Adult dogs potty training.
Hello everyone,
Below is a question from one of our readers about potty training her adult dogs. To learn more keep reading…
We need to consult with you. We have a bisson f. and llhasapoo.
They are now 9 and 10 years old respectively. They occupy our sunroom because when we allow them all over the house, they keep urinating, even just after they come in from the fenced-in backyard. The llhasapoo did not do this before but copied the bisson f. when we got him. Is it too late? are these set-in behaviors? We would love them to go around the house freely and join us.
We feel bad that they cannot join us other than the sunroom area.
Thanks
MIla
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Helo Mila,
Thanks for your question.
There are several factors why your dogs might urinating inside the house. I am not clear in a few things: How long ago did you get your bisson f. dog? Have he been urinating inside the house since the time you got him, or is this a new behavior? Are your dogs neutered?
If your dog have not been neutered, that is the first thing you might want to consider. Many male dogs feel the need to mark their territories and this behavior is significantly reduced after the dog is neutered.
It is a fact that dogs tend to copy others, especially their bad habits, so I am not surprised that your lhasapoo is copying your other dog behavior. He might also be urinating inside as a way of marking territory too.
If the bisson f. dog has been showing this behavior just recently, you might want to make sure that he does not have a urinary tract infection. Dogs will urinate more when they have a UTI.
If none of these things are factual, you have a little work to do with your dogs. You might want to try working with bisson f. dog first. "Umbilical cording" the dog might be a good option for housebreaking the dog. You would need to get a 6 feet leash, and tie it around your waist, then put the leash on the dog collar and have him attach to you while he is in the house.
If you notice that he tries to urinate inside the house tell him "no", and take him out. If he does not try to urinate inside while you are "umbilical cording" him, then take him out at regular intervals. about every 4 hours if possible.
As you are taking your dog out, you might want to cheerfully say: "do you want to go pee?". Make sure that you praise him liberally for doing his "stuff" in the yard.
Don’t give him any opportunities to have an "accident" inside the house. You need to be consistent with this dog training. Do not let the dog roam inside the house without supervision until he is not having any more mistakes.
If you are not supervising the dog you might want to leave him inside the house in a crate or in a pen, but make sure to take him out every 4 hours or so, and put it back in the crate or "umbilical cord" him, but do not let him roam free in the house.
Once he graduates from supervised on leash indoors training, you want to move to supervised off leash freedom indoors. But make sure that you watch him closely and that you recognize his behavior when he needs to go out.
As you see that he is reliable, you can then start adding more freedom indoors with less supervision.
It might still be a good idea to use indoor gates to keep the dogs away from areas with highly valued rugs, carpets or furniture that you do not want to risk.
Hope that helps.
Dr. Alfonso
