Training adult dogs can sometimes be even harder than training a puppy… and especially if your adult dog has never been properly potty trained. Maybe you got your dog from a rescue shelter, so they aren’t familiar with how to use the bathroom outside. Or maybe your dog had a difficult and abusive past, so they were never properly taught to go potty outside.
Whatever it is, before you begin training your dog to go to the bathroom, you need to determine two things:
- The soiling issue isn’t because of a medical problem.
- Your dog having accidents isn’t a behavioral issue.
If you think that the issue may be from one of those factors, reach out to your vet for next steps. Your vet can guide you through any medical issues, or can even refer you to a canine professional if soiling is linked to a behavioral issue.
If you don’t think it’s either of those issues, keep reading for some housebreaking tips!
1. Use scheduled, consistent feedings.
Try feeding your dog at the same time every day and take their bowl away between meals. This will reduce the chance of them having accidents.
2. Have scheduled, consistent “elimination” times.
Fully trained dogs should typically be let out to go to the bathroom around four times a day, but if your dog isn’t trained yet, you may need to let them out more. Try taking your dog to the same area in your yard to do his or her business — consistency is key!
3. Make sure to reward good behavior.
When your pup does his or her business outside, reward them with a treat or praise to encourage good behavior!
4. Don’t punish bad behavior.
The last thing you want is for your dog to be afraid of you. If your dog starts going potty in the house, clap loudly to startle them out of what they are doing. Then quickly take them outside so they can finish doing their business there. Don’t punish and don’t scare your dog! Remember to be patient and kind — it can take time for your dog to learn from his or her mistakes.
5. Watch your dog closely for signs of if they need to go to the bathroom.
Some dogs give clear signs for when they need to go to the bathroom, while others don’t. To prevent any accidents, make sure to watch your dog closely and look out for any signs of them needing to go to the bathroom. Some signs may include pacing, scratching at the door, or whining.
6. Clean up any messes!
Unfortunately, accidents are inevitable if your dog isn’t fully trained to go to the bathroom. Make sure to engage in deep cleaning wherever your dog has gone to the bathroom in your house — scrub, scrub, scrub!
Hope these tips help! Remember to be patient, and good luck!
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