Ask the Trainer: My Dog Goes Potty Indoors!
July 10, 2011 by Paris Permenter and John Bigley
Filed under Ask the Dog Trainer, Tips, Training
Hi Alecia,
About a year and a half ago we added Bo to our family. He is a rescue dog and was 8 when we adopted him. He is such a blessing and brings so much joy to us but he still struggles with learning to not go to the bathroom inside the house (both #1 and #2). When we first got him, my husband and I would reward him with a treat after he would go #1 or #2 outside and tell him “good boy! Good potty!” After not having any accidents inside for a couple weeks, we stopped giving treats but would still give him verbal praise. It seems we are now back to where we started. If he has to go, he doesn’t see it as a problem to walk in the kitchen and just go there! He has to sleep on a leash at night otherwise every night he would go downstairs as he pleases to do his business. What should we do? He is half Pembroke welsh corgi and half Pomeranian, in case it’s important. Thank you, Lanae
Dear Lanae,
Pottying in the house can be one of the most grating on your nerves behaviors a dog does especially if they were just outside and go in the house instead or simply don’t let you know they have to go.
The number one question I always ask is might he possible have a urinary tract infection?
Have you ever used a crate for Bo? The reason I ask is that one of the things with potty issues is lack of boundaries happening. I like crating with issues like this because it will create a win-win for you both.
- Bo has his own safe place that he can establish as his very own.
- You have control over where he is and where he goes.
- Most dogs won’t go in their own crate so they learn to have better bladder control.
- It will reestablish healthy, clear, consistent boundaries with him and yes an older dog can learn new behaviors.
Here’s the way I usually work with crates:
- Dog sleeps in crate for evening once they have emptied their bladder
- When dog wakes up they go outside immediately and must do #1 and 2
- If the dog does so, they have up to 1 hour of free time in the house then they go out again.
- Once they go to bathroom they go back in the crate for another 2-3 hours
- Out again, do #1 and they have 2 hours to hang out in the house
- Then back outside by this time there is usually a meal and then a walk
- Hang out for an hour or two then out then back into the crate for the evening
Make the crate a neutral place, with no guilt for putting him in it. You can put a treat in the crate for him or give him a great bone to chew on.
Let me know how you make (no pun intended) out with Bo.
Paws Up!
Alecia
Alecia Evans, PDT, MA
Do you have a training question for Alecia? Send it in on our online form!
Alecia Evans is the inventor of The Walk In Sync™ Humane Dog Walking and Training System with her exclusive 5 Minute Manners Makeovers using the Walk In Sync™ Harness and Accu-Grip Leash, along with her Walk In Sync™ 3 Easy Steps to teach any human/dog duos to Walk In Sync in just minutes.
The former host of the award-winning GrassRoots Aspen TV Series, The Whole Animal-An Alternative Approach to Animal Care, Alecia takes a natural approach to dog training and health care. Her work has been featured on Fox and Friends, The Sandra Glosser Show, NY 1, and in Aspen Magazine, DogTipper.com, The New York Daily News and Woof Report.
About Paris Permenter and John Bigley
DogTipper publishers Paris Permenter and John Bigley are a husband-wife team of full-time writers. The couple has authored over two dozen books and 2,500+ magazine articles.
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