘Yes’.

4/ Once your dog has finished, reward the good behaviour with a treat and praise, then carry on with your walk.

This command, unlike all others can’t be repeated, until the next day for older dogs. If you have a puppy, you will get several opportunities within one day, so you’ll have to make sure the one or few you do each day count.

Summary of How To Teach Your Dog The ‘Eliminate Command’

Remember consistency, practice and patience are the keys with all dog training. This dog command is not going to be taught in one day, it can take weeks.

Some dogs that aren’t overly motivated by food treats (rare) will almost certainly take to cooked chicken pieces. However, I would strongly suggest finding a commercial option from pet shops that will entice because apart from the expense, chicken is messy and doesn’t last very long out of a sealed container in the fridge. There are many brands and flavours to choose from these days, and many are made with healthy natural ingredients. I would also suggest using and rotating several different types, so your dog doesn’t become used to just one.

You can teach your puppy to eliminate on command in a spot within your back garden by repeating the command ‘Eliminate’ each time he/she is in the act of pooping. Simply say ‘Eliminate’ in an upbeat tone of voice each time he/she is ready to ‘drop trowel’. Be careful though not to overly excite or play with your dog during this time as this may distract him/her from the task at hand. After a few weeks of consistency, your dog will understand that this word means to get to business.

Your fur baby wants to please you and love you, so never punish unwanted behaviour, such as doing their business in a place that’s not what you consider appropriate. remember they aren’t being deliberately bad, they simply don’t understand human social niceties like you do.
Afterall, this is why you should always walk your dog with a supply of ‘poo Bags’, readily available from pet shops and from council dispensers often placed near park areas.

Having trouble, or have a question about getting your dog to do his/her business when commanded?
Leave a comment for ‘Bear’ below and he’ll be happy to answer it for you, especially if you get his attention by using his name.

We at PetsBook also recommend getting out with your dog and join a training course.
Pet Directory has many local dog training businesses listed near you with experienced and accredited dog trainers ready to help you with dog obedience and dog command training.

» List of Dog Commands

Bear

Hi, I’m Bear, the Training Manager at PetsBook. With over 20 years experience using positive reinforcement dog training techniques, I’m proud to have the opportunity to help you develop a stronger bond with your fur baby, by teaching you useful commands with obedience training.