rain asked:
We recently ( a week ago) took over a rescued 4 yr old border terrier who is really sweet natured but has been kenneled for the past year and does not know the diffrence between inside and out. We have had some success but then everytime we think she has got it, she pees on the floor. We have had paper down near the back door, have praised and treated everytime she goes outside and try not to put her into ’stress’ situations (ie all leaving her at the same time) can we teach and old dog new tricks? HOW!!!
We recently ( a week ago) took over a rescued 4 yr old border terrier who is really sweet natured but has been kenneled for the past year and does not know the diffrence between inside and out. We have had some success but then everytime we think she has got it, she pees on the floor. We have had paper down near the back door, have praised and treated everytime she goes outside and try not to put her into ’stress’ situations (ie all leaving her at the same time) can we teach and old dog new tricks? HOW!!!
She is learning a whole new thing. It will take some time. Go back to puppy basics and take her out everytime she eats, drinks, plays or just wakes up….she has only been with you a week. She has probably been thru a lot. Give it some more time. I believe you can teach an older dog anything, they want to please you they want to make you happy.
Make sure you take her outside regularly for a wee – every hour if you can. Praise her tons when she does and don’t berate her for mishaps. I know you say you are going this already which is great but just keep doing it. To be honest, as you have only had her a week I would imagine she is pretty stressed – you need to give the little girl some time to get settled and learn the rules of her new abode!. Good luck – they are lovely dogs.
You need to purchase a crate that the dog can rest in comfortably. Most dogs will not go to the bathroom where they sleep. If so they will qucikly learn that they do not like sleeping or smelling there own *****. They become very uncomfortable with it being near them.
Do this nightly before your bedtime, and stop allowing food or water to th dog about 7 PM everynight. Then put her in the crate about 10PM. Your dog will not dehydrate or die from no water or food for 8-10 hours every night.
As well dont just let the dog have full run of your home. The dog will go anyplace it wants and you will quickly lose your mind.
Keep her in a laundry room, bathroom with *** pads down. Take her out to the bathroom 30 minutes after you feed her.
You have to be repeat everything you do daily or this will never work.
being kenneled mean its unlikely that she has been toilet trained so you have to teach her..my 2 greys werent toilet trained as they had been in kennels for 5 and 9 years so when they had to go they had to go, it didnt matter where it was, when my first grey came home she was a sod to toilet train it took her 6 months to realise that weewees were done outside , when my male grey came to us he cottoned on straight away and has only had 3 accidents in the house , its time patience and understanding that is needed as the dog needs you to teach him that toilets are done in the garden, i never shouted at mine when the toileted in the house, they knew no different, we got into the habit of letting them out every 15minutes even if they werent looking to go toilet and over time it worked , but my male grey got the hang of it from day one , because your dog is rescue it will take time but the end results are worth it xx
Frikes sends his love.
This puppydog is not or has forgotten he’s been house trained. You need to go back to the basics. And yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks. It was proven on Mythbusters.
Keep a crate and don’t pen her in the kitchen or any other room. Only use the crate when you are unable to watch her but make sure the crate is of the proper size. Crates should just be big enough to allow the dog to stand up, stretch and turn around in. Dogs will not relieve themselves in the area they are sleeping unless they absolutely cannot hold it. Also there should not be anything left in the crate that the puppy can chew such as stuffed animals or blankets. If she does happen to have an accident in the crate these will retain moisture and the mess will be harder for you to clean.
When she is inside and out of the crate you can tether her to you, so that you can watch her closely. This also teaches her to be on a lead and at the same time she can be with you. If you don’t want to tether her then when she’s not crated you have to watch her like a hawk.
To house train her. Take her outside every hour or so. Tell her Outside in an exuberant and happy voice. Take her to where you want her to go, put the lead on her a tell her Go *** watch her and when she goes praise her profusely. Something like Good Girl, Go *** and make sure you pet her at the same time. Take her back inside, into the crate, tethered or just watching her. She will have accidents and (You have to catch her in the act) when she does, show her what she did and say in a stern low voice No potty. It’s not what you are saying that gets her attention it’s how you say it. Take her outside as above and say Go ***. She likely won’t because she just went in the house. Stay outside for a few minutes and bring her back in. If training is consistent it should take no longer than 10-14 days. After she starts getting the idea you need to teach her how to get your attention when she needs to go out.
