Are you scratching your head wondering why your adorable Sim dog in Sims 4 just won’t seem to grasp the concept of potty training? You’re not alone! Many Sims 4 players encounter the frustrating issue of their canine companions having accidents inside, despite their best efforts to teach them to go potty outside. If you’ve been searching online for “Dog Wont Learn To Go Potty Sims 4”, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll delve into a curious player experiment and explore potential reasons why your virtual pup might be struggling with potty training.
The Case of the Stubborn Smart Dog
One dedicated Sims 4 player, determined to get to the bottom of this potty problem, conducted a fascinating experiment. They started with a simple premise: could a dog’s traits influence their ability to learn potty training? To test this, they created two dogs in a brand new, vanilla (mod-free) game:
- Smart Dog (Spot): Equipped with the traits Smart, Loyal, and Friendly.
- Control Dog (Fido): Given the traits Glutton, Loyal, and Friendly.
The key difference? The “Smart” trait. The player wanted to see if this seemingly positive trait might actually be hindering potty training.
They played the game diligently, focusing on potty training both dogs. The results were quite telling. Control Dog, Fido, learned to pee outside within a reasonable in-game timeframe and even got the coveted notification popup confirming his potty training success. Smart Dog, Spot, on the other hand? Nothing. No popup, and seemingly no consistent learning, even after a week of in-game time and repeated potty training commands. Mysterious puddles and even indoor poop added to the confusion, making it unclear if Smart Dog was learning at all, or if the game was simply not registering his progress.
To further investigate, the player even tweaked Smart Dog’s traits in their modded save, switching “Smart” to “Loyal”. Almost immediately, with just a few potty training commands, the dog learned to go outside!
This experiment strongly suggests a possible, and somewhat ironic, conclusion: the “Smart” trait might actually be bugging out potty training for dogs in Sims 4.
Is the “Smart” Trait Really the Problem?
While this player’s experiment is compelling, it’s important to remember that it’s anecdotal evidence. However, it does raise a valid question and a potential workaround for players struggling with potty training “smart” dogs. If you’re facing a similar issue, temporarily switching your dog’s trait from “Smart” to “Loyal” (or another trait) using cheats or mods like MCCC could be worth trying.
How to Change Dog Traits (with cheats):
- Open the cheat console in your game by pressing Ctrl + Shift + C.
- Type in
testingcheats trueand press Enter. - Type in
traits.remove_trait trait_PetTrait_Dog_Smartand press Enter (to remove the Smart trait). - Type in
traits.equip_trait trait_PetTrait_Dog_Loyaland press Enter (to add the Loyal trait, or choose another).
After changing the trait, try potty training your dog again and see if you notice a difference.
Other Reasons Why Your Sims 4 Dog Might Not Potty Train
Even if the “Smart” trait theory doesn’t apply to your situation, there are other factors that can influence potty training in Sims 4:
- Consistency is Key: Just like real dogs, virtual dogs need consistent training. Take your dog outside frequently, especially after waking up, eating, and playing. Use positive reinforcement (praise and treats) when they potty outside.
- Enough Outdoor Time: Ensure your dog has enough time to actually potty outside. Don’t just send them out and immediately call them back in. Give them time to sniff around and do their business.
- Glitches and Bugs: Sims 4, like any game, can have occasional glitches. If you suspect a bug is preventing potty training, try resetting your dog (using cheats
resetsim [Dog's Name]) or restarting your game. - Lot Traits: Certain lot traits might influence pet behavior, although in the original experiment, lot traits didn’t seem to be a factor after they were re-applied. Experiment with different lot traits or playing on a neutral lot.
- Mods and Custom Content: While the experiment was conducted in a vanilla game to rule out mod interference, conflicting or outdated mods can sometimes cause unexpected issues. If you use mods, try playing without them temporarily to see if the potty training problem resolves.
Potty Training Success is Possible!
Dealing with a Sim dog that won’t learn to go potty can be frustrating, but don’t give up! By understanding potential issues, like the possible “Smart” trait quirk, and employing consistent training methods, you can usually guide your furry friend to become a potty-trained pro. Experiment with the tips above, and hopefully, you’ll soon see that “learned to pee outside” popup for your beloved Sim dog!
