Potty training in an older dog

[handyanna]

Help! This pas summer we adopted a Corgi female, who is now 2 1/2 years old. I think I know now why the previous family didn't want her. She is not very well potty trained, and she is a bit obstinate about coming when she is called. I have never really had housetraining difficulties before, but most of my dogs have come to me as puppies. Does anyone have any advice on re-training her? Should I go back to a crate as if she were a puppy? She is otherwise a sweet little thing and wonderful with the kids, so I really want to give her every chance.

[glencorgi]

Yep, go back to square one just as if she were a baby puppy. Should go quicker than with a puppy as hopefully, there is some foundation training, she's older and will have better bladder control and her mind is more mature and can retain "teaching" more readily.

As for not coming when called - go back to square one on that as well. Perhaps when she was called she may have been punished for her accidents, so in her mind coming when called is not going to have pleasant rewards. Make it a happy game and that only good things happen when she comes when called.

Debbie

[MyPemCharlie]

Debbie's advice is great. There really aren't different training methods between puppies and adults.

Sometimes a dog (even females) will urine mark a few places in a new home to make themselves feel more secure. Then they stop and become perfectly reliable. If she hasn't been housetrained before, then it might take longer, but as Debbie said, faster than a puppy. I would add that you have to totally deodorize and places she has gone, and yes, get a crate.

I've been playing a new game with Charlie the last few days which is helping reenforce reliable recalls (Come!), keeping him by me on leash walks (unfortunately I let him develop a pulling habit...my bad), and keeping him more focused on me in general. The game is "Find it!". Essentially, I drop a couple pieces of kibble on the ground next to my left foot, point my index finger straight down my leg to the kibble, and say "Find It!" It is such an easy game for the dog and immediately rewarding. The point of the game is to teach him that being close to me is more interesting and rewarding than being anywhere else in the whole wide world.

As Debbie mentioned, your dog may have been punished when she responded to "Come". You might try using a different cue word, like "Here" or "By Me" that your dog has not heard before. Always praise her for coming to you, even if she has done something else wrong. Coming to you should be a happy experience every time.