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How To Deal With Dog Behavior Problems and Obedience Training
Housetraining Your Older Dog
Housetraining and Potty Training Tips to Help Your Older Dog
Learn Not to Soil in Your House
If you have an older dog that you may have adopted from a rescue shelter, for example,
you may have to start at square one with housebreaking. Depending
on the background of your new family member they may not have
had any training whatsoever.
If they are new to your household there are several factors that
may influence how quickly they can progress with housetraining.
You will need to spend time with your dog to build a bond. They
have to learn to trust you. This may not be easy for dogs who
have been abused in the past. They may be nervous and unsettled
in their new environment. Give them the time they need to adjust.
Be positive and loving and they will come around and understand
that you are their friend.
Your dog may also be adjusting to different food than they are
used to. This can wreak havoc with their digestive system resulting
in diarrhea. If this is the case you can blame them for accidents,
they can't help it. They will adjust to the new menu soon. Maintain
regular meal times and limit snacks. Rather than treats during
training give them extra praise instead.
If you haven't already, take them to the vet for a thorough check-up.
Make sure there aren't any medical reasons your dog is soiling
in the house.
Things like parasites and worms or urinary tract infections could
be to blame.
With an older dog they may have had a few years to learn bad
habits.
You will have to be extra patient and extra persistent. Once
your dog begins to see you as their friend and they want to please
you they will respond to your housetraining.
As with puppies, be sure to keep it positive and playful and
leave the anger and abuse out of it, especially for rescue
Aussies who have already suffered maltreatment in the past.
Crate training may be a good option for older dogs as it may
be more difficult to keep them in an enclosed area the way you
can with puppies. This may take time as your dog will need time
to get used to the crate. Don't force them as that would be counterproductive.
You can read more about crate training
here.
With housetraining be attentive to your dog's needs, be consistent,
use lots of repetition and reward success with enthusiastic praise.
With a little time and patience your older Aussie can learn where
it is and where it is not appropriate to go.
For further reading:
Crate Training
Housebreaking Your Puppy
See Also:
House
Break Your Dog >
Free Help from the Experts. How To Articles. Or, Ask a Behaviorist!
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