Housetraining adult dogs

Idle Passerby

We adopted two rescue dogs about 8 weeks ago. They were both found abandoned so no known history. The vet guessed their ages at 3-6 years. Both have come a long way and have settled in well with us.

The only thing is they are both still going to the toilet indoors and one has a penchant for tearing up soft furnishings. This happens mainly overnight or if we are out of the room but she will do it with us there too so I don't think its an anxiety thing. We've started confining them to the hallway at night and when we are out. I don't like being harsh with them because I suspect they may have been ill-treated (wary of strangers, jumping at sudden movements.)

Can anyone advise on how to train adult dogs? Thanks!

toadfly

Same as puppies, out every hour, after every meal etc. Crate them at night and get up a few times to let them out gradually increasing the time between. Praise and treat when they do good, ignore the bad.

georgewickstaff

How do you stop a dog pissing in the front room? Close the door.

How do you stop a dog eating cushions? Take them away.

I'm afraid you will have to bring them out at regular intervals during day and night and praise them / treat them when they do their business. They will get it.

Best wishes

Idle Passerby

We do bring them out regularly, but there have been times where they've been out and then go to the toilet as soon as they come back in. With the tearing cushions etc, yes we can stop them tearing the human ones but when they are shredding their own bedding? They have to sleep on something.

We have to lock all the internal doors when we leave the house to stop them going in and tearing everything up.

I suppose it will just take time. Anyone know how long it usually takes? In my memory puppies only take a few weeks to learn not to go in the house.

tk123

Idle Passerby wrote: »

We do bring them out regularly, but there have been times where they've been out and then go to the toilet as soon as they come back in.

What are you cleaning the accidents up with? You need something like bio washing powder to break down the enzymes otherwise they'll keep going back to the scent.

VonVix

Use blankets instead of 'stuffed' bedding. I have a bunch of blankets I recently bought from Pennys, they are €5 each and are perfect for my boys, easy to wash as well.

You should be outside with them when they are doing their business so you can praise them (and give a small treat) on the spot when they finish, otherwise a connection will be harder for them to make that they are doing the right thing by going outside.

If you say a word *after* every time one of them pees when you give a treat (for example "get busy, good!" then reward) after a number of repetitions they will begin to associate "get busy" with doing their business, this will allow you to give a cue word for them when you go with them, which will be a reminder about what they are supposed to do when outside.

The less chance they have to do their business indoors when the humans of the household learn their tells (circling and sniffing being a common one), the faster they will be housetrained. The more often they repeat going inside, the longer of a process it will be.

123shooter

Idle Passerby wrote: »

We do bring them out regularly, but there have been times where they've been out and then go to the toilet as soon as they come back in. With the tearing cushions etc, yes we can stop them tearing the human ones but when they are shredding their own bedding? They have to sleep on something.

We have to lock all the internal doors when we leave the house to stop them going in and tearing everything up.

I suppose it will just take time. Anyone know how long it usually takes? In my memory puppies only take a few weeks to learn not to go in the house.

You do not take them out of the box, flick the switch and watch them go.

Take them out every hour and after every meal and before bed and say the words out and/or wee every time so they can relate the two.

Watch them and after they have finished call them back in and tell them how good they are with a treat so they learn what they have to do.

How long?..........How good are you at training them?..........They arent stupid, they are still learning from you and your relationship is only 8 weeks old so think about it.........also they do not have access to an internet forum to ask other already house trained dogs why their new owner is getting so p*ssed off with them..........but it will eventually come together.

We only ever house trained one dog out of our 7 we took in and they all learned from each other with only the occasional slip up which was mainly our fault...........admittedly you are starting at basic level as only you can teach them so it is all down to you.

Regards chewing things up..........remove the items or have a room for them to stay in when you arent there and give them a dog chew toy to destroy when they are bored............Tired dogs sleep so there's another clue.

Ms Doubtfire1

I've taken in a number of adult dogs that weren't house trained. I tend to make sure I actually walk them in the beginning for at least 15 minutes so they can do all their business in peace and quiet whilst also exploring a (still very new) area. Big praises when they did any business and NO pressure.Them understanding that sometimes you need 'it' quick will come in time. What breed are we talking about?

Idle Passerby

Ms Doubtfire1 wrote: »

I've taken in a number of adult dogs that weren't house trained. I tend to make sure I actually walk them in the beginning for at least 15 minutes so they can do all their business in peace and quiet whilst also exploring a (still very new) area. Big praises when they did any business and NO pressure.Them understanding that sometimes you need 'it' quick will come in time. What breed are we talking about?

They are a collie cross and a whippet. The whippet is terrified of being on a lead unfortunately so that makes going for walks an added difficulty. Luckily we have a big garden that shes happy to run around in.

To respond to the other points made:
We clean up with bleach (the hallway is tiled).
They have plenty of toys, so its not a shortage of things to chew on.
We don't get pissed off with them for going in the house. That would be like shouting at a baby for dirtying their nappy! Its annoying yes, but they are new to us and possibly to living indoors, I don't expect them to get it straight away.

Thanks for all the advice re: being with them when they go outdoors and praising them, having a specific word they can associate with going etc.

razorblunt

Took about 6-8 weeks for our rescue to become house trained post nerves and what not.

We started with a 2hr approach at night time, after first sending her out to do "weez" before going to bed.

We didn't use a crate as we didn't know how she'd react.

Bit of patience and it will just click.

tk123

Idle Passerby wrote: »

We clean up with bleach (the hallway is tiled).

Well thats an easy one to fix switch to non bio washing powder! . You could maybe make up a 'destruction box' for them so like a cardboard box with treats hidden it it, rolled up paper etc etc for them to destroy instead of your soft furnishings lol! On one hand you don't want to encourage them to wreck stuff but on the other if they're doing it out of anxiety/frustration at least let it be something you don't mind getting wrecked.

Idle Passerby

So the two dogs eventually stopped going to the toilet inside and destroying the house. We let them stay in the sitting room overnight and when we were at work and all was fine when we came home and it was bliss.

Then we had them spayed at the end of November. On the third week after the surgery they started back into going to the toilet in the house and tearing up furniture. We took it as a message that they were ready to be allowed off lead and do some serious running around again.

But unfortunately all the progress seems to have been undone and we are back to confining them to the hallway during the day. We leave toys and treats for them and come home every lunchtime but we are still left clearing up ****, piss and destroyed belongings after work. Its so disheartening.

One of the dogs has a more anxious/giddy temperament and we strongly suspect it is mainly her doing and probably to do with stress about being left alone.

How can we help her get out of this behaviour?