Anyone have some good house training tips for a newly-adopted *adult* dog?

[swansonite@twit.social]

Anyone have some good house training tips for a newly-adopted *adult* dog?

Asking for a...friend.

#dogs #DogsOfMastodon

[phoebe_c@mastodon.social]

@swansonite in a broad sense of general training, had a dog trainer who emphasized consistency, patience, and repetition. Also frequent trips outside and positive reinforcement when successful. if you have a fenced yard, surprisingly simple to teach dog to “ring” a string of bells when wants to go out by nudging their head against it each time you go out with them. Good luck!

[voxofgod@beige.party]

@swansonite does the dog walk right after food?

Is the dog mat trained?

There is the possibility

[swansonite@twit.social]

@Phoebe_C @VoxOfGod This is my fifth dog; fairly experienced with doing all the usual house training things.

He's a little over a year old and was at the humane society for most of his life so far -- I doubt he ever had incentive to "hold it". I take him out and for walks quite frequently and he'll even go on command (very smart and otherwise well-behaved, especially for his age), but once he has any in the tank, he'll just go. Try to keep him in-view at all times, but easier said than done.

[kellyromanych@mastodon.social]

@swansonite I'd have a vet check to be sure no UTI. I'd observe to see what happens just before they start to tinkle (to see if there's a pattern, or suggestion of anxiety, etc). In the meantime, when I could not be nearby to escort them out, I'd manage with a baby gate in an area that you can easily clean or use puppy pads. This let's them move to help self regulate. Lots of positive reinforcement & low stress handling. Pets to your new pup!

[turre@mementomori.social]

@swansonite
We just recently adopted a 7-month old puppy, thinking we'd get a house-broke doggie at that age. Nope. Part of it is not being properly trained in the former home, but this is apparently a thing home changers commonly do.Everything is new and exciting, and whatever their old routines, they got thoroughly disturbed. First thing is (re-)establishing routines, and in the meanwhile, patience.

Like @kellyromanych points out, confined spaces help. If we let ours roam around the house, he'd sprinkle all over the place. Once we remembered the trick to close doors and add gates where necessary, basically confining him to one room at a time. And whenever moving out of the confinement (and right after eating, and waking up from sleep) straight outdoors to establish a routine. And praises + treats for doing the right thing, like you would the small puppy. With that, ours soon went to practically house broke. As long as *we* remember to stick to the rules.

Let him familiarize with the house one room at a time, slowly over days and weeks. We thought ours house-broke by now, there hadn't been any "leaks" in two weeks or more, with freedom to move in about half of the house. Then just a couple of days ago, I forgot to close the bedroom door in upstairs. He went off in our bed ‍️ presumably because it was such an exciting place to be all alone, or something to that effect.