09/23/2026
Dogs are the domesticated distant ancestor of the wolf and more closely related to the Jackal, Fox and Coyote. Dogs are natural predators and scavengers, which means they can hunt animals, and they can feed off of grains and berries on the ground. Dogs have a really good sense of smell. In the wild they use their nose to hunt as well as to evaluate their environment. Like, "Are there other dogs living in this area?" "Is there food here?", "Is there danger?" "Where is my pack?"
Wolves, Jackals, Foxes and Coyotes use their p*e to leave scent trails for a variety of reasons. Bi***es in season produce pheromones to attract breeding partners. Dogs mark property corners to identify their boundaries. And dogs leave signs for their pack by p*eing on trees, stones and shrubs. The bad news about dogs, is they have a natural desire to mark and leave their p*e scent. The good news is, dogs naturally want to separate their p*e environment from their eating, sleeping and family environment.
As an Italian Greyhound breeder, I have the advantage of having the puppies born here in my home, and being able to start their potty training immediately. We teach them the different environments and textures associated with sleeping, eating, potty and playing. For example, the texture of the potty environment is grass and that environment is outside. The texture of the eating and playing environment is ceramic tile, and that environment is in the house. And the texture of the sleeping environment, is snuggly with fabrics and pillows. Each environment has a unique texture, and our home is their sleeping, eating and playing environment. I am exposing them to a unique texture for each of those environments. I want all my dogs to learn to love their crate as a safe sleeping space that is clean and cozy. The textures in their sleeping space are warm fuzzy fabrics. I want all my dogs to learn to go outside to potty on the trees, grass and shrubs. Those textures are outdoor grass and dirt textures. If they can associate textures with environments, then you are halfway there to successful potty training.
So here at Dainty Acres, we start by introducing those environments, and associating them with textures. Eventually, they understand that potty does not go where they eat, play or sleep.
There are many good systems out there, but the system I use is to first teach the puppies to p*e on the absorbent pad before they can even walk. I don't use the fabric p*e pads or floor mats because the texture is the same as their bedding and our rugs. I want the indoor p*e pad to be a very rare occurrence, and a unique texture on their feet. Even an adult dog will one day need to know how to safely p*e indoors. They need to be able to go indoors if you travel by plane, or if the weather is bad, or if there is a medical emergency. The pad is an easy way to give them relief and to minimize the indoor odor. Otherwise, the potty environment is outside on grass, trees and shrubs.
(Shopping List: Absorbent P*e Pads, Gallon Size Zip Lock bags, Paper Towels, small sq**rt bottle and Nature's Miracle, Belly Bands and or Absorbent Girl Pants.)
But what if you get a dog that has not been potty trained? Or an adult dog that is having accidents?
"Can you train an older dog to p*e outside and not in the house?" The answer is yes. And yes.
It will take some time, and some tools, and some patience, but it can be done.
I had a rescue dog that was the sweetest thing, so I thought. That first evening, I fed her in the laundry room, set our dinner on the dining table, and while we prayed over the meal, she ran into my bedroom and p*ed on my pillow. And yes, my first thought was to run her back to the shelter! After my husband reminded me that I am the dog trainer, and she is the poor bounced around orphan, I drug the Xpens out of the garage and asked Jesus for grace and mercy.
Reduce the Floorplan:
The first thing I do when I am expecting a guest dog or a new adult dog in my home, is to bring out my Xpens or portable fence panels. It sounds like a lot of work, but cleaning up hidden potty is more work, and training doesn't happen when they successfully hide it. When a dog comes into your home, whether it is a guest dog, a shelter dog or a new purebred dog, they will want to search and sniff the house to see who lives there. Their instincts are kicking in and they are looking for scent clues of other dogs or enemies. They may also want to leave their own scent clues. I keep belly bands and pants for guest dogs and new dogs to prevent that. But more importantly, I introduce them to the environments in my house where they are welcome to be. I use those Xpens to put a perimeter around and separate those welcome spaces like eating space, play space, sleeping and potty space. So start by thinking what areas you want to give them, and assign that space with an Xpen around it. Indoors they will need a place to eat, a place to play and a place to sleep. Outdoors, they will need a place to go potty. The indoor environments need to stay clean and be different than their outdoor potty environment.
