help on house breaking.....

[LisaS]

Dogs are situational learners and she probably was housebroken - that is -- she learned not to go in her original house. She needs to now generalize that knowledge to your house too, and the vet's, and the pet store, and grandma's ... etc. So, watch-watch-watch or confine until she learns the rules at your house. If you go over to a friend's - don't assume it will just carry over there too ("she never does this at home"), just be extra vigilant everywhere until she starts to make the never indoors generalization.

[annaleesmom]

Hello everyone...
I need your help or advice again....
we adopted a 4 year old girl named annalee.
The humane society told us she was house trained... after having her for almost 2 weeks now ... We know different...
How should we go about house training this wonderful animal???? I have had puppies in the past, and they caught on pretty quickly.. After trying all those PUPPY tricks to get her to "go" outside, She just wont get it....
ANY IDEAS????
thanks for all your help
anna's mommie

[Michael C.]

I took ours out every 1/2 hour and gave lots of praise when she went. Since your dog is 4, you dont have to go every 1/2 hour. Maybe every 1-2 hours. You need to go with the dog on a leash. Once outside, say "Go Potty". Once the dog goes, give lots and lots of praise. If you just open up the door and let her out by herself, she will never understand what she is supposed to do.

[Diane Heller-Vaccaro]

Yup that happens all the time its also the number 1 reason dogs are relinquished in the first place.

You will train as if she is a puppy. Go out and buy a crate. Get the mid-west crate that she can see around her. Get her a nice soft bed and put in some favorite toys. Keep her in areas of the house that are easy to clean up and let her out only when she is supervised, I use baby gates to keep the dogs in the kitchen.

Make sure you really are vigilant about keeping an eye on her and in time she will understand that the house isn't her potty. Don't give up on her yet housetraining can be very frustrating.

[Paxx]

I am moving this to Training.

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[Joanne in NJ]

I have 2 old rottn ladies, both were kennel dogs and neither housebroken. Take them out often, praise madly.... Good girl, GOOD PEEPEE PUPPY.... neighbors are sure I'm nuts. Keep her under your eagle eye.

Also, my crew have different ways of telling me they "gotta go". The doberman was very subtle and I wasn't picking up on his clues. He will walk around, and I wasn't sure if he was just a big dog in a small house or he had to go.

BTW, don't chastize for accidents. She'll pick up on you not being happy, but not know why.... Just clean it up and chalk it up... Take her out and praise, praise, praise....

My guys are super now, and I STILL praise them when they're doing their business.

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[This message has been edited by Joanne in NJ (edited August 25, 2000).]