We’ve all been there: it’s dark, cold, and you just want Max to go potty before bed.
You know he has business to do because he still hasn’t delivered the goods after dinner, but despite your best efforts (and a spirited potty dance), he just won’t go!
What if I told you there are products designed to get the ball rolling? That’s right; you can save your go-potty dance moves and encourage Max to relieve himself on command with potty training spray.
Let’s circle around this not-so-pleasant topic from a distance, shall we? Read on to learn more, or just check out our quick picks if you’re in a hurry!
Best Dog Poop Training Sprays: Quick Picks
- #1 Bodhi Dog Potty Training Spray [Best All-Around Option] — It’s a little pricier than other poop training sprays, but it also enjoys the best owner reviews.
- #2 WEE-WEE Housebreaking Aid [Most Affordable Option] — If you’re trying to house-train your pooch on a budget, this is your best bet.
- #3 Skip to My Loo Toilet Training Aid [Best for Multi-Pet Households] — This poop training spray is effective and safe for puppies, adult dogs, and cats.
How Do Poop Training Sprays Work?
Now, you’re probably wondering how the heck a spray can encourage pooping.
Let’s clear the air — it’s not that these products directly stimulate your pooch to poop. Rather, the idea behind them is to get your dog sniffing and thinking about going potty.
Some use pheromones to try to coax your pooch, while others use ingredients that mimic the smell of doggo excrement. That said, it’s best to use these sprays far from the home to avoid lingering odors.
The Best Dog Poop Sprays
As with all pup products, some dog poop sprays are better than others. While not every dog will respond to them, these are some of the best on the market today.
NOTE: Nearly all these dog potty training sprays have a batch of not-so-great reviews. These sprays are pretty hit or miss, so doubling down on your potty training might be a more successful option. Still, if you’re feeling desperate, these sprays are worth trying. They might be just the thing that gets your pup pottying correctly!
1. Bodhi Dog Potty Training Spray
About: Up your potty-training game with Bodhi Dog’s Potty Spray, an attention-grabbing spritz designed to stimulate your pooch’s need to go to the bathroom.
The scent is made to replicate urine, which will attract your tinkler to do his business where you spray rather than on your lawn ornaments.
Bodhi Dog Potty Training Spray
- Potty-inducing spray that works great in conjunction with training
- Eco-friendly and alcohol-free
- Works for indoor or outdoor use
- Made in the USA with locally-sourced ingredients
- Comes in 8 oz spray
Features:
- The spray design is easy to control, though you will have to apply liberally according to the directions
- Can be used indoors or outdoors
- The eco- and pup-friendly formula is safe to use around doggos of all ages, cats, and even human kiddos
Options: Bodhi Dog’s formula is offered in an 8-ounce spray bottle.
PROS
Owners love how easy the product is to use, as well as how quickly their pups took to piddling where applied. It’s also marketed as a pet- and kid-friendly formula, which gave a lot of owners peace of mind.
CONS
While we don’t expect potty aids to smell like roses, owners found this spray extra funky. This is something to consider before spraying around the house on pee pads and the like. Reviewers also stressed the need to apply heavily and reapply often, which means you might go through quite a bit of product quickly.
2. WEE-WEE Housebreaking Aid
About: Making your pooch “go” can be a little easier with WEE-WEE Housebreaking Spray by Four Paws — a liquid that encourages your pup to potty using clinically-formulated ingredients. All you have to do is spritz where you want your dog to potty, let him sniff, and wait.
WEE-WEE Housebreaking Aid
- Dog-attracting scent helps encourage your dog to poop in a designated location
- Can be used indoors (for potty pads) or outdoors
- Available in dropper or spray form
- Designed specifically for puppies
- Concentrated formula
Features:
- Scent is formulated to attract your dog and hopefully, give him the urge to go
- Designed to make spot-training possible, keeping potty breaks contained to one designated area and allowing for easy cleanup
- Can be used outside or on pee pads and/or litter boxes indoors
Options: WEE-WEE is available in a 1-ounce dropper and 8-ounce spray bottle.
PROS
The product is easy to use, and the smell certainly gets your dog’s attention according to reviews. Because it’s heavily concentrated, a small amount goes a long way, too.
