1st May 2006

How can I train my Border collie to aim correctly when he defecates on his paper?

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Question:

I have a five-month-old Border collie and he can’t station himself on the paper I’ve laid down when he defecates, so he ends up getting a few drops on the floor. How can I train him to aim correctly and not to mess up the floor?

Answer:

It is very difficult for dogs to be aware of exactly where different parts of their body are in relation to specific targets. Teaching dogs to be aware of their hind paws, for example, is a great exercise and very useful for those teaching agility. In your situation, try rewarding your dog only when he toilets completely on the paper. If a few drops miss the paper, ignore him and give no reward. Don’t scold him, though, as he hasn’t done anything ‘wrong’ – he has still gone to the toilet on the paper. It may be worth giving him a larger area of paper, in order to help him gain his rewards during the initial stages of learning. However, all this seems to be a lot of work when you could be teaching him to toilet outdoors instead.