House Training Older Dogs
Odor EliminatorMost people have questions about house training a puppy. But what if you bring home an older dog and realize that he is not yet house trained? Can he be taught new habits at his age? The answer is 'Yes'. Even old dogs can be trained many things, as long as you remain patient and use the right training technique.
Before you start
There are a couple of things you should do before you start house training an older dog. First, he needs to have a complete veterinary check up to make sure that he doesn't suffer from urinary tract infections or other medical problems.
The other thing you should do when getting a new dog is find out which dog food and eating regime is best for him. Many dogs suffer from diarrhea when they are changing diet or going through a stressful time (like moving into a new home). If your dog has diarrhea, you should take him outside as many times as possible and wait until the diarrhea is over before you try to house train him.
Basic house training principles
When you are ready to start house training your dog, you first need to establish 2 things: his toilet area and his living area.
His living area is a place where your dog sleeps, eats, plays, and generally spends time in. The dog will consider his living area his den. Since dogs are naturally clean animals, they try not to soil their den and prefer to eliminate outside its borders.
Clearly determining toilet area is essential, especially when you are starting house training. You should always take your dog to the same specific place when you want him to eliminate. This might be a spot inside your garden or the local park, or a pet toilet that you keep inside your apartment (this kind of dog toilet is only suitable for smaller breeds).
The next thing you should create is his new toilet regime. Take him outside first thing in the morning, after every meal and before you go to bed in the evening. Try to feed your dog at approximately at the same times every day.
Each time your dog eliminates where you want him to, you should reward him and act excited and happy. When the dog eliminates in the house, say 'No' with a firm voice. It will not take long for your dog to understand what you expect of him. If accidents happen, neutralize the odor with water, mixed with white vinegar, or commercial pet-odor eliminator.
Special considerations when house training older dogs
You have to keep in mind that it might take some time to teach your older dog new habits and break the old ones. You should never use violence; this would only get your dog confused and scarred and prolong the learning process. If your dog has any medical problems, you should always take them into account.
When house training a puppy, many people use food as a reward. With older dogs it is best if you reward them only with praise and petting. The reason for this is that older dogs gain weight much more easily, so you should be careful how much food they consume.
It might take some patience and humor to get through the first days together, but it is well worth the effort. Remember, your dog will do anything to fulfill your expectations; you just need to express them in a way he can understand. And once the initial trying period is over, you will have a true companion and friend for life.
If you want to learn more about house training, I suggest you read the House Training Guide by Kingdom of Pets. You might also want to check out the Dog Lovers Universe Mega Pack where you will find everything you need to know to have a happy and healthy dog.