My Dog Needs Help!?

Question

I have just received a cocker spaniel she is almost 7 years old. She was kept in a kennel her whole life and used for breeding. Is there any way to house break her at this age or teach her that it is ok to play? She is a very active dog and loves to go outside and walk but I can not get her to do number 2 outside. I am at my whits end with her. my husband loves her and does not want to have to get rid of her but I am the one home all the time with her and have to clean up after her. I am not sure what to do. I am scared my kitten will pick up on the scent and quit using her litter box. What do I do?

Answer 1

There are a lot of females who don't like to be watched, but you can overcome this.

What you need to do is keep her in the room with you while you're training so you can keep an eye on her. She'll give signals when she needs to go, though they can be very subtle so you have to learn to read hers. Take her out if she's looking restless, or like she's looking for somewhere to go. You need to go out with her, tell her "go pee" or whatever words you want, and the very second she goes, give her lots and lots of praise, then come back in. This way she learns to differentiate play time outside with potty time outside.

Dogs learn very quickly through positive reinforcement and this way you're not giving her the chance to make a mistake. You have to be watchful and the key is to give her a lot of praise for doing it right.

I imagine it's going to take this poor girl some time to build up a trusting relationship, but she will and this will help. Teaching her to play may take some time but you can do that to. She would probably learn to play with a ball, she might also like a stuffed toy. Just show her a lot of love and patience, and for the times you're not home, you'll need to put her in a crate, at least until you've got her trained.

Answer 2

Wow! I really commend you for giving this animal a good home! At seven years old, I think you know you have your work cut out for you! I recommend using a crate. I know you may not want to, since the dog has already been treated so badly. But, honestly a crate can make the dog feel more secure. In a kennel, the cage would have been big enough for the dog to poop at one end, and lay in another. So get a crate that is only big enough for the dog to stand up and lay down. She will not poop where she has to lay! You are going to have to commit yourself to many long walks with this dog, so that when she finally DOES do her business outside, you can give her alot of praise! Cockers are such a popular breed, that sometimes they can be victims of in-breeding, which does not always make for a very smart dog! As far as doing her business in the house, remember, unless you catch her in the act, she will have no idea why you are upset with her. Be patient! Good luck! let us know how she's doing!

Answer 3

It's good you gave her a home, but taking on an abused animal is a lot of work, and you should have known that going into it.

Buy some nature's miracle, or similar product, available at most pet stores. This will eliminate the smell, without using bleach. (it has a pleasant mint scent)

Old dogs can be taught new tricks, it will take time, patience, and hard work.

Useful tips for puppies and adult dogs.

Designate the area you would like your dog to eliminate in.
Do not give your puppy food or water unless you are available to take him/her out immediately afterwards. You may want to limit water while you are potty training. Be smart about. Don't dehydrate your puppy just don't make it available all the time.
Keep the potty with you at all times. It is very important to avoid accidents at the puppy stage. It's a puppy fact that when they wonder they wiz! Don't let them out of your sight.
When they have an accident just ignore it. Never yell or use physical punishment. Any attention you give the puppy will work against you. Clean it up quietly. Spray something on the spot to cover any scent that may inspire a repeat offense.
Use a specific command before, during and after your puppy eliminates. This will help a great deal when it's cold outside or in any other circumstance that requires the dog to go on command.
When you take your dog outside to potty have a purpose and don't let it become playtime.
Praise! Praise! Praise!
Try and create a space for your dog that is close to the family. It may not always be the best thing to give a dog full run of the house.
Adult dogs that are not trustworthy can be leashed to your bed post. If they need to go in the middle of the night they will wake you with the pull and you will avoid unwanted accidents while you sleep.
Allow them to sniff around a little after they go to the bathroom outside.
If you are not crate training a old baby play pin comes in handy for night time because they will most likely wake you up with a whimper or scratch before they go.
Make sure and take the night shift. You will have your puppy trained much faster if you commit to taking him/her outside even if they cry in the middle of the night. Teach them right away that under no circumstances do they go in the house.
A puppy is usually unable to control their bladder and bowel movements until they are 8 weeks.
Don't give an adult dog water or food after 7pm.

