Image from Pixabay
Dogs are wonderful, loyal companions that can bring immense joy to our lives. However, owning a dog also comes with certain responsibilities, one of which is ensuring they relieve themselves in an appropriate manner. For those of us who live in apartments or houses with limited outdoor space, this can be tricky.
If you live in an apartment with a small patio or balcony, potty training your dog to use a balcony dog toilet can be a great solution for giving them the bathroom freedom they need without making any messy mistakes indoors.
Best of all, using a balcony dog toilet is easy to do and only requires a few simple supplies. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about training dog to pee on balcony in a way that’s safe, clean, and effective!
How to train dog to pee on balcony
Many dog parents face the same issue: where to have their dog relieve themselves when they live in an apartment. While some people may think it is unsanitary or gross, teaching your dog to pee on a balcony pee pad is actually quite simple and sanitary.
In just five easy steps, you can have your dog go to the bathroom on your balcony in no time. Plus, using a balcony pee pad for dogs will keep your indoor space clean and dry! Here’s how to get started:
Step 1: Prepare space on the balcony
Before starting to train your dog to use the balcony dog toilet, you need to prepare the space. First of all, you want to make sure your balcony is safe for dogs.
Then, clear off any furniture or other balcony accessories from the area where you will be placing the toilet (balcony pee pad for dogs). You want to make sure that there is plenty of room for your dog to move around and that the toilet will be in a spot that is easy for both of you to access (you need to be able to clean it).
Once you have cleared the space, put down some newspaper or an absorbent mat under the pee pad as an extra layer of protection, to help protect your balcony flooring tiles and make cleanup easier.
Step 2: Set up the balcony dog toilet
Before you can train your dog to use the balcony dog toilet, you need to set it up. This is a simple process that only takes a few minutes.
Place the balcony dog toilet on the floor in the space you have already prepared. Follow the instructions that come with your dog pee pad/dog potty, on how to install it.
Make sure you understand the cleaning procedure before the “grand premier”! You could start with cleaning it before the utilization so that you are already used to doing it.
Step 3: Bring your dog to the potty and train together
It’s time to start training your dog to use the balcony toilet. Bring your dog to the balcony toilet first thing in the morning using a leash, by the time he usually needs to go.
Spend some time together showing how to use it, try to give the dog some privacy, and don’t stare too much.
Repetition is necessary, and should your dog start peeing anywhere else, pick it up immediately and take it to the balcony pee pad again.
Getting used to a new peeing routine takes time, you might need a couple of weeks for the new routine to set in, especially if your dog is older and has been peeing outdoors for several years during walks.
Be patient and keep at it (several times a day preferably), and soon your dog will be using the balcony dog toilet on its own.
Keep in mind that your dog still needs daily walks outside to stay healthy and happy.
Step 4: Reward your dog for using the balcony pee pad
After your furry friend has successfully used the balcony pee pad for dogs, it’s time to reward them for good behavior. You can do this in a number of ways, such as giving it a treat or going for a walk.
Image from Pixabay
Whatever you do, make sure that your dog knows that it is being rewarded for using the balcony pee pad. This will help to reinforce the positive behavior and make it more likely that it’ll continue to use the pee pad in the future.
Once the new peeing routine is established, you can start to gradually remove the reward.
Step 5: Prevent accidents
In the final step of training dog to pee on balcony, it is important to take measures to prevent accidents. This can be done in a few ways.
First, make sure that the area where the dog will be urinating is well-ventilated. This will help to prevent any odors from building up.
This shouldn’t be a problem in a balcony given that they are usually open, but if your balcony is enclosed, you might want to open the enclosures, as long as you have dog-proofed your balcony and it is safe.
Second, keep the area clean and free of debris. This will help to keep the dog from tracking anything into the house.
Finally, keep cleaning material close at hand in the beginning in case your dog pees outside of the designated area.
Below is a great video tutorial on training dog to pee on balcony or other enclosed indoor area.
How to clean dog pee on apartment balcony
If the dog pee is fresh, start by blotting up as much of the urine as possible with paper towels. Then, mix 1 part white vinegar with 1 part water in a bowl. Pour the mixture over the dog pee area and scrub with a brush or sponge. Once you’ve cleaned the area, rinse it off with some clean water.
If the dog pee is dried, you’ll need to use a little more elbow grease. First, scrape up as much of the dried urine as possible with a putty knife or similar tool. Then, mix 1 part white vinegar with 1 part water in a bowl and pour it over the affected area. Scrub with a brush or sponge and rinse off with clean water when you’re finished.
When rinsing your balcony with water, be careful not to use too much, as it may drip down to your neighbor’s balcony (if you have neighbors below).
Here are some great tips for removing dog pee stains and smells from carpets and fabrics.
If your balcony floor is very dirty – here’s how to clean your balcony floor properly.
Endnote on training dog to pee on balcony
In conclusion, if you live in an apartment or condo with a balcony and want to get started training dog to pee on balcony as a bathroom, there are, as we’ve seen, only a few steps to follow.
To summarize, first place the balcony dog toilet in the potty spot you want them to go. Second, bring your dog out to the balcony or to the indoor potty area, or to the yard, on a leash, and let them sniff around.
Then, get started with the dog training on a regular and daily basis. Praise and reward your dog with a positive reinforcement when it uses the porch potty or balcony dog toilet. Lastly, be sure to clean up any accidents immediately.
We wish you good luck with your balcony dog training!
Frequently asked questions
Should I train my dog to pee on the balcony?
The reason you might want to train your dog to pee on the balcony using a balcony dog toilet is that it gives your dog the freedom to relieve itself whenever it needs to and you will not have to go out on the street every single time.
How do I get my dog to pee on the balcony?
The easiest way to train your dog to urinate on the balcony is to use a dog pee pad. By placing the pee pad in the desired location, you can encourage your dog to relieve himself in that area. You may need to experiment with different locations and types of pee pads before you find one that works best for your dog. Be sure to praise your dog whenever he urinates on the pad, as this will reinforce the desired behavior.
Can dogs pee on balcony?
If a dog has to pee and it has been trained to pee in a dog potty placed on the balcony, then it will be able to pee on a balcony. However, it is not advisable to allow dogs to be going potty on balconies if they have not been trained to pee in a dog toilet (and if there is no such device), as this can lead to unpleasant smells and stains.
How to stop dog peeing on balcony?
The easiest way for dog owners to stop a dog from urinating on a balcony is to provide the animal with an alternative location to relieve itself. This can be done by establishing a designated area for the dog to use as a bathroom, such as a grass pee pad (these look like real grass) that you can place in a suitable area of your choice. However, if your puppy (or mature dog) keeps peeing everywhere, you should consider seeking medical advice.