If you have a dog who is not housebroken, a yard can be a wonderful resource, or it can be a real setback. In order for a dog to figure out it should go outside instead of inside, he must have the chance to choose not to go until he's outside. If your dog stays outside most of the time, coming in only to eat, and then going right back out, you may have have the illusion that housebreaking is coming right along because the dog isn't making messes in the house. How much of an illusion this is will become apparent the first time you leave your dog loose and unsupervised in the house, for about 4 hours.
By putting your dog outside by himself before he feels the urge to go, you have failed to provide the two things that are necessary for him to learn to tell you when he feels the urge to go and to wait until he's outside. First you must allow him to feel the urge to go and to make the connection between this feeling and going outside, and second for you to accompany him so that he also connects you with pottying. If you make yourself a part of his trip outside to potty, then when he needs to go, he will naturally look to you to accompany him. He will come to you and look at you expecting you to get up and go with him. If you don't make yourself a part of his trip outside, then you are making life very difficult for him because he will not have a resource in the house to tell that he needs to go outside. He might make the connection between the urge to potty, and going outside, but he won't know how to make that happen. Yes, some dogs do make the connection with having the door opened and learn to scratch on the door, but this requires that the dog make several connections that he may or may not stumble upon. Why not keep things simple ?
Once you are outside with your dog, take him to an area you have designated as his potty area. This serves two purposes. First, it will save your grass, and you will not have to hunt for stools when pick up time comes. Second, your dog will connect that area with needing to relieve himself, and when he is taken there, he will think of pottying. Making this connection will serve you well when you teach him to go even if he hasn't told you he really needs to. This is an invaluable skill when you are traveling and would prefer that your dog potty when you get to a rest stop rather than trying to find a place to stop later if he seems to need to go. If you have ever traveled with a three year old child, you will understand.
Remember that if your dog is a puppy, the time between the urge to go, and the squat is mere seconds. If you wait for him to seem restless, you will be too late. For a young dog, you will have to guess at the timing and take him outside on a leash when you think he should need to go. As he gets older, you can wait for him to get a bit restless.
Remember the four rules of housebreaking:
- Keep your dog on a leash under your supervision or in a crate at all times. Yes he can have some play time in the yard, but then he should come back inside with you.
- Give him the opportunity to feel the urge to go while he's inside, and be ready to take him outside immediately.
- Accompany him outside with him on a leash.
- Take him to the same designated potty area each time.