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Answer 4

I think you might have to do what i do. I have those potty pads and i keep my dog locked up in a large gate all day. She has a lot of room to play in there. She is a pom about 7lbs.
When i got her i was working a lot and so was my husband and we didn't potty train her. Also we had big gaps in out fence and she could get out if we didn't watch her the whole time. Well, shes 2 and 1/2 now and she has learned to go on the potty pad real well. I just keep har locked up while were gone and when we get home i unlatch the gate and let her out. But i leave it open so she'll poop and pee in there on the pad. She's really good about that. If she has an accident i spank her and tell her no. She's gotten a lot better and RARELY has an accident. Only when she cant get into the gate to get to her pad.
you can get them at WalMart for 6.50 for aboout 32 pads. So they last about a month.

Answer 5

It is possible to house break her but at that age it will take a LOT of patience and time. Treat her as if she was a puppy. Take her out on a leash after she eats and every 2 hours to get her use to the outside and what it is for. praise her like crazy when she goes outside. if you catch her in the act of going to the bathroom inside the house tell her "NO". the more human contact the better.

i wouldn't worry about you cat getting untrained to the litterbox.

make sure you completely clean the areas inside the house where the dog is going to the bathroom.

tell your husband to help you out too!!!

Answer 6

You may be able to train her but it's going to take a lot of work on your part. At night, take her out to pee or poop before bedtime. Put her in her kennel for the night so that she cannot roam around the house all night peeing and pooping... she will hold it while she is in her kennel. First thing in the morning, take her out of her kennel and outdoors to let her do her business. Then throughout the day, take her outside every hour or sooner. During the day put a piece of newspaper on a floor that you can mop. When you see her going for the newspaper, get her outside quick! If she does poop in the house, get her to smell the poop. Then take her and the poop outside. Have her smell the poop again. This tells her where you want her to go when she needs to pee or poop. Good luck.

Answer 7

Hmm 7 years of pooping inside, thats gonna take alot of time and effort to change, be patient with the dog, she was trained a certain way most of her life and teaching her otherwise will require alot of patience. if it is seriously an issue then talk to your vet and they can give you tips. I wouldnt worry too much about the cat unless her and the dog are competitive. the dog should a adjust in a few months but a few months is along time to clean up dog crap. Good luck!

Answer 8

Consistancy is the key. Do not let her back inside the house untill she does her business outside. Praise her, love her, and treat her when she does do good. Dont worry about your kitten, it should still use the litter box. There are some good deodorizers for carpets and such for pet stains. Just remember to love her, be firm, and be consistant.

Answer 9

How wonderful that you have chosen to rescue this dog from what sounds like a classic puppy mill situation! Dogs raised in that type of enviropnment have not learned to be housebroken, and often, they have actually learned the opposite: potty in your own space, a concept foreign to most dogs who desire to be clean in their space.

Crating this type of dog will often have no effect as it simply does not bother them to be dirty, it's how they have been living. Two things to try:
1) keep the dog leashed and attached to you while going about your routine in the house. This prevents the dog from leaving you to go potty elsewhere in the house. You will be able to see when the dog acts like it needs to go out and take her to the desired spot to potty. When she acts like she has to "go", ask excitedly "Do you have to go out?" or whatever you want to say as a cue, as you take her outside.
2) use an old show dog trick to get her to do "#2" outside. Take 2 old fashioned book matches and wet the tips in your mouth with saliva. Stick the matches into her anus when you are at the outdoor potty spot. The sulpher in the matches irritates just enough that the dog will want to eliminate to relieve the discomfort, but is otherwise harmless. When she goes in the right spot outside (in just a few minutes at most) PRAISE and make a big fuss over her doing it in the right place!

With a 7 year old dog, the whole process may take some time, but the combination of keeping her with you, cuing the "I have to go out" behavior, and using matches to get her to potty outside should work in relatively short order. Good luck!

Answer 10

You have just saved a dog from a truely awful life. As a puppy mill dog, her whole life was puppies. She spent her whole life confined to a small box, was never given anything to play with and never housebroken. She never experienced a normal life with choices, fun or love. It is going to take time and patience to bring her around. I would suggest contacting a local puppy mill rescue group or a pet behaviorist in your area (your vet should have the info on them) to get suggestions on what to do to help her acclimate. Given time, love and support in the end you will end up with a dog who loves you and knows she has finally gotten to have a good life!