Refresher course: Re-housebreaking the already housebroken pet

New owners often learn dogs they’ve adopted from shelters have forgotten they were housebroken.

What to do? Vigilance during the first weeks will aid in reversing this.

Urine marking helps dogs feel more secure, so don’t leave new adoptees unattended in the house. Be aware of signals indicating a need to go out: sniffing, circling, protruding rectum. Hurry the pet outside to a designated spot. Old scents act as future prompts. Use requests like, “Hurry” or “Make potty.” Reward compliance with copious praