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Housetraining an adult dog

5 replies

Motorina · 02/04/2023 18:04

Any advice on housetraining an adult dog, please? Normally I'd treat jus tlike a puppy, crate whilst not watched, and take out often. The issue is she's an ex-puppy farm bitch and thinks the crate is just the BEST place to pee.

I'm a week in, seeing no progress and, to be honest, it's getting on top of me rather.

Help?

OP posts:
iwantawisteriathisyear · 02/04/2023 18:13

I had a rescue dog from a puppy farm. She was about 4 years old when we got her.
She did wee and poo in her crate for the first few weeks. We just ignored it and took her out into the garden regularly. She soon got the hang of it.
Getting her was the best thing we ever did. She was the most wonderful dog and I miss her more than I can say.
May I ask you where you got your dog as I would love to rescue another one?

peppermintteagirl · 03/04/2023 09:00

Can you put her in a puppy pen when you can't watch her instead of a crate?

I think you need to prepare yourself for a long haul if she's been peeing whenever she wants for years. A week is a very short time...

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 03/04/2023 15:58

Personally, I wouldn't use a crate at all if that's where she's used to peeing. It will be almost impossible to break that association after so many years.

I would keep her tethered to you at all times and whenever she shows any sign of needing to go, take her out - as well as after meals, naps, treats/chews, play, training etc.

Lots of praise/treats when she gets it right and ignore it when she gets it wrong.

Sarvanga38 · 03/04/2023 16:05

Likely to be a long haul, but associate a command with wee and a separate command with poo, treat and fuss gently when she achieves it in the right place, and have patience.

Usual puppy rules of out as soon as she's woken, eaten, played. Hopefully she'll get the hang of it quickly.

SirSniffsAlot · 03/04/2023 16:15

It's not reasonable to expect to see progress in a week, to be honest.

She has had years of developing the habit to pee inside and now needs time and encouragement to unlearn that habit and form a new one. And much like humans learning new languages, it's a lot easier and quicker to learn them when you are young. If you have a toilet trained adult within 3 months, you will be doing very well.

Treat her exactly as you would a puppy.

Take her outside every 30-60mins and immediately after she has eaten, slept or drunk. Wait until she pees/poos and then praise her and bring her in. Also watch her closely for signs she might need to go any other time. For example, when she looks like she is going to her crate.

If she doesn't pee within 10 mins of getting outside, then bring her in and try again in about half an hour.

If she does pee in her crate than simply clean it up with absolute neutrality - so no sighing, swearing, being upset etc. Not that I am saying you are now, but any sense that you are upset will risk her not advancing as quickly as she could or the development of other problems. And use an enzyme cleaner.

Personally, I also agree with pp, I'd be attempting to do away with the crate altogether if it proves a sticking point wrt to her toilet training. If you must use a crate then you may have to accept that this will, inevitably, lengthen the time it takes for her to learn to toilet outside - because she will be getting regular chances to 'practise' peeing in her crate.

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