We have a 1 1/2 year old lab mix. We got him a little over a month ago and he was pretty much already housebroken. We live on the first floor, so we are able to put him on a leash and let him in the back to go to the bathroom. After a few weeks he found his "spot" and now goes consistently in the same spot everytime. However, we were just told by our property manager that he would rather the dog not go in the grass, since it has killed the grass where he goes. (wish he could have told us that when we got the dog). We have another spot picked out that has smooth rocks where he could go. We are upset that we have to change his habit so soon after he developed such a good one.

Do you have any tips on the best way to train him to go in a new spot?

Thanks,

Julianne

Hi Julianne,

That's a shame about your property manager. Sounds like he has no appreciation of the effort it takes to potty train a dog. (:-

Hopefully you trained your dog to go on command. Do you use a "go potty" command for him to tinkle? If not you should use a consistent
command so he associates you telling him to go with doing it. Physically place him on the desired spot and give him his potty command. When fate
smiles upon you and he does it on the rocks to your command then praise him lavishly. Also use your knowledge of when he needs to go to coax him by
keeping him on the rocks until he does his business. The operative principle is to coerce him into going on the rocks and then having him associate that spot
with receiving your praise.

Another possibility is to go to a good pet store which will have a daily(?) pill you can give him that will neutralize the grass killing acid in his urine. That may be
a short term solution to keep the peace until you have him trained.

Good luck!

Sandy