New Video Training Guide

Training Guide

Training isn't hard.
It just takes the right system.

Your dog can learn this. It's simple, but it takes time. That's normal. Follow Zack's system and you'll get there.

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Start here

Watch this first.

Most dogs start using Bark Potty after their owner watches this video. Two minutes now saves you days later.

Prefer to talk it through? Book a free call with Zack, our expert trainer →

Before you start

1

It's safe.

Zack has trained dogs this way for 14 years. No dog has ever been hurt.

2

It's not hard, just slow.

Catching a ball is easy. Catching it after waiting 36 hours isn't harder, just longer. Same idea here.

Say this out loud: "My dog can hold it longer than I think." That's the sentence that keeps most people from quitting on day one.

The system

Two phases. That's it.

Zack breaks this into two phases: Focus Training and Casual Training. Focus Training teaches the trick. Casual Training locks it in. Most people reading this are just starting, so that's where we'll focus.

1

Focus Training

A few dedicated sessions to teach your dog the trick.

2

Casual Training

Once it clicks, everyday reinforcement locks it in for good.

Phase 1 — Focus Training

A few sessions until it clicks.

1

Set the unit down.

Balcony, inside, wherever works for your space.

2

Every hour, bring your dog to it and say "go potty," 10 to 20 times.

Wander off? Bring them back, try again.

3

No luck? That's normal.

Take a short break, then try again in an hour. Repeat until they go.

Have a crate? It can speed this up, since most dogs won't go while crated. Not required.

What to expect

Small dogs often get it same-day. Bigger dogs may take until day two. Neither means it's not working.

The first session is always the longest. Each one after gets shorter, until one day your dog just goes. That's Casual Training.

Phase 2 — Casual Training

Learned. Now it sticks.

Once your dog goes without any fuss, leave the unit out for good.

Every morning: unit, "go potty," treat.

Catch them using it on their own? Treat, every time.

Get the whole house doing the same.

Some accidents are normal early on. They fade fast.

What to expect

Your dog's arc, day by day.

Day 1
Sniffs it, maybe walks away.
"Did I waste my money?"

Normal. Sniffing is investigation, that's what you want. Say "go potty" once, wait a minute, then take a break and try again in an hour.

Days 1–2
Not going, or going elsewhere.
"This isn't working."

It's working, the urge is building. Your dog can hold it longer than you think. Skip the walk, keep the rhythm going.

Days 2–3 ⭐
First success. It happened.
"Wait, that actually worked?"

Reward immediately. Let them build a full bladder again, then repeat within a few hours. One success becomes two, two becomes a habit.

Days 3–5
Good day, slip, good again.
"One step forward, one back."

The messy middle, completely normal. Keep rewarding every success. Same spot, same word, every time.

Day 7+
They just go. No prompting.
"Why didn't we do this sooner?"

This is the new normal. Start fading treats gradually. When you swap the unit, place the fresh one in the same spot.

Why it takes time

Not stubborn.
Territorial.

The mindset shift that keeps most people from quitting early.

Not urgent, strategic. Marking territory, not emptying a bladder. They can hold it longer than you'd think, by design.

That whining at the door? Desire, not pain. Redirect it. The treat replaces the territory.

Holding it into day two is normal, not a red flag. The urge is building exactly as it should. Stay consistent.

If you need extra help

Still stuck after day two?

A few optional tricks. Most dogs don't need them, but they work when they're needed.

The scent trick

Dab a paper towel on an unfamiliar dog's urine spot, seal it, and wring it onto the Bark Potty surface at home. Many dogs go within minutes.

Must be an unfamiliar dog, not a housemate.

Common snags

  • Starting before the bladder's full
  • Treating too early, or from the kitchen instead of your pocket
  • Different spot each time

Still stuck?

Zack's trained hundreds of dogs, including the stubborn ones. A free 15-minute call usually cracks it.

Book your free training call
Customer proof

It works, even for the stubborn ones.

★★★★★

"Nothing was happening, my Yorkie would just stare at me. Watched the video, and after a couple days she was using it on her own!"

Kim W. Verified

★★★★★

"Life saver. Lasts much longer than grass pads and is much easier."

Jennifer M. Verified

★★★★★

"My 11 lb dog adapted immediately. Way easier than the fake grass I was using."

Helaine C. Verified

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