Potty Training
Most dogs in shelters are not fully housetrained, and the idea of housetraining an adult dog from scratch can be daunting. In reality, correct use of the crate and tether will drastically cut down on accidents your dog is able to have in your home. Here are some other useful tips to get you and your dog on the right track:
Dog Proof: If you have to work, and there is no one else who can let your dog out, please don’t leave your dog in a crate all day. Set up a dog-safe room (bathrooms and laundry rooms with closing doors are great places for this) where there are no items your dog can harm himself on or destroy. Preferably, this room will have an easy-to-clean floor. Small spaces are less effective for housebreaking than crates are, so try to work out a solution with the crate if possible. •
Take your dog out: Despite popular belief, dogs do not inherently know that “outside” = potty area. In fact, dogs who have had no real introduction to housetraining before will often spend a lot of time poking around, sniffing and exploring instead of using the opportunity to go potty. Accompanying your dog on his bathroom breaks (on leash) will allow you to make certain that he is relieving himself.
Pick a spot: Choose one spot in your backyard (or outside your door, if you don’t have a yard) to designate as the “bathroom spot.” Continually take your dog to this spot and give him the chance to go potty. If he is able to smell his scent in this area, he is more likely to potty there in the future.
Reward: When your dog does go to the bathroom in this area, reinforce this behavior by giving him a high value reward – praise, treats, or a favorite toy. This will teach your dog that going to the bathroom outside is a lot of fun, and he is more likely to repeat this behavior in the future. On the opposite end of the spectrum, when he has an accident in the house, IGNORE IT. Dogs cannot make the connection between what happened just now, and what happened five seconds ago. Yelling, swatting, or other punishments will just confuse your dog and make him afraid to go to the bathroom in front of you (which is a step backwards for house training). Dogs who have been punished for going to the bathroom in the house will frequently hide their business in remote places inside the house to avoid punishment.
Good timing: Take your new dog out frequently, and make sure to give him potty breaks after play sessions, naps, and meals. These are times when a dog’s need to “go” are stimulated. Also, be sure to feed your dog at regular times. The more on-schedule a dog’s feedings are, the more reliable his “output” times will be!
BE CONSISTENT. We can’t say this enough! The more consistent you are able to be, the more quickly your dog will learn. Stick with your training plan for housebreaking, and don’t be too anxious to let him off the leash in the house – wait until good habits are established and he is going potty outside on a regular basis.