How to Housetrain an Older Dog

Can an Old Dog Learn New Tricks?

Just about everyone has the heard the saying: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." Don't believe it!

You can train a dog to curb its indoor behavior at just about any age. I will say that it is easier when the dog is younger, but by following the principles of behavior you'll be able to housetrain your adult dog in a short period of time.

Things You'll Need

• Crate
• X-pen
• Baby gates
• Treats
• Nature's Miracle
• Leash

Instructions

How To Housetrain An Adult Dog

1. Management of behavior is crucial when it comes to housetraining an adult dog. You need to keep a very watchful eye on your dog as you're going through the housetraining process.

   You want to set your dog up for success--not failure. By allowing your dog to wander off into another room, you're setting your dog up to fail. When your dog has an accident you'll be upset and if you punish your dog after the behavior has occurred, you will surely confuse your dog and prolong the housetraining process.

   Management of behavior is done by confining your dog when you are not able to watch him. Using a crate to housetrain your dog is very important. Most dogs will not urinate or defecate in their crate. This allows you to confine your dog in the crate when you are not able to watch your dog.

2. The next step is to communicate to your dog where you want him to go and not go. This is done by watching your dog. If your dog starts to eliminate in the house, you'll be there to "catch him in the act" and then bring him outside.

   It is crucial that you catch your dog just as he starts to go. Heavy punishment is not needed here. All you need to do is stomp your foot or loudly clap your hands to stop your dog from continuing to eliminate.

   Heavy punishment will only confuse your dog. It is important to point out that this is really not a behavior problem. Your dog is doing a normal, natural function. We just need to teach your dog the right place to do it.

   If a dog is severely punished for an accident, the dog often learns to "hold it" in the presence of the owner - making it much more difficult to housetrain, because as we'll discuss in the next step, we need to communicate to your dog where the right place to eliminate is.

3. When you catch your dog in the act and startle him, as soon as he stops eliminating, you want to quickly put a leash on him and bring him outside. Once outside, you need to wait there with him.

   Some people make the mistake of tying the dog out in the yard or putting the dog in a fenced in area. When house training, it is of critical importance that you be right there to communicate to your dog that they just went in the right place.

4. Train your dog to eliminate on command. This is done by taking your dog outside on leash. As your dog is sniffing the ground, getting ready to go, say "Get busy." Keep repeating this phrase until your dog starts to go. As soon as your dog has finished, quickly reward him.

5. Clean up is important. I like to use Nature's Miracle. It has enzymes that break down the smell of the urine. Any cleaning product made with ammonia will smell like urine to your dog, causing him to come back to the same spot over and over.

Tips & Warnings

• Manage behavior by using a crate, x-pen, and baby gates.

• Keep a very close eye on your dog while going through the housetraining process.

• Catch your dog in the act--not after.

• Reward your dog for going in the right place.

• Teach your dog to go on command.

• Clean up using Nature's Miracle.

• Don't punish your dog after the behavior has occurred.

• Heavy punishment will confuse your dog.

Resources

• Free dog training ebook