Housetraining an adult dog

[crazycatgal]

I'm rehoming an intact male dog who has spent most of his life living in a kennel but has lived in a house when he was younger.

We brought him around to visit our house before he comes to live with us and he cocked his leg on a rug in the kitchen.

Does anyone have any tips for toilet training an adult dog? He will be being neutered after a few weeks.

[villainousbroodmare]

Neuter immediately, or ideally before you take delivery, and otherwise exactly as with a puppy except that you will have a harder time as his "capacity" is greater so fewer chances to reward for appropriate elimination. My top tip is to keep him in one or two rooms initially and strictly prevent his access to the rest of the house until you are winning. The more things he pees on, the more things he will want to return to pee on iykwim.

[BiteyShark]

I would treat like a puppy but take for many walks and give a 'command' when he goes and praise. Then take out lots into the garden when you think he is likely to go (after waking, dinner, drink etc) and again praise.

Buy some special cleaner for any accidents.

[fivedogstofeed]

Exactly the same as a puppy. Make sure he knows which door you want him to use by going in and out a few times. Give loads of praise when he goes outside and if he tries to lift his leg in the house go straight out with as little comment as possible.
He will get it really quickly :)

[Honeyroar]

I agree, exactly the same as a puppy, except that I find it easier as the dog can hold its bladder better once it gets used to what you want. Take them out regularly and praise when they go outside.

[Hoosh]

Get some Simple Solution in for any accidents. It's the only thing I've found that works - not only for cleaning up any mess to human-nose standards, but also to dog-nose standards to stop them from peeing in the same place again.

My dog (ex racing greyhound) had never set foot in a house before I got her when she was 3.5. She'd lived in racing kennels her whole life. We had a few accidents (mostly my fault if I'm honest, for not paying close enough attention) but as PPs have said, I treated her like you would a puppy and she cottoned on incredibly quickly - was asking to go out by the end of the first day.

[Isitwinteryet]

We rehome a 3 year old greyhound that had only ever been in a kennel, took him a week. We put him outside pretty much every hour and praised like mad if he did anything. If he messed in the house we just out hum outside and repeated.

[crazycatgal]

Thanks for the tips everyone.

He's coming home in a week and a half and I can't wait for him to join the family.

[OhWotIsItThisTime]

My dog was 10 months and not housetrained when I got him. It took a while, but tons of praise when he got it slowly did the trick. As did borrowing a dog that went on command.