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How to House Train Old Outdoor Dogs
by Melinda Weaver
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Overview
The easiest time to potty train your dog is when he's a puppy, but it's a myth that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. By using techniques similar to those you would use with a new puppy, a dog of any age can learn where he can appropriately relieve himself. As with puppies, it's important to be consistent and restrict your dog's access when you aren't able to supervise him. Though this seems tedious, it's the best way to prevent accidents in the house.
Old dogs may be harder to train, but it is possible.
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Potty Training
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Step 1
Clean all areas where your dog regularly goes. This is the most important difference between training an adult and a puppy. If your dog has been having accidents, those smells are calling to your dog, and her nose is hundreds of times better than yours. Soak each spot in pet cleaner several times or wash in hot water.
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Step 2
Put your dog on a regular meal schedule. Even if your dog is used to free feeding, he can learn to eat when you set down the food. If he doesn't eat within 10 minutes, pick it up and don't offer it to him again until his next mealtime. After a few days, he will be eating on a schedule. This will help you keep a journal about when he goes so you have an idea at which times he will need to be taken out.
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Step 3
Go outside with your dog each time she needs to relieve herself. You need to see when she is going and reward her with treats. Wait for her to go two or three times if that's what she usually does.
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Step 4
Repeat this each time he needs to go. For example, if your dog can hold it for three hours, take him out and then bring him back in for three hours of house freedom. Keep him in the same room as you, so you see if he's about to make a mistake. If he doesn't go when you take him out, put him in his crate for 30 minutes or so and then try again. If he goes, he gets house freedom. If not, he goes in his crate.
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Step 5
Continue this until you have been weeks without an accident. Then, you can start giving your dog her house freedom back. If she has an accident, go back to square one and start again.
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- The most important thing to remember when potty training your older dog is prevention. Don't allow your dog to make mistakes. Prevent access to areas where he likes to relieve himself. Keep him within your sight at all times. If he starts to sniff or wander aimlessly, rush him outside. Reward for going in the appropriate place. If you can't watch him, he should be in his crate or a small area with a potty pad.
- The most important thing to remember when potty training your older dog is prevention. Don't allow your dog to make mistakes. Prevent access to areas where he likes to relieve himself. Keep him within your sight at all times. If he starts to sniff or wander aimlessly, rush him outside. Reward for going in the appropriate place. If you can't watch him, he should be in his crate or a small area with a potty pad.
- Don't punish your dog during potty training. She is not doing it to spite you. She honestly doesn't know where to go. It's not instinctual for her. If you punish more than a few seconds after the accident, she won't even know why you are punishing her. And instead of learning not to go in the house, she might learn not to go in front of you, which will make training even harder.
- Don't punish your dog during potty training. She is not doing it to spite you. She honestly doesn't know where to go. It's not instinctual for her. If you punish more than a few seconds after the accident, she won't even know why you are punishing her. And instead of learning not to go in the house, she might learn not to go in front of you, which will make training even harder.
