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Rescue Dog House Training for Older Dogs Too
So you’ve gone to a rescue shelter and adopted a doggo waiting for her furrever home.
Congratulations! Adopting a rescue dog is a marvelous thing to do. You might know a lot of your canine’s history, or nothing at all. One immediate hurdle you’ll have to cross with your new friend is house training.
House training for older dogs can be very nuanced. Your pet might have had incomplete house training, almost none at all, or you may not have any issues.
Be sure to observe your pet closely in those first few days to get a sense of the level of training you’ll need to implement.
Determining the cause if your dog won’t pee outside
If your rescue is eliminating waste inside the house, and it can be stressful and irritating. It’s important to try and figure out why she won’t pee outside as best you can. It could be as simple as your pup disliking poor weather!
Pay attention to the condition of the waste
If stools are loose, you’ll know it’s due to her stomach being upset and this is definitely a job for your local veterinarian if it persists. Consider if you’ve changed her food recently (or if she’s eating a different kind than she ate at the shelter) or if she recently got into the garbage bin.
She also might be anxious
If there’s been a large upheaval in her life (like coming home to a strange environment) and she is urinating in inappropriate places this may be what’s causing it.
Tips to help with house training you rescue dog
Firstly, consider that you have the power to determine where you’d like your pet to do her business. If it’s the backyard, front yard or what have you. Be sure to choose a good spot, and take her there every day at the same time.
Consistency and Rewarding
Not only is consistency important, but a reward system is important too. Offer a treat and/or a kind word of praise each time she goes in her designated spot. She will learn to associate the act with the positive feeling.
Signs That Your Dog Needs to Go Potty
Be aware of signs that she needs to pee or poop. Spinning, pacing, staring, huffing, and wandering off into another area are big red flags.
If you can’t be around her all the time, you can also use a crate with clean blankets and close the door. Be sure to give her some time to stretch her legs and walk around after you take her outside.
House Training Tips for Your Rescue Dog Older or Young
If you happen to catch her red handed, clap your hands loudly or gently stomp your foot on the floor. This is not done to scare the dog, but to distract her long enough to stop soiling.
When this happens, take her outside with haste so she can finish what she started, but in the right spot! Be sure to give her a treat and relate the positive feelings she gets with eliminating outdoors.
Patience Wins When Housetraining a Rescue Dog
It’s all about patience It won’t happen overnight, but if your new friend needs some house training tweaks, it will come. However, in order for her to achieve this there has to be consistency, a solid reward system, and patience.
Punishment Doesn’t Work for Housetraining a Dog
Avoid yelling or punishing the dog. Often they won’t associate the punishment with the crime, and will become fearful. This erodes the trust you’re building — particularly as a rescue owner and will likely just cause her to find a more private spot in the home to eliminate waste.
Concluding House Training a Rescue Dog
House training is part of the learning process and will build a bond between you and the dog that you cared enough to rescue. Patience, positive reinforcement and practise will allow her to be the dog she is meant to be!