What is a Dog Pee Post?

A curly haired dog peeing on a tree post.

Training your dog to toilet in a designated outdoor spot keeps your yard clean, reduces odours, and protects your lawn. While dogs naturally tend to go in the same area, they still need guidance to develop consistent habits. Thats where dog pee posts can help!

Dog house training methods can seem overwhelming to a busy pet parent. Let us help! In our blog below, we teach you all about how to train your dog to use a dog pee post!

How Does a Dog Pee Post Work?

A pee post is a great outdoor house training aid for dogs, designed to encourage pets to urinate in a preferred toilet area. The goal is for your dog to pee on or next to the post. They are also known as potty posts.

This prevents your dog toileting in unwanted areas (such as on decks, flowerbeds or inside your house) and minimises you having to clean up toilet accidents.

Why Do Dogs Pee on a Post?

Dogs tend to go back to the same spot to pee. When they need to go, they sniff around to find the scent of their own pheromones left behind from previous visits.

The pheromones marks their territory and designate a toilet area that is away from your pet’s food or where they sleep.

Even if you have cleaned up pet stains well and cannot smell it yourself, your dog usually can. They have incredibly powerful noses!

Are Pee Posts Any Good?

The fact dogs like to pee in the same areas regularly is a great benefit to pet parents. It means that it is possible to toilet train a dog not to pee in your house or unwanted areas of your yard.

Pee posts help you to show your dog exactly where you want them to go. They will learn to recognise this designated location as their toilet area and desired outdoor spot.

Many pet owners report that using a pee post reduces the number of toilet accidents in unwanted areas and that they are very effective.

Another benefit is that it minimises the number of brown pee patches marked on your lawn. This is great for those that take pride in their yard and want to keep their lawn green.

What to Use as a Pee Post

You can use almost anything as a pee post, or buy a special one from pet supply stores.

Some pet shops offer plastic stake pee posts that release a pheromone scent to attract your dog.

While this might sound helpful, they still require proper house training to work.

Plus, a plastic stake isn’t the most attractive option for your yard. We recommend using a fire hydrant pee post instead—it’s functional and adds a fun touch to your garden!

A red fire hydrant dog pee post.

Fire Hydrant Pee Post

A fire hydrant dog pee post is a fun way to teach your furry friend where to pee.

Where To Set Up

Most pee posts are put on grass in the backyard. We recommend choosing a quiet grassy area. Make sure this spot is away from where your dog eats, drinks or sleeps.

Choose a spot your dog already often uses to go to the toilet. It is easier to train your dog to go here if he already likes the area. If you live in an apartment, you may want to put the pee post on top of puppy pads or a section of artificial turf on your veranda.

Installing a Fire Hydrant Pee Post

Fire hydrant pee posts are easy to set up. There is no assembly required. Simply unbox the post and sit it where you want it to go.

If you are placing the post on grass or dirt, use provided stakes to gently hammer it into the dirt. This will help prevent it being knocked over.

Unlike other training aids on the market, there is no need to partially bury the a fire hydrant pee post into the ground. They are sturdy enough to sit on top of the grass.

This means the pee post is easy to move if you decide you want it in another spot.

House Training

Easy Guide to House Training with a Dog Pee Post

Step 1: Set Up the Pee Post

  • Choose a quiet, grassy area in your backyard.
  • Keep it away from food, water, and bedding.
  • Place it somewhere your dog already prefers to go.

Step 2: Learn Your Dog’s Toilet Routine

Dogs typically need to go:

  • First thing in the morning
  • After meals
  • After exercise
  • Before bedtime

Step 3: Introduce Your Dog to the Pee Post

  • Lead your dog to the post during toilet times.
  • Let them sniff and explore it.
  • Praise them when they approach it.

Step 4: Use a Toilet Command

  • Say a phrase like “go toilet” or “pee-pee” while they sniff.

Step 5: Reward Good Behaviour

  • Praise, pat, or give a treat when they pee in the right area.
  • Start easy – reward them for going near the post.
  • Over time, only reward when they pee directly on it.

Step 6: Stay Consistent & Patient

  • House training takes time – stick to a routine.
  • Inconsistency can lead to setbacks.

With patience and persistence, your dog will learn!

A fluffy dog looking at a red dog pee post.

Puppies

House training puppies is typically easier than training an adult dog. They are without established marking habits and are less stubborn.

Some owners have trouble leading their puppy to the pee post during training time, as puppies don’t always come when they are called. One convenient shortcut is guiding your puppy to the pee post on a leash.

If you keep your pet indoors, you will need to take him out more regularly to practice.

Accept that pet mess clean up is part of training. The occasional indoor accident cleanup does not mean your puppy isn’t progressing! If you patiently follow directions, he will eventually learn.

Adult Dogs

Daily training with adult dogs encourages them to form good habits faster.

Male dogs are more naturally drawn to sniff out pheromones and pee in one specific area. Because of this, they tend to prefer peeing on vertical objects, like posts or fences. They will learn faster to use a pee post or at least to pee in the same spot every time.

When learning to pee in a desired outdoor spot, female dogs often require a more concerted effort. They are less interested in pheromones.

They also typically don’t cock their legs so won’t pee directly onto the pee post. But, with thorough training, they can be trained to pee next to the pee post or in a specific area of your yard.