Tinkle In The Potty Game

Dogs never seem to take longer to go potty than when you want to get back inside ASAP.Many dogs take their sweet time finding a perfect place to poop, and some pups won’t eliminate outside if the weather is bad or you’re somewhere unfamiliar.Teaching your dog to potty on command is a great way to circumvent these problems.Not only could it prevent you from spending 10 minutes out in the freezing cold trying to get your pup to pee before bed, it’s a helpful command for traveling and even consistently.We’ll try to provide a few tips for teaching your dog to poop and pee on command below. But first, let’s talk about why dogs sometimes take so long to go in the first place.

Why Are Dogs So Picky When Choosing a Bathroom Spot?It can be exceptionally frustrating to not understand why your dog is so particular about where he potties. What on earth could he be searching for? Why is it so hard for him to find the perfect place to answer nature’s call?There are a few possible reasons:. The Surface — Dogs raised going to the bathroom on might not understand that they can also poop on gravel, pavement, or other weird surfaces. If there’s snow on the ground the cold might be off-putting to him and make his usual potty spot feel wrong. Routine — Much like children, dogs thrive on order and routine.

So, your dog might only be able to poop after circling the block once, sniffing a lamppost, and barking at that funny looking mailbox across the street. Stress — When stressed or anxious, dogs may stop performing a variety of normal behaviors, including eating, drinking, and — you guessed it — going to the bathroom. Desire to Be Outdoors — Sometimes your dog puts off pooping because he knows once he’s done you’re going to bring him back inside. If he wants to spend more time outside, he knows he has to wait to potty.There’s also a scientific explanation for why your dog might sniff around for so long before going. It turns out that the bathroom behavior of dogs is affected by Earth’s magnetic field lines.As it happens, the intensity of the magnetic field and the direction of the line affect how your dog uses the bathroom., most dogs prefer to poop with their spine aligned with the North-South axis of Earth.Another thing to consider is whether or not your dog is constipated — if he’s squatting to poop and nothing is coming out, you’ve got a different problem.

You’ll have to solve your before you can teach him to eliminate on command. Teaching Your Dog to Poop and Pee on CommandIt might seem daunting or even impossible to teach your dog to eliminate on command, but it’s far easier than you’d expect! Get to Know the Signs that Your Dog is About to EliminateUsually, you can tell when your dog is getting ready to potty. He may start pacing faster, circling one spot, or sniffing a spot intensely. Pay close attention to your dog’s behavior and learn the signs he displays before pottying.The reason you need to know in advance when he’s going to eliminate is so that you can be ready to “mark” the behavior (meaning that you click a clicker, say “yes!” or provide some other type of signal) at the exact moment he starts pottying. Shaping Potty BehaviorIn order to teach your dog to potty on command, you have to start shaping his behavior. This means that rather than teaching him a new behavior (because he already knows how to pee and poop), you will be reinforcing the behavior you want to see more of.To do this you’ll need:.

Treats, your dog’s favorite toy, or any other reward that he loves. A clicker (if you use one – a verbal reinforcer like “yes” can work as well)Keep the treats close to the door so you have easy access to them every time you bring your dog out.Once you’re outside let your dog do his thing, and when he begins going to the bathroom mark and reward him! Praise him vocally, get all excited, and once he’s finished eliminating you can give him his reward.Do this every single time he starts to eliminate. He’ll figure out quickly that going potty is a rewarding activity.Make sure that anyone else who brings him out (such as other family members or your dog walker) is doing things the exact same way as you are — consistency is key!

Associating Pee and Poop with Different CommandsAfter a week to two weeks of rewarding your dog every time he potties, you can start associating pee and poop with commands. Why Do I Have to Use Two Different Commands for Pee and Poop?An important thing to understand about your dog is that he doesn’t know how to generalize. Dogs aren’t great at taking knowledge and applying it to diverse situations.Because of this, your dog sees peeing and pooping as two completely different activities. That means you have to use two different commands for peeing and pooping.

