I take my dog, Buddy, for a walk most days and to the beach a few times a week. I am conscience not to leave any poo on our journeys, but I really dislike carrying a bag of poo around. Plus, the thought of all those little plastic bags filled with dog waste ending up in landfill weighs heavily on my compost-loving conscience, especially when I have the perfect solution for composting dog poo at home with EnsoPet.
I decided to train Buddy to poo before we start our beach walk. I still carry a poop bag just in case, but I’m happy to say I rarely need it—I'd estimate we have a 90% success rate. Buddy is a rescue dog and not young, proving that you can teach an old dog new tricks! That said, the earlier you start, the better. Here are some tips if you want to give it a try. If you find it challenging at first, try and persevere. It’s well worth the effort of a few weeks to enjoy years of poop-free walks while keeping the poo and plastic bags out of landfill.
Set a Routine
The key to success is consistency. Take your dog to the same designated spot at set times each day. It does not need to be in a backyard, it will work with a courtyard, apartment balconies, and shared green spaces.
Choose times that works for you, such as …
· First thing in the morning
· Before you leave for work
· After meals
· When you return home from work
· Bedtime
· Any time that is easy for you to keep to
Depending on the age and size of your dog this only needs to be once, twice or three times a day. Using a consistent command like “Potty” will help associate the “location” with doing their business. Don’t use the same command you use when training a puppy to pee.
Reward Success
Dogs learn best through positive reinforcement. Be sure to immediately praise your dog when they poo in the designated spot. You can say something like, "What a good dog for potty!" while giving them a pat. Additionally, you can also offer a small treat along with verbal and physical praise.
Keep Walks for Exercise, No Toilet Breaks
It’s great to establish this habit from day one with a puppy, but even older dogs can be trained to stop pooping on walks. The key is making sure they go before heading out. This method works especially well for morning walks—simply delay the walk until they’ve done their business.
If your dog tries to go during the walk, firmly say “NO” and return home to their designated toilet spot. It may take some time, but with consistency, they will adjust to the new routine. Remember, dogs are smart! A toilet-trained dog knows know not to poop indoors – so they can learn not to poop on walks too.
Be Patient & Consistent
Training your dog to poo in the backyard instead of on walks is entirely possible with the right approach. Changing habits takes time, and for some dogs it may take a few weeks. Be patient and stick to the plan. Make sure everyone in the household follows the same routine so your dog doesn’t get mixed signals.
If you’ve successfully trained your dog this way, share your experience in the comments – I'd love to hear your experiences.