I also took in a dog from a shelter. The best thing I found to work for her is taking her out after every nap, Confining her to a small, small, area when you are unable to watch her every move (dogs do not like to lay or sleep in an area they have gone) and taking her out about every 30-40 min. after she/he does the deed reward with a small treat immediately. I would give it at least another 3-4 wks before she realizes how it works. If your still having problems you might want to bring her back to the vet. and see if other problems exist such as small bladder or urinary track infection.
hope this helps. good luck!
Keep watching her for about a month. It is a learning process for both of you. She has to learn where to go, and you have to learn when she is telling you that she has to go… She might whine, sniff, or just glance at you… But it will soon be clear.
Also, notice if she goes to the same spot on the floor. Even tho that is a pain, it is a good sign, if she does… That means she knows what she wants to do, she just doesn’t understand yet.
When you clean the floor… Do NOT use ammonia, because it smells like urine. You can use Soap and Water with a vinegar rinse, or you can try one of the pet stain removers from the pet store. The important point is to remove the smell.
Similar thing with the paper, Take up the paper and clean the area well…but save a tiny piece of soiled paper and take it outside to her toilet area…. and try to lead her to that area when she needs to go.
Another side thing that may help is to take her on 30 min. walks twice a day, and one 10 -15 min walk just before bed. Once she understands the consistent times (and dogs can tell time), then she may hold it.
Above all be patient for another few weeks. I’m fairly sure that she will learn after about two weeks… But give both of you time to understand each other…. And you can teach an old dog new tricks…
You need to give her longer than aweek….Shelter dogs are use to going on the floor and not grass. At the shelter I volunteer at, big dogs are let out into the yard part of the kennel they are in about 3 times a day. So they have to hold(if they can) for a very long time. Then at night they are inside only from 7 pm at night until at least 8-9 am the next morning, so if they really have to go, it is on the floor. They really don’t get much outside time at all at our shelter unless someone takes them out on walks. Maybe you should leave or go outside with the dog for longer periods of time, so that they can start relieving themselves outside, get use to it, leave their scent and want to go out there to do their business. You have to figure this dog has virtually no life for about a year…and who knows what kind of life it came from. Get her on a routine. Take her out every hour, during the day when you can and right after she eats or drinks water. You can also try and crate train her, that teaches a dog to hold it longer and then put her outside as soon as she is let out of the crate….don’t give up!!!!
First, thanks for rescuing a dog!!
Second, you have to start over. It will take time, but it’s the only way.
Try to supervise her whenever she’s free in your home. Otherwise, crate her and increase her time out of the crate when she’s showing signs of improvement.
Also, the paper may be sending her mixed signals, so remove it. No going potty in the house, period, ya know?
Continue positive reinforcements and be patient.
Remember you just got her. It’s only been a week and a week is not a long time for a dog who has been couped up in a kennel for quite some time. She’s unsure and you need to reassure her that she’s home.
G’luck.
Its still very early days with this poor thing….you will have to be patient. Even with a new pup, it takes a couple of weeks before he learns to ‘go’ outside. carry on with what you’re doing…she will soon pick it up. You can buy a spray from Your petstore…you just spray it where you want your dog to do its business….it will soon learn to go back to this space regularly…stick with it….you’ll soon get there.
PDF file
Leaflet from the blue cross about how to house train an older ADULT dog.
i worked in a kennels and rescued 2 golden retrievers they are now 12 year old the thing is this is all they know as they eat sleep and do there toilet all in the same place in there kennel. It will get better i can assure you it is only early days yet.If you have a garden and it is secure open the door as much as possible let the dog go out on its own, it will get used to just popping out and will stand at the door when it is closed as that will be what it knows where to go to wee