Any advice gratefully received. Adopting 3yr old cocker spaniel not housetrained

[retainertrainer]

We’ve applied to adopt a 3 year old cocker who’s come from a breeder. She’s never lived in a house before. The info says she’s quiet but confident and generally a happy girl. Very early days and obviously we might not be suitable for her but I’m slightly worried about the housetraining.

I’ve got lots of research to do but thought I’d start here first.

Any tips/advice? Can older dogs eventually be completely housetrained?

[House4]

Congratulations! Google and you tube are your friend here! But yes you absolutely can teach an 'older' dog new tricks. It will take lots of patience and love though.
Will you be home all day? Leave the garden door open as much as possible. Lots of walks. Lots of rewards when successful. Not too much telling off when done indoors. Positive positive positive. Good luck

[retainertrainer]

Thankyou. I hope our application is successful she’s a beautiful girl and our son would love a dog, we’re all very hopeful!

I work part time but I come home for lunch so she’d be alone from 10-12 and then 1-4 one day per week and from 10-12 for 2 days and then the rest of the week I’m home or my parents are here. My husband can do the early morning and evening shifts with her.

This might not be enough though, we’ll just have to see what the shelter says. I really haven’t got much info on her at all, just a paragraph.

Breaks my heart to think that these breeders just ditch them when they can’t make anymore money out of them.

[retainertrainer]

She’s never even been walked!

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Ok well first you’ll need to take a few weeks off so that you can be there to let her out. She might not have got into the habit of holding it if she’s not house trained and might go little and often like a puppy. Being out of the house for five hours is not going to work, she’s going to keep going in the house when you’re not there and you’ll struggle to teach her otherwise. We cracked it in about a month with my boy which I thought was good going! Good luck. Lots of pics when she’s home!

[retainertrainer]

Oh dear, I can’t take any time off work. My parents could dog sit one day a week but there’d still be that one day where she’s on her own 10-12 and 1-4. I’ll have to just let the shelter decide if that’s good enough.

[fivedogstofeed]

I've honestly had many foster dogs who had never lived inside but have been reliably housetrained in a couple of days.
When the dog arrives you need to show her around and go in and out of the door you want her to use most so that she knows how to get to the garden. As with a puppy, you go outside with her, wait for her to toilet and the give loads of praise. Inside you keep an eye for signs she needs to go - sniffing, circling,etc and quickly go outside. If she has an accident inside you make no comment and just clean it up.
Even dogs who have spent their lives kennelled don't naturally want to toilet near their bed or food.

[CMOTDibbler]

I don't think it will be a problem - its a matter of patience, being in and out the door with her a zillion times a day and always being there with her to praise her when she goes outside (ie, don't just open the door and leave her to get on with it)

[Veterinari]

I’d be far more concerned that a bitch who’s been used soley for breeding, had no basic training, socialisation or walking is going to have a host of potential health and behavioural issues. What kind of ‘breder’ treats their dogs like this - a puppy farmer.

Why is this ‘breeder’ Rehoming and how much is she charging you? Please think carefully about this OP, a dog who has been isolated from the world is likely to have a lot of issues and struggle more than a normal dog to cope with children/traffic or other stressors.

[retainertrainer]

Vet-she’s in a rescue centre, I’m not ‘buying’ her from a breeder. They’ve assessed her behaviour,health etc and she’s now ready for adoption.

Unfortunately we were too late with our application and she’s been reserved but we’ll keep looking. Thankyou for all the replies and reassurance.

[Honeyroar]

That's a shame. I hope you find another dog to rescue.

Just for reference for other people, it's quite easy to housetrain an adult dog - same as a puppy apart from the adult has more bladder control. Just keep taking them out regularly, make a fuss of them when they go outside etc. They soon learn.

[Veterinari]

Ok that makes more sense - thanks OP, it’s good she’s been properly assessed. Good luck with finding the right pup