Housebreaking older dog....again

[excellrott]

My friend has an intact 14 month old male and a pregnant female 21/2 yr. the male is peeing in his crate and in daughters room and she asked my to ask you because she doesn't have internet. The male was mostly outdoors until a month ago, but has been in the house on and off for 6 months without incident, sinse she bought him.
I searched the archives but I only found stuff like crate him at nite (which she does at midnite, by 7 he has peed or crapped in the crate), it's easy to train an older dog (she can't tell) and let him out at regular times ( which she does)
Can anyone direct her to an article or something on re-training an older dog?

[Canula2000]

I would think an older dog should be able to "hold" himself for at least 8 hours in a crate. I have been taking in rescue dogs for two months now and haven't had any problems. Now these are dogs that have been in the animal shelter two to three weeks and have been forced to poop and pee in the same area they sleep and eat in. I have all my dogs on strict schedules. They eat in the morning and then again at night at the same time every day. I take them out for potty breaks the same time everyday. And most important they are not allowed back into the house until they go potty. Maybe your friend's dog is not going potty before he is crated at night. Your friend should make sure the dog actually goes both pee and poop before he kennels the dog for the night. I stand outside with my dogs and wait with them.

[excellrott]

do you think he should be corrected somehow for not holding it for those 7-8 hrs? I mean besides making him stay outside until he does his thing?

[Brooke&Ryan]

Also...please tell your friend to take this dog to the vet to make sure that he doesn't have a MEDICAL problem that is causing him to not be able to control himself. That might want to be checked into before further steps are taken.

I would feel horrible correcting my dog for peeing inside if it was a medical condition that couldn't be helped...

:)
Brooke

[Anne]

No point whatsoever of correcting the dog unless you catch him in the act. Too late to correct on just seeing the evidence.

I second that he should be taken to the vet. I would take a sample of his faeces and a sample of his urine to the vet as well.

[excellrott]

Very good point........I will inform my friend. In fact, I will print all replies and let her decide what to do.:p