How to House Train a 3 Year Old Dog

House training a 3 year old dog can be a challenge, especially if the dog has never been an inside pet. The challenge will be to your patience; often older dogs rebel slightly to show dominance. Tackle these training sessions just as you would with any puppy, don't give up. Repetition and persistence is the key to house training a 3 year old dog.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog collar
• Leash
• Timer
• Patience
• Persistence

1. 

   Take the dog for a walk immediately after coming in the house. Come in, greet everyone in the house, then go right outside or for a walk. Often the excitement of being in a new place will stimulate a dog to go to the bathroom. The trick is to 'catch' the dog doing the right thing, going potty outside.

2. 

   Make a big deal and praise the dog when successful. Don't scare the pet, make happy sounds.

3. Go inside and set a timer for about an hour. This will remind you to take the dog out. You may think you won't need a timer, but it makes it much more consistent. At this point outside should be for house training only, no play time. Play inside as much as you want, dogs usually won't go to the bathroom if they are not bored.

4. Watch for warning signs like: circling, sniffing or whining. Take the pet out immediately if it shows any of these signs.

5. Repeat steps 1-4. Every dog is different, as is every trainer. The dog will understand faster if there is a strict schedule and consistent routines. Don't give up, this may take several days. If you can take a 24 hour approach, take the dog out every hour or two for 24 hours straight, you may get quicker results.

6. Crate train an older dog during house training. Most older dogs do not like to be in a mess, so this helps in house training as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Dogs at this age are agile and want to learn how to please their master.
• If you are bringing a new pet home or trying to house train an outside older pet, consistency will be the key. Pay attention to the signs of 'potty time'. If a dog wanders off sniffing, or if it starts to circle when sniffing, something is about to happen.
• Take a few days off work if possible to really get a schedule set.
• Intact male dogs may be harder to house train by the age of 3 years. They are at their sexual peek, so marking is an instinctual need for them. Neutering may not help marking problems, as most of their behavioral habits have set in.