What Commands Should I Use For Dog Pottying?There are a lot of different ways to tell your dog to go to the bathroom. Some examples include:. Go pee. Go poop. Go potty. Do your business. Get busy.

Pop a squat. Hop to it. Tinkle time!Pick one command for pee and one for poop and be consistent with using them.From now on whenever your dog begins peeing you should mark the behavior (click your clicker or say “yes!”), use the chosen pee command, and then praise him. The same thing goes for pooping.This is the part that will help cut back on the time you have to spend waiting for him to go. Why Should You Try to Teach Your Dog to Poop and Pee on Command?Going out of your way to teach not one but two new commands may feel like a far fetch (pun intended!) just to get your dog to potty faster.Still, your future self will thank you for the ability to tell your dog to do his business in the middle of a blizzard so you can book it back inside.In addition to convenience, having potty commands provides several practical benefits too. Road-Tripping RoversPeople who travel with their dogs would absolutely benefit from potty commands.Taking your dog out of his environment and asking him to go to the bathroom in a whole new space isn’t always easy. It goes back to dogs not knowing how to generalize, and the stress that travel can add to it.Instead of having to wander around until he’s comfortable, you can just use your potty commands to help expedite things.

Frequent-Flying FidosPotty commands also help when it comes to the airport — most major airports have a service animal relief station inside that can be used to give your traveling pup a potty break.However, using an indoor relief station may be pretty tricky if your dog doesn’t have potty commands.Trying to train a dog to poop in a designated area in one session probably isn’t going to be successful, so you’ll want to train your four-footer beforehand. Service Dogs and Therapy DogsOne of the major rules for working dogs is that the dog has to have solid potty training skills.

The last thing any handler wants to experience is the embarrassment of their dog pooping inside a store, restaurant, or hospital.Using potty commands can help ensure that a working dog has an empty tank, so to speak, before entering a public establishment. What Kinds of Things Encourage Dogs to Poop and Pee?Understanding what activities trigger your dog’s potty dance is helpful during any kind of potty training. Knowing when your dog might go to the bathroom before he does it can prevent inside accidents and accelerate training.Some things that may stimulate your pup to potty include:. Eating and drinking. Playing. Exploring with his nose.

Waking up from a long napAfter these activities, take your dog outside and see if he’ll hop to it. These are great training opportunities. Do Dog Poop Training Sprays Help?There are a few that claim to encourage pups to potty where the product is sprayed.

Unfortunately, they rarely seem to work well in practice.It would probably be harmless to try, so if you think it could work then give it a shot! Worst-case scenario: The spray doesn’t work, and you’re out a few bucks.Overall, potty training a dog to go outside faster is convenient but it takes consistency and patience. If you and your pup can get through it in the long run, it’s worth it.Does your pup have potty commands? How has it changed your daily routine? Let us know in the comments! K9ofMine.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Additionally, K9ofMine.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links.K9ofMine.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice.

While we provide information resourced and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance.

Like most major events in life, the party that goes along with the milestone is often one of the best parts. And what better way to celebrate a pregnancy than to gather the mom-to-be and all her friends and family for her baby shower so she can stock up on baby gear?Of course, there's got to be more to the baby shower than (and great food)—and these fun baby shower games are good for a few belly laughs (even if some are at the expense of your belly!).

Plus, they're a great way to break the ice if some of your guests have never met each other, and they're fun for parents and non-parents alike.If you want to give out prizes to the winners, some inexpensive ones could include seed packets (you have a seed growing and now so will your guests), mini bottles of bubble bath, little picture frames or a small box of nice candy or chocolates (mini champagne bottles are another crowd-pleaser!).Check out a few, then let the fun begin! How Big Is Mom? How to play: Give each guest a sheet of paper with empty squares. Guests write the name of a gift they think you'll receive in each square. As you open presents, players cross off squares containing names of baby items you received.

