HELP! House training an older dog

[Graham Orm]

She is about 8. We collected her from the rescue centre about 10 months ago and we have never been able to get her to let us know when she needs to go out. She is an adorable Airedale cross and is extremely timid, which leads us to believe she was mistreated wherever she came from. This makes me think someone with less patience than us had the same problem. She is very scared of men in particular.
Our other dog (Lancashire Heeler) has no problems and trots up to the door and looks back at us when he needs to go.

I've told SWIMBO that she will have to go back if it can't be sorted, she did a pile yesterday after being out for half an hour, and just tonight wandered across the lounge and pee'd right in front of me. Fortunately we have a carpet shampooer which is working overtime!

Can anyone offer her a last chance and come up with something or do I take her back?

 

[paulm]

About the same age as our whippet Lottie, a bit slower chasing the rabbits these days than she used to be !

Maybe try taking her out for a few minutes every hour or so in the hope that she will have enough opportunity to at least reduce the chances of going indoors, as well as following the example of your existing dog ?

Hope it works out for you all.

Cheers, Paul

 

[Graham Orm]

Thanks Paul, have left them both outside for half an hour at a time, then she comes in and does it! She's extremely insecure and nervous, don't know if that's got something to do with it.

 

[RogerS]

I Googled toilet training older dogs tips and got quite a few hits. For example,

http://www.bluecross.org.uk/1958-2786/h ... t-dog.html

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-p ... -adult-dog

I hope you manage to train your dog and that she doesn't have to go back. Keep trying to persuade SWMBO to get another Basset but she is reluctant.

 

[Graham Orm]

Thanks Roger. It seems to point at the fact that she may have been kenneled outside before. We'll never know that one. The answer seems to be 2 weeks intensive training, which I could have guessed, but unfortunately neither me or the Mrs have that time available as we both work. It's getting to a head and we will have to do something, she's started refusing to go outside at all at the moment, but I think that's possibly the fireworks.

 

[joethedrummer]

Hi Grayorm,,,
Its a bu...r if you are short of time,, we had one who had the same problem and it helped when we went out with her late and comforted her until she had a p.ss,,,,,(sometimes it worked quicker for me ),,,
It"s difficult to give up,,,but you could be always wonderin",,WHAT IF?,,

,,,,,,,,,,joe,

 

[Graham Orm]

Thanks Joe. I'd love to spend the time dealing with it and get her sorted, she's such a soft affectionate dog. I have told the wife she will have to go, but I doubt if I could bring myself to do it.

 

[cambournepete]

During the day the [dog] should be taken outside frequently! perhaps every hour or so initially and walked up and down vigorously to stimulate movement of the bowels and urinary system. As soon as he passes anything at all the owner should heap praise on the dog to reinforce his actions positively. Only then can the dog be allowed to play or run free. In that way he will learn that the first job on going away from the den is to empty himself and that this is likely to bring reward from the owner and the chance to enjoy himself. The dog will be more likely to want to relieve them selves after sleep, food or any excitable indoor activities and so should be taken outside immediately after these events.

He also talks about letting the dog sleep in your room, maybe tied to you by string, so you can let them out when they need it overnight.

Hope this is useful, we're trying to train a puppy at the moment...

 

[markturner]

Taking on a rescue dog is a great thing to do, but often comes at a high price in extra work training and readjusting the animal. One of my dogs is a rescue, she is a staff cross bull mastiff, and just so sweet and affectionate, but if she sees another dog she does not know when out, then she turns into a rampaging maniac - I guess the ****** who owned her before they puppy farmed her and left her tied to a tree, ( :evil: :shock: ) encouraged her to be aggressive to other dogs, to make himself look like a big man......Sure, she is a handful and it gets pretty embarrassing sometimes...she is ok when she gets to know a dog though. But that is part of what you take on. You get a puppy and you train and raise it right from the get go. I have tried trainers, and all sorts,, but we cant break her of the behaviour....just have to learn to live with it.

I feel sad that you are contemplating moving her on, another change of ownership will not help her problems. I think some time invested in training as described will help, and hope you can find time to do this.

Regards, Mark

 

[Graham Orm]

Hi Mark. Sounds like you have a job on there. Meg is our third rescue dog. The first was an adorable cross that we had for 10 years and was killed by a staffie belonging to a middle aged couple. We were on a beach where there were people with dogs everywhere, all on leads, the staffie was the only one loose. When they came close to us it made a bee line for our two dogs both on leads and got hold of Sally by the throat with no provocation at all. The police were called and they gave the guy the option of paying our vets bill or having his dog taken. He opted for the vet bill. She was in over night and was fine when we picked her up, then 24 hours later started breathing heavily and died soon after, we think she had a heart attack. The guy insisted that his dog had never been aggressive before. No one will convince me that staffies do not have a default setting of aggression.
We still have Alfie the middle one and Meg came along to replace Sally. We'll keep trying with her. I would dearly love to have the time to train her.