Eating and Play Environment and Texture: So let's start with the eating and playing environment. This space will have a cold and clean surface that their feet will touch. This space is easy to clean like wood, ceramic or vinyl. It should be very close to the outside door, ideally set up so the door can be opened and they can easily get right out to their potty environment.
(Shopping List: Xpen and portable fence panels tall enough to not jump over)
The Xpens will allow you to start with just a small area that you can manage. Eventually you can eliminate them, but they are so helpful in defining environments. I introduce new dogs by containing them in an Xpen inside my enclosed/indoor patio. That eating space is small enough to just have water and food bowl, small bed and a place to stand. The play area also has an Xpen defining that space. The idea being, the eating space is not my potty space. My play place is not my potty space or my eating space. And my sleeping space is different than all those other spaces. These indoor spaces are close to the door to their outside potty space. I am quick to take my dog outside after they finish eating or wake up from a nap. I take them outside before they ask, and when I know they need to go. They don't want to soil their bed, and if I get them outside before the accident happens, then they can learn that the potty texture is grass, trees and shrubs. The eating and play texture is cool and clean. All the fun stuff happens in that indoor environment. They get to play, they get to eat, they get to sleep and it is a clean space.
Sleeping Environment and Texture: If your dog is already crate trained, this will be super easy. The sleeping textures are soft and snuggly like the bed, and the environment is just for sleeping or quiet time with a dog treat.
(Shopping List: Well ventilated wire or plastic crate that is big enough for the dog to stand up, turn around and lay down comfortably. And a memory foam pad with a chew-proof, waterproof cover, fluffy warm dog bed)
Potty Environment and Textures:
My potty environment is just outside the eating environment, a doggie door separates the two environments. In the beginning, I open the door to take them out to go potty. Start off by doing this every 1-2 hours. Eventually, I teach them to use the doggie door. The potty environment is a small space of grass, that is fenced with portable panels. I can move the panels for mowing and cleaning. And I can change it up for the seasons. I like to have shade for the dogs in the summer, and sunny spots for the winter.
Conclusion:
Once your dog knows your environments and can connected the dots to the textures in them, they will understand where to go and understand what you want from them. But understanding what your routine is in the house is first and foremost. You cant punish a dog that doesn't understand that yet. Get them doing it right first, and reward them for doing it right. Even if it is kind-of right at first. Get them thinking in the right direction. I reward the good behavior with verbal praise and treats. I have found treats that break into smaller pieces, (so I can make them go farther), and I reward often.
(Shopping List: small bite treats and pants with pockets)
Failure or Slipping Backwards:
Dogs are creatures of instinct and habit. Help them build healthy habits, and go back to the basics if you don't make progress. Go back to the Xpens or portable fences until your dog understands what you want. Your desires may not be known to your dog yet. Make some decisions as to where you want to feed them every day. Where is the best place for your dog to get outside after eating? It may be the back door off the family room. Or you may need to convert a side yard. Help your dog be successful. One of our best investments for our dogs was the doggie door. This made life so easy for our dogs and us. And you may have to keep the Xpens and portable fence panels up longer than you like. For example, one of our guests took 11 months to figure it out. The dog we just brought into the pack has figured it out in just 3 months. I will probably leave the Xpens and portable fence panels up another month just to make sure the habit is locked up in her mind.
Oh, and that dog that p*ed on my pillow 20 years ago? Yes, I kept her. She ended up being one of the best indoor dogs I have ever owned. She ended up the best Chihuahua mix cow dog I have ever known. So don't give up too early! Just remember, you are the leader of the pack, and what you do, and the rules you set down establish you as a leader. Your dog is wired to want to please you, so when you establish the environments and they learn the textures, they get to be successful with you. And you too can end up with one of the best dogs you have ever known.
Written by Dana Taylor - Dana has been raising Italian Greyhounds for over 35 years and currently showing and training Italian Greyhounds in the San Antonio area. Please check us out at our YouTube Channel , Facebook and Instagram!
Press Release Spring Branch, Texas -September 22, 2027 - Spring Branch, Texas by Dana Taylor with Dainty Acres Italian Greyhounds Dogs are the domesticated distant ancestor of the wolf and more closely related to the Jackal, Fox and Coyote. Dogs are natural predators and scavengers, which means they