CONS
The scent was a drawback for some pup parents who found it too strong (time to whip out the dog-friendly candles). This is something to consider if you’re planning on using it indoors with potty pads or grass pee pads, as the smell may linger.
3. PetSafe Skip to My Loo Attractant and Toilet Training Aid
About: Keep your dog’s doos in check with Skip to my Loo Potty Training Spray by PetSafe. Apply to potty-safe areas to entice your pooch to go — saving the rest of the yard for mess-free games of fetch.
Skip to My Loo Toilet Training Aid
- Smells like urine to your dog’s nose
- Suitable for indoor (pee pad) use or outdoors
- Non-toxic, biodegradable formula
- Safe for puppies, dogs, and cats
- Doesn’t leave overwhelming odors lingering around your home
- Designed to work on its own or in conjunction with other PetSafe house training aids
Features:
- Designed to mimic urine, it grabs your four-footer’s attention and triggers his instinct to relieve himself
- The biodegradable and non-toxic formula is safe for use around cats and dogs of all ages — including puppies
- Can be used indoors and outdoors
Options: Skip to My Loo comes in a 4-ounce squirt bottle.
PROS
The potent smell certainly catches your dog’s attention, and leg lifters can’t resist it. The formula appears to be long-lasting, too, as reviews state it lasts several days outdoors, which keeps your dog going (literally) to the same place between applications.
CONS
While the smell is nose-catching for your pooch, it will definitely turn your nose up according to reviews. This can be tricky if you’re planning on using it indoors. The squirt-tipped top doesn’t give you as much control as a spray bottle, so use caution when applying it.
4. Sp Phresh Go Right Here Potty Training Spray
About: So Phresh Go Right Here Spray is a potty-training aid that lets your pupper know where to relieve himself. Safe for puppies and adults, it’s an all-stages potty training solution.
So Phresh Potty Spray
- Long-lasting, concentrated formula, eliminating the need for constant applications
- Works for indoor or outdoor use
- Designed to get your dog’s attention but won’t overwhelm the human nose
- Comes in 16oz spray
PROS
The scent isn’t as offensive as some potty aid sprays, which is always a plus if you need to use it indoors. Reviewers gave it a paw’s up for pee-pad application, and the size is a win in terms of value.
CONS
The scent — while easy to deal with — may not hold your dog’s attention according to reviews. There appear to be manufacturing glitches here and there, too, with clogged or malfunctioning nozzles a complaint.
Poop Training Spray Alternative #1: Deterrent and Deodorizing Sprays
In some cases, you may be wanting a poop training spray to help trick your dog into doing the doo-doo deed in more appropriate places. You may, for example, need to discourage your four-footer from pottying on your favorite rug.
Deterrents are often helpful in these situations.
These products are made to repel your dog via an unpleasant scent or by eliminating odors that may trigger your dog’s urge to go potty or mark an area, keeping your rug (and sanity) intact.
Pup parents give a paw’s up to these products:
1. Pet Organics No-Go Housebreaking Dog Spray
About: Stop your pooch from repeating past accidents with Pet Organics’ No-Go Spray. Just apply to the soiled area after it’s been thoroughly cleaned to prevent future marking.
Pet Organics No-Go Spray
- Designed to prevent dog from repeat pottying on carpets, furniture, and other surfaces
- Made with all-natural ingredients
- A light, fresh scent that isn’t offensive like some other sprays
- Comes in 16oz spray
PROS
The lack of residue and strong smell is a favorite feature of reviewers. It provides a gentle covering that won’t overwhelm you or your dog’s nose, and many pup parents sang its praises as far as effectiveness.
CONS
Repeat applications are needed according to several reviews, which can be costly if on-going use is needed. As with any product, it also doesn’t appear to be effective with all pooches.
2. Woolite Advanced Pet Stain & Odor Remover
About: Woolite’s Advanced Pet Stain & Odor Remover eliminates traces of soiling from the start. It powers through urine or feces to remove its sights and smells, leaving the area fresh and preventing future interest in pottying in the same spot.
