Help with Potty Training a 2 1/2 Year Old Dog

I have a shih tzu that I got from the pound in November of '08. When he first came home he would mark his territory. I caught him in the act and said in a loud voice, "Ah ah ah! Something that sounds like no, no, no, but the ah, ah, ah works better because it's just some sort of universal, don't you dare tone that animals understand. I once kept a baby raccoon from biting me doing the same thing. It's a scolding tone really. Also, if you keep track of when he eats and drinks and take him out afterwards and about every two hours thereafter, it gets him on a schedule (and you too, lol). My pup's issue was a marking territory male thing, which is actually considered to be a different issue from being potty trained. He wasn't neutered and that's supposed to help too. Hope this helps.

Have you tried a crate? If you are not right with the dog, keep him in the crate and take him right out side as soon as you take him out. When you have him out, you should be with him all the time and take him out often and praise, praise, praise.

If you can get him used to the crate, everyone in your house, including the dog, will be happier. They won't go in the crate as long as you don't get it too big, you don't want to get a great big one for a small dog, they might go.

Good luck!

My Yorkie wasn't, and still really isn't potty trained at 4 years old. It isn't terrible but occasionally I will find a pee spot behind a chair. Just make sure you take her/him out frequently. If you have a fenced in back yard, even better so you don't have to spend 5 minutes at the door waiting. Make sure she goes number two in the morning before you leave for work (my dog has to every morning) so you won't come home to a surprise on the floor. My dog isn't fully potty trained, but if you take her out often enough she will eventually learn to send you some kind of message.

You have to take the dog out frequently, put papers by the door you want to use to let the dog out and if you see them starting to go anywhere else tell them "no" sharply and carry them to the papers. When they go outside praise them and give them treats. If they use the paper praise them and give them treats. Confine the dog to the papered area when you are not home. When you come home if they have used the paper praise them, etc.

Hi - my name is A. and I am a mom of two children, ages 20 and 21, and a mom of FIVE dogs! I am the President of a non-profit, breed specific rescue (Kentuckiana Pug Rescue). We deal with dogs that are not housebroken at older ages ALL the time. The first thing I would do is take the dog to the vet and make sure there are NO medical problems causing this - they will urinate everywhere if they have a bladder or kidney infection - and this is especially common as the cause of a untrained female. Buy a crate! Crate training is the easiest way to housebreak a dog. When you can keep a direct eye on the dog, it can be out of the crate, when you can't, like when you are taking a shower...into the crate it goes. You just start all over, like the dog is a puppy. The key is it can only be out when you are keeping a direct eye on it, so that you can get it outside if it starts to show signs that it needs to go (circling, sniffing and looking for a spot to go potty). When the dog is outside, you need to watch it to make sure it is doing what it should be doing - Remember to praise heavily, and maybe give a treat, each and every time he goes. Some people think crates are cruel, but they are like a bedroom to a dog - they are a safety zone. They may not like it at first, but once they get used to it (and just like with your kids, you have to hang tough for three or so days to get them used to the crate) the crate will be THEIR space and they will love it. Mine are in their crates all the time - we leave the doors open and they go in there and take naps all the time.

A couple of tips - if this is a male dog, they make a thing called a belly band. Google it, and you will get lots of sites, essentially a male dog diaper, helps to save your furniture. AND - HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, which is the main cleaning ingredient in cleaners like Oxy Clean. It does not bleach (I have a red sofa and use it all the time)unless it has a bleaching agent added to it - but it DOES clean up the stain and the smell of ANY bodily fluid. Blot as much of the urine up as you can, and then DUMP and I mean DUMP the peroxide on the stain. It should be completely saturated and then some - it will evaporate and take the stain and smell right with it!!

Good luck - it CAN be done!

I agree with everything Amy C said. This is how we have trained all of our dogs. The only thing she forgot to mention is the size of the crate. You only want it to be big enough for your dog to lay down. If it is too big, they will potty in the back and lay in the front or vice versa.

We just got a one and a half year old rottie. She was not house trained at all, to the point that she would not even potty outside. We implemented the crate as it has never failed for us. For a few days we had to take her out about 15 minutes after eatting and stay outside with her until she couldn't hold it anymore and finally went. Then with the praise and treat pattern, she is almost completely trained (we've had her for 2 weeks). As a bonus, she loves her "bed", she naps in there, hides her toys in there, and even retreats there if someone comes over that she is uncomfortable with.

Another tip I have is to not put the dog in the crate as a punishment for anything. You want it to be a place the dog loves not resents.

I would never teach a dog to potty in the house, either on papers or puppy pee pads - this starts a bad habbit that you will still need to break.

Hi,
If it's an intact male, neutering will help. The crate is a good idea, but again, don't use it to punish the dog. One idea that works well is keep the dog leashed in the house, and attach the end of the leash to your belt. That way the dog can't quietly go off to a corner, and you'll know when it wants to go outside. This is a tip that is recommended by behaviorists. It's a big commitment, but it will be worth it in the long run! Good luck!