How can I train an adopted dog that the vet thinks is a little over a year old.?

Question

We had her spayed and now she's healed. We would like to know how to be sure she associates
"going outside" with going outside to go to the bathroom. She quickly learned to use a doggy door which leads to a porch and fenced-in Run but I'm not sure how often she actually uses that to go to the bathroom. We walk her on the leash at other times. I need suggestions for modifying her behavior and spanking, or yelling at her,is simply not an option that we will consider.

Answer 1

If shes not going in the house then shes going outside. If you find an accident inside carry it to the right area. Watch her and if she starts circling or sniffing the floor a lot its a good indication she needs to go, encourage her to go outside. Once you know shes going out there she will use the door on her own.

Keep her in your sight at all times until you know she can be trusted to go out on her own it's easier to prevent accidents than it is to try to fix them. Crate her when you can not supervise her.

Answer 2

A firm "no!" or "Shasta, no!" is probably all you'll need for negative reinforcement.

You said she's using the doggy door--is she peeing outside? It should be obvious, if she's not doing it inside.

Teaching her the early commands is simple. Dog treats torn into itty bitty chunks or even dry dog food can be used as a treat when the dog performs correctly. "Shasta, sit!" Take out a treat bring it toward the dog's nose only a little higher and she will automatically sit down. "Good girl, Shasta! Good girl!" Reward with treat.

The dog doesn't realize big treat or little treat, just how many rewards she gets. To stay interested, she needs lots of rewards, so keep them small so she doesn't gain weight.

I went to Petsmart and took their six week obedience class for beginners, and it was excellent. My dog was sitting, speaking, laying down and staying on command.

I hope you enjoy your new family member, and thanks for giving a shelter dog a second chance. AND thanks for spaying her. Responsible people such as yourselves make wonderful pet owners.

Take care!
Woof
TX Mom

Answer 3

I strongly recommend crate training until she's completely housebroken. I've used it for many dogs of various ages. It's a gentle method. In my experience it works like a charm, and your dog certainly is not too old to be crate trained.
Just be sure that you are consistent, and that when she does relieve herself outside that you give her LOTS of praise. If you catch her relieving herself inside, be sure to sound disappointed, but no need to yell, and take her promptly outside. Good luck!

I agree with KathyM that clicker training is a wonderful method. While I've not used it for housebreaking, it's a good suggestion. I have had great success with clicker training, and continue to use it with my adult dogs who are doing agility. It's a wonderful method to you when you want to teach your dog a new trick!

Answer 4

Firstly, congratulations on your new dog!

Housetraining can be frustrating but I hope my experiences will help.

Do you have her in training classes at all? If not can I recommend clicker training classes?

I use positive methods only with my dogs, like you, and clicker training has been the best method for us. The good thing about using the clicker method for housetraining is that you put wees and poos on "cue" (ie. teach them to do it when you say). It really works - we had nightmare times with one of our dogs weeing inside until we started clicker work and taught her to do it on command.

Basically, using any form of humane positive only methods with dogs, it all boils down to praising the good and ignoring the bad. A dog gets "paid" for doing well (in the case of clicker training, a click to mark the good behaviour and a treat/play to reinforce it).

If you dog wees/poos in the house, clear it up with no fuss, don't make a big deal of it. When she goes outside, it has to be like she's won the lottery - the huuugest praise, the best game, the yummiest treat, whatever it takes for her to cotton onto the fact that outside is where she goes to the toilet.

It worked a lot quicker for us with the clicker, so I'm going to give you some links for more information on that. As an aside, I've taught a lot of things to my dogs with the clicker, and in every case it's been a lot quicker and easier to train. Even the odd trick (ever seen a 50kg bullmastiff do "rollover" or turn lights on and off? *lol*).

Finally, I want to say how lovely it is to see someone steer clear of "aversive"/punishment methods of training and to decide on positive only methods - it really makes a huge difference to your relationship with your dog and works so much better! Best of luck!

Answer 5

Hi:
The way I have always trained my dogs was thru' repetition & praise. If she is as young as the vet believes than she has many years to learn. Try using a term, (repetitive sound she will learn to recognize) ie: go pee, do your business, etc and when she has accomplished her task then you tell her good girl. I like to take my dog out in the yard and stand there with her until she does void and then we go right back inside. I live up North, (it gets cold in the winter)LOL Good Luck

Answer 6

Glad that you're not interested in physical punishment - it doesn't work, anyway.
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html
I think that walking her on leash is the best way to be sure that she gets reinforced for making the right potty choices! Good luck!

Answer 7

Go to pawpersuasion.com there are several step by step training articles that will assist you with any problems you are having

Answer 8

you housebreak her,,, either by walking her many times a day and praising when she "goes" or by crate training her.... SAME AS ANY OTHER DOG