Woolite Pet Stain Remover
- Used to deep-clean areas where your pup has pooed or peed indoors
- Cleans and deodorizes in one step
- Sanitizing formula eliminates 99.9% of all bacteria
- Can be used on carpets and upholstery
- 22-ounce spray bottle is also available in a double pack.
PROS
Results receive high praise, as it eliminates messes and prevents staining or lingering odors. It eliminates rather than masks according to reviews, and the lack of residue it leaves behind is a major plus.
CONS
Since it can’t be used on all fabrics, not all paw parents will find it useful. A few others noted that the smell seemed especially strong.
Poop Training Spray Alternative #2: Keep Your Dog on a Leash Outside
If you want to train your dog to poop and pee in a specific area of the yard, you can teach him by walking him on a leash. The secret here is consistency. Always walk your dog to the same area to potty and wait for him to do his business.
Don’t wander, as tempting as it may be, as you want to establish a boundary of where he can potty.
Make sure it’s an area he feels comfortable doing his business, such as on grass or in the corner of the yard, and keep the area clean between potty breaks so he’ll keep coming back after you’ve removed the leash. It’ll already smell like his business, establishing the area as his potty domain.
Poop Training Spray Alternative #3: Try Crate Training
A powerful partner in house training is crate training. In addition to keeping your pup out of trouble when you’re not around, a crate provides a barrier against wayward potty breaks.
Dogs naturally don’t like to soil where they sleep, so buying the proper crate size is essential. Your pooch should have enough room to lie down, stand, and turn around comfortably, but not much more. This prevents soiling in the corners.
Despite being confined, your dog will likely learn to love his crate over time if used properly. He shouldn’t be kept in it for extended periods, and his crate should never be used as a form of punishment.
When you’re home, and he’s free to roam, keep his crate door open so he can come and go as he pleases.
Poop Training Spray Alternative #4: Try Potty Pads
In some cases, a potty pad is your best bet in teaching your dog bathroom habits. Potty pad training teaches your pupper to go to the bathroom on disposable pads designed to absorb urine.
Usually, potty pads are used when you’re trying to gradually introduce a new puppy to outdoor pottying, but they can also be used for small or older dogs who struggle to “hold it.”
Reasons Your Dog May Be Pooping Inside
There are a few things that could cause a dog to potty indoors, including:
- Never learning: If your pup is newly adopted, he might not have been house trained in the past. Dogs can also regress in training if kept in a kennel environment for long periods.
- Illness: Is your otherwise trained pup suddenly pottying indoors? If so, you should schedule a vet appointment. Sudden incontinence is cause for concern and can be a sign of a urinary tract infection or other illness.
- Change in routine: Are you working longer hours? Dogs are creatures of habit, and a slight change in routine can throw them off. If you’re spending more time away, you might want to look into a dog walker for mid-day potty breaks.
- Change in household: Did you get a new roommate or add a new fur friend to the mix? Did you move your pet’s crate or bed? Sometimes a change in his fur kingdom can trigger anxiety or stress in your pooch, resulting in improper soiling around the house.
- Change in diet: Does your dog have a new self-filling food or water dish? A new brand of dog food? If he now has access to a seemingly endless supply of food or water, he may be gorging himself, resulting in the pottying. If a new food has been introduced, it might be disturbing his body’s natural pottying rhythm.
Evaluate your dog’s schedule and overall behavior to try to come up with an explanation as to why your dog is pottying indoors. As always, it’s best to consult your vet.
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Have you tried any of the poop sprays or deterrents on our list? What do you use for training your pooch the dos and don’ts of pottying? Let us know in the comments below.
2 Comments
February 8, 2021
I have a rescue dog I’ve had for 3 yrs now. He has never gone in my yard, he always has to go for a walk. The problem is in the winter w/ snow & very cold temperatures. He refuses to go for days on end. Any ideas ?
February 8, 2021
Hey, Nikky.
Check out our article about training your dog to poop and pee in one spot. There are some tips & tricks there that may prove helpful.
But don’t forget that your pooch may need to move around a bit first to help “get things moving.” So, you may want to try playing a bit first (inside if necessary), and then go out to the backyard with him.
Alternatively, you could thing about teaching him to use canine litter box.
Best of luck!