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Essential Tips To Successfully House Train Older Dogs

Essential Tips To Successfully House Train Older Dogs

Toilet training older dogs is a slightly more difficult process than with puppies and younger dogs. If you are looking to adopt an older dog that was not previously exposed to any house training at a young age, he is going to bring along his bad habits such as chewing, excessive barking, digging and / or using your house as a toilet.

Additionally, you may experience more difficulties in house training older dogs as they tend to progress and respond slower to training than younger dogs. They do learn, it just takes a little longer. Here are a few useful tips that can help you succeed in house training an older dog:

- First and foremost, a complete check-up at the vet is necessary in order to eliminate any existing health problems or complications such as involuntary urination, urinary tract infections, bladder problems, spay incontinence, etc. Dogs may also experience diarrhoea if there is a sudden change from their previous dietary habits to new food. Do not punish him for mistakes. Instead, be patient and allow your dog a few weeks to adapt to the changes gradually. If conditions do not improve with gentle guidance and encouragement, consult your vet.

- You need to set your dog up for success! The old adage “prevention is better than cure” is very appropriate here. The way for you to set your dog up for successful toilet training, is by getting yourself trained first:
* Learn the signals your dog gives before he “goes”. These could be sniffing the ground and circling, restlessness, whining or approaching the door.
* When inside the house CONSTANTLY supervise your dog, so there’s no room for error.
* Choose ONE verbal cue such as “Pee” or “Potty” and stick to it.

- Establish a routine (set times) for eating, toilet breaks and napping. This helps you to easily monitor your dog's toilet habits and decide when to take him out. Most adult dogs tend to eliminate within 30 minutes after eating, drinking and napping. Your dog will need to “go” first thing in the morning and last thing at night, after a nap, after a meal, after playtime or exercise and of course, any time in between when you notice any pre-potty signals!

- It is a good idea to tether the dog to you using a long leash when you are training him or playing with him inside, and to confine him to a small area, such as a pen or a crate when you want him to settle or sleep. Dogs are inherently clean animals – they don’t like to eliminate where they eat and sleep.

- If you think he may need to go, take him to a designated area outside. It may take some time before he does his business, but be patient and when he does it, reward him with lots of praise and attention, as well as with an extra yummy treat. Use your chosen verbal cue and as he begins to go, say “Good Pee!” or “Good Potty!” several times and treat. If you are consistent and this, your dog will learn what you want him to do. And yes, you will need to keep a small, airtight container with treats near the doorway, so you can grab it on the way out to the designated toilet area.

- Older dogs have shorter attention spans therefore more repetitions are needed during the house training process to reinforce the desired habits. Never use punishment on them if they make a mess in the house. This is YOUR fault, YOU need better training! Scolding the dog is pointless unless you actually catch him in the act. Punishment for this will only result in your pooch becoming anxious when he needs to go and will encourage him to sneak off to go toilet quietly and unnoticed. Instead, if you catch him eliminating indoors, use a firm No Reward Marker Word, such as "Hey!", “Oi!” or “Uh-Uh!” and lead the dog to his designated spot. Then praise and reward him generously when he relieves himself outdoors.

- If you find an accident inside, simply clean it up. Next time you will be quicker to get your dog outside to the toilet area and be more onto it when supervising him. Clean any soiled areas such as bedding or spots on the floor / carpet with a mixture of 1/3 white vinegar to 2/3 water. Sponge well and dab with paper towel. You can apply 2-3 drops of pure citronella oil to the area once dry. This will deter the dog from marking over it. VERY IMPORTANT: Do NOT use any household cleaning products which contain ammonia, i.e. Handy Andy, Cif, Jif, etc. Although it may smell good to us, to a dog ammonia smells like urine and they will just continue eliminating in the same spot.

- Bear in mind that with a newly adopted dog, anxiety about his new home environment is often the underlying cause of the behaviour. When a dog’s environment changes, they may feel the need to mark their territory. Dogs with other anxieties, such as separation anxiety or noise phobia, can also mark inappropriately. Once you’ve established the main reason your dog marks, it is easier to devise the most successful treatment plan to modify the behaviour. You may need to consult with a force-free dog trainer or canine behaviourist to help your dog overcome his anxieties.

House training an older dog successfully depends a lot on your consistency, discipline and perseverance. Treating the dog with respect, patience and understanding, and using positive reinforcement are the main ingredients to developing a well-behaved adult dog with good toilet habits.
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