Housebreaking a shelter dog

So it looks like we're going to be bringing home our new doggie today or tomorrow! He's about 3-4 years old, and obviously have no idea of his background. DH has had dogs all his life but this is my first one, so I'm a little freaked. I'm sure I will have tons of questions.

My concern right now is housebreaking him. Is this possible to do with an adult dog? I've been reading up, but would love any advice from people who've BTDT. Please tell me that so eons has had success training an older shelter dog!

Tia

Re: Housebreaking a shelter dog

Our dog was around 1 when we adopted her, so she wasn't an older dog, but she wasn't considered a puppy either.

The biggest problem we had was that she ended up not feeling comfortable going when we were around. So in the beginning we'd take her for a ton of walks. bring her in the back yard and show her the spots where we wanted her to go, and she wouldn't go at all....

Once we got back in the house and we were going about our routine, that's when she'd go. She'd wait till I was in the kitchen or the bathroom and then go on the floor.

It took us about a week to realize that she just needed some space. She wasn't used to people watching her when she went. So we started just looking in the other direction in the back yard and that was all she needed.

She didn't even go during walks until very recently, and now she will pee a little bit while we are walking her on a leash. She still will not go #2 on a leash! She needs total privacy for that.

My only advice would be to give the dog a little bit of time to get used to the family. Some accidents may happen, and don't hold it against them. Don't yell or punish them, just keep reinforcing that bathroom is for outside and not in the house without yelling. Who knows what their lives were like before us!

Re: Housebreaking a shelter dog

There's going to be a transition period and accidents. Sometimes they aren't used to holding it in. We started by walking our dog alot, praising when she goes. Now she'll let me know when she has to go outside so i can either walk her or let her in the back yard.

My parent's dogs are up there in age, like double digits. They used to have accidents all the time. Now that my parents are retired the started walking them more often to the point that they also will let my parents know when they have to go out side.

Once it sinks in that outside is a toilet accidents rarely happen. Like if the pet is left home along to long or is sick.

Re: Housebreaking a shelter dog

I think there's a lot of myths surrounding older dogs, especially rescues. I wouldn't make any assumptions about what he can do just yet, and make a good plan for him instead. Our dogs (one of them a rescue that we adopted at 4 years old) really respond well to a schedule and we really seldom have accidents. 6am backyard, 11:30am walk, 7pm backyard are what they can expect every day.

Make sure he knows how pleased you are with him when he does his business outside too.

Re: Housebreaking a shelter dog

I have no experience with this but I do believe 100% that you can teach an old(er) dog new tricks. I think with consistency, patience, and praise your new dog will be housebroken. Good luck!