Potty training tips for older dogs?
Question by chitownlifer: Potty training tips for older dogs?
I picked up a 3 yr old Terrier from a rescue shelter about a month ago. Hadn’t had and problems until today. My dog seemed to be potty trained and I found no evidence of misbehaving while he was left alone. He sometimes whines by the door when he needs to go out. So today I took him out as usual for a walk and he pooped and pee’d….. So then i had to go out for about an hour and when I returned I found that he pooped twice in the house. Now I am starting to wonder if he may have pee’d in the house on any other occasions. How do you really know for sure? And what should my reaction have been when I returned home? Should I have disciplined him some how? And now what do I do? Any tips ?
Best answer:
Answer by hershey_bear34
You never discipline a dog after the fact!! you have to catch him in the act! He might have just pooped because he was mad that you left. the only way to find out if he’s been peeing anywhere is either it starts to smell like pee or he sniffs in certain areas all the time, and obviously if you catch him doing it. Try crating him.
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Walking was the best thing we could do- we took in a stray Jack Russell and he was 10 years old, never house broken.
Get him on a poop schedule- walk him in the morning and after his dinner.
Can’t discipline him yet, he doesn’t know the rules and he had to go!
It could be an isolated accident- we have all had them!
Give him more time and just scoop up the poop and put it outside so he knows where it does. Always pick it up, place it outside and show him in a positive manner that your happy the poop is outside!
Excessive stool production could be an indication of illness. If he keeps pooping so often for the next day or two, take him to the vet (or sooner if you notice other problems, such as not eating or being lethargic).
Punishment after the fact doesn’t work, so don’t bother.
Could this be a symptom of separation anxiety? Here’s some more info on the disorder and how to handle it: http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/sep-anxiety.pdf.
If not, crate him when he is alone in order to prevent accidents.