Doggy Do Right: Housetraining the older dog

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Specifically, if you adopt or already own an older dog who isn't housetrained, will you be able to train him not to use the house as a toilet? Gina and Dr. Marty Becker say yes, and tell you how, in this week’s Pet Connection syndicated column:

(T)take heart: You can teach an adult dog to do his business outside.



Before you start training, though, you must be sure that what you have is a behavior problem and not a physical problem. This is especially true with a dog who has been reliable in the past. You won't be able to train your pet if he's struggling with an illness. So check with your veterinarian first for a complete checkup.



If you've ruled out medical problems, house-training an adult dog uses the same principles as house-training a puppy, except you have to be even more diligent because you need to do some "untraining," too. And a lot of cleaning: You must thoroughly clean any soiled area with enzymatic cleaner (available through pet-supply outlets) to eliminate the smell that invites repeat business.



You'll need to teach your dog what's right before you can correct him for what's wrong. To do this, spend a couple of weeks ensuring that he has nothing but successes by never giving him the opportunity to make a mistake.

Also this week: how to slim a fat cat, dogs who can sniff out cancer, a new antibiotic, and a promising new treatment for canine arthritis. Plus, three reasons not to get a puppy as a Christmas gift:

• Holiday stress. Puppies are not toys. They are animals who need a lot of attention. Who has time for a pup during the holidays, that stressful season of socializing and shopping? With a houseful of guests and a holiday dinner to prepare, who will make sure the puppy isn't being mauled by overly enthusiastic children and guests?



• Bad timing. Try house-training a puppy when it's cold and stormy. And what about the rest of the training? The first few months of a dog's life are crucial: Bad habits are far easier to prevent than they are to break later, and ongoing socialization is critical. Will you really feel like training and socializing your pup when the holidays are over, the days are short and the kids are back in school?



• Poor selection. Many reputable breeders and shelters will not cooperate with your Christmas puppy desire. That means if you're looking for a puppy, you may be choosing from sellers who don't know or care enough to offer healthy, well-socialized puppies.

Plus: How many people include their pets in their weddings? More than you might think! All this and more, in our Pet Connection newspaper feature, which you can read on the Universal Press Syndicate Web site.

Comments

[Georg]

I've housebroken older dogs a couple of times. New environment = new rules. Set them immediately and keep the schedule.



We just got a new-to-us old dog who had never been in a house before this month. The first 24 hours were the hardest- we did not let our schnauzer be alone during that time at all, with immediate prevention/correction and rewards. Within two weeks, he was mostly housebroken with only an occasional lapse. It also helps we're home 24/7 with the dog, and our old dog is helping enforce the habit.

[Janeen]

Old dogs. New tricks. No problem... for the dog. Much patience and understanding required from the human.



Like old people, old dogs thrive on schedule, structure and familiarity. Change too much too fast and they (understandably) get cranky and/or confused.