The first person to get a straight line of crossed-off squares calls out 'Bingo!' And wins a prize.Materials needed:. (or sheets of grid paper). Pens or pencilsWhy it's fun: You'll be excited to open all your presents, and your guests will be excited to watch you (and watch their Bingo card). It's a win-win. Baby Photo Guess Game.

How to play: Each guest brings (or sends in advance) one of his or her own baby pictures, which the host numbers and tacks to a cork board or poster board. Everyone then has to guess who's who. The guest who correctly IDs the most baby photos wins!Materials needed:. Baby photos of guests, each assigned a number.

A way to display the photos, such as a bulletin board, magnet board, table, poster board or cork board. Pens and paperWhy it's fun: Cute baby photos can double as party decorations. And it's fun to see what everyone looked like as babies! The Dirty Diaper Game. How to play: Get various mini candy bars and slightly melt them. Put each one in a diaper, and write a number on the diaper (keeping a list of which chocolate bar is in each numbered diaper).

Guests pass the diapers around, and try to guess what kind of candy bar is in them. They can examine the chocolate, smell it and even taste it. Whoever correctly guesses the most candy bars is the winner.Materials needed:. A variety of mini candy bars. Disposable diapers, each assigned a numberWhy it's fun: If your guests appreciate gross-out humor, this game can lead to a lot of laughter. Guess the Baby Food. How to play: Have your guests choose a partner and then blindfold each other.

One partner will be the 'feeder' and the other will be the 'taster.' The feeder dips a spoon into a series of jarred baby foods while the taster tries to guess what each one is—that is, if the feeder can manage to get the spoon into the taster's mouth! The blindfolded taster and feeder can also take turns so that everyone at your baby shower gets to relive those high chair days.Materials needed:. Blindfolds. Jarred baby food in a variety of flavors, with labels removed.

Spoons. Aprons or bibsWhy it's fun: It's messy, it's silly—and it's not as easy as you might think. Plus, just imagine how appreciative your guests will be of the real hors d'oeuvres.

(Bet quiche and spinach dip never tasted so good!) My Water Broke! How to play: Before the baby shower, put a tiny plastic baby in each slot of an ice cube tray, fill with water and freeze. The babies will be frozen inside the ice cubes. At the shower, each guest gets one baby ice cube in their drink.

The first person to have their ice cube melt shouts out, 'My water broke!' And wins.Materials needed:. Ice cube trays. Little plastic babies (you can find them at some craft stores or online). Cups at shower (to serve drinks and ice)Why it's fun: You'll have a blast watching the creative tactics the guests use to try to get their ice cubes to melt. Down the Hatch.

How to play: Before the, fill out a printable answer sheet listing the physical features (eye color, height, athleticism) and personality traits (sense of humor, intelligence, creativity) you'd like your baby to get from you and which ones you'd like to come from your partner. At the shower, provide guests with blank answer sheets and have them guess what you picked. Compare answers—whoever has the most correct wins!Materials needed:. PensWhy it's fun: It's hilarious to learn which attributes your guests think the mama-to-be should be the one to pass on to your baby (and which ones you maybe shouldn't). Plus, it's a great way to involve your partner.

The Celebrity Baby Name Game. How to play: There are some celebs who are almost more famous for the names they gave their babies than for any work they’ve done. Create a list with the celebrity parent in one column and the uniquely named baby in the other and see how many your guests can match up.Materials needed:. A list of celebrity baby names.

Paper. PensWhy it’s fun: This blend of pop culture and parenthood will be entertaining for all your guests, even the ones who haven’t had kids yet.

It may even inspire you with a name for your baby! Tinkle in a Pot Relay Race. How to play: If you’ve never gestated, you can’t fully appreciate the level of skill it takes to navigate a bathroom nine months pregnant.

But you can give your guests a taste of what the mom-to-be has to go through by playing this hilarious game. Divide guests into teams and line them up at a starting point.

The first person sticks a balloon under their shirt and a ping-pong ball between their knees and then waddles to the finish line where there is a glass mason jar. They have to “tinkle” by dropping the ball from between their knees into the jar without letting it hit the ground.Materials needed:. Inflated balloons. Ping pong balls. Mason jars. Tape for a starting lineWhy it’s fun: This is physical comedy at its finest!

Watching people waddle, squirm, squat and wiggle to make it in the pot will have everyone rolling with laughter. Lullaby Name That Tune. How to play: Have guests write their favorite lullabies on strips of paper. (Or write out a list yourself ahead of time.) Divide guests into teams and give each team a bowl with half the strips of paper. Team members take turns humming or acting out each lullaby to get their teammates to guess the tune. The first team to empty their bowl wins.Materials needed:. A list of lullabies.

Paper. Pens. 2 bowlsWhy it’s fun: Guests can show off their musical and acting skills while reliving one of their favorite games from elementary school. If you encourage your guests to get creative with the lullabies you’ll have a fun karaoke roster of songs everyone can sing along to. Name the Baby Animals.

How to play: Middle-of-the-night diaper changes can be brutal, thanks to both the frequency and the complexity of having to wipe poop in the dark. More than one parent has found themselves needing fresh pajamas along with their baby. Help the parents-to-be cope by having guests write funny or motivating messages on new diapers.

(Make sure to tell guests to only write on the outside!)Materials needed:. A basket of clean, new diapers.

Sharpies or glow-in-the-dark markersWhy it’s fun: Guests will love coming up with sweet (“You got this!”) or silly (“It’s poo-thirty am, do you know where your baby is?”) messages. Bonus: This game will keep the new parents smiling for weeks after the shower has ended. Blindfolded Baby Changing.

How to play: Thinking changing a baby is easy? Set out baby dolls and some infant diapers.

Then, one at a time, blindfold your guests and challenge them to undress the baby, put on the diaper and get it dressed again. Whoever does it the fastest, wins a prize.

Tinkle In The Potty Game For Girls

You can also have two guests race each other — fastest one wins!Materials needed:. 1 to 2 Baby dolls with clothes. Stack of infant diapers.

1 to 2 BlindfoldsWhy it’s fun: This is particularly great for multi-generational showers where Great Aunt Margaret may have lots of baby advice, even though she hasn’t actually had a baby in 45 years. Play-Doh Babies. How to play: Ask your guests if they know how babies are made. Before they can get too graphic, stop them and tell them they’re going to “make a baby” right now and then pull out a bag of Play-Doh. Divide them into teams or let each person work alone, hand out cans of Play-Doh and let them go wild. The mom-to-be picks her favorite as the winner.Materials needed:. 12 or more tubs of colored Play-Doh (or a similar type of modeling clay)Why it’s fun: Creative types will have a blast sculpting and even if they’re not feeling artistic, it’s still fun to see the variety of babies you end up with.

'Pregnancy Brain' Memory. How to play: Chalk it up to hormones or the busyness of prepping to be a parent but (i.e. The ability to forget something the second after you hear it) is a real thing!

Help your guests see the struggle is real. Set up a tray with 10 to 15 baby items (for example, a pacifier, a bottle, a bib, nipple covers, a thermometer, baby bath, rubber duck or nail clippers). Cover the tray with a towel and carry it into the room. Remove the towel, and give everyone 15 seconds to look at it. Then remove the tray to another room and give everyone one minute to write down as many items as they can remember. The person who gets the most correct wins a prize and the mom-to-be gets to keep all the items.

Another variation: Show the tray for 10 seconds, take it away and remove one item. Bring the tray back and see who can figure out which item is missing.Materials needed:. A variety of small baby items. A tray. A towel.

Paper. PensWhy it’s fun: This is a game anyone can play, regardless of age or physical ability, and everyone loves a good memory challenge.Additional reporting by Charlotte Hilton Andersen.