Potty Training Your Older Dog

Worried about bringing that newly adopted adult dog home to romp on your carpets and shiny hardwood floors? Set that worry aside and follow these basic steps to potty train your new best friend.

Contrary to what the old wives would have you believe, it is possible to teach an old dog new tricks. A dog is never too old to learn. In fact, it is much easier to potty train an adult dog because his brain is fully developed and he is able to "hold it" for longer periods of time than a puppy. So don't hesitate to adopt that older dog, because the quicker the potty training is completed, the quicker you and your new pal can get to the fun!

The first thing you need to do is pick the word your dog will associate with going to the bathroom outside. Whether it is "potty," "empty," "pee-pee," or any other word of your choosing, this is the one word that will indicate to your dog when and where he is to urinate and defecate. Don't change it. Don't alternate it with other words; that will only confuse your dog and prolong the process. The second word to teach your dog is "inside." When he has completed his duties in the yard, tell him, "Good boy! Let's go inside." Gradually your dog will learn the difference between where he goes to the bathroom ("potty!") and where he and his family live ("inside").

Until your dog is completely trustworthy in the house and able to indicate to you that she needs to potty, you should keep her on a consistent routine. Consistency is key. Take her out first thing in the morning. Take her out immediately after she eats, and then one hour after that. Take her out just before everyone retires for the evening. During the day, how often you take her out can depend on the size of your dog. Smaller breeds such as chihuahuas or toy poodles may need to potty every couple of hours, but larger breeds like German shepherds or golden retrievers will be able to go for longer periods of time. Lavish plenty of praise on your dog when she potties outside. Don't get frustrated if you don't get it exactly right at first; be patient with yourself and your dog.

Everyone makes mistakes.It's going to happen. It has to happen. Your dog will have an accident in your house, and that's okay. This is where the real teaching comes into play. It is important to note that until your dog is trustworthy, he should not have free run of the house. Keep him where you can see him at all times; otherwise he will learn that it's okay to potty in the house as long as you don't catch him! So, keep your eye on him. When you catch him "in the act," stop him immediately with a firm "No!" Never hit your dog. Don't rub his nose in it. The disapproval in your voice is enough. Remember, your dog wants to please you. Next, pick up the mistake your dog has made and take it and your dog outside. Place it on the ground, show it to him and praise him as if he did it outside. Praise him until you feel like an idiot. Then you'll know you've done it right. Then tell him it's time to go "inside." You must do this every time your dog makes a mistake. Again, consistency is key. Dogs learn through repetition.

An all-natural, non-toxic cleaner is best.When you bring your dog back inside, return to where she made the mistake and make sure that you clean it thoroughly so that your dog will not be tempted to mark that same spot again. An all-natural, pet-safe cleaner such as Nature's Miracle is a good choice.

Until your dog has learned to be clean in the house, it is best to keep her in a confined area while you are out. A plastic, easy-to-clean crate is usually the best solution and the best training method. It is important to buy a crate that is just the right size; if it is too small, obviously your dog will be uncomfortable. If it is too large, it will be too easy for your dog to urinate or defecate inside the crate and still be comfortable. Buy a crate that is just big enough for your dog to stand up and turn around in, but does not provide a place to potty (for extremely large dogs, a crate can be quite expensive; a small confined area such as a bathroom may suffice). Dogs do not like to sit in their own filth, so your dog will learn to "hold it" until you get home to take her out. Unless your dog has proven untrustworthy in other ways, such as snacking on the furniture, she should be able to shed her crate in no time and have free run of the house.

Dogs learn by repetition. So do people. So one more time . . . be consistent. Be patient. It will be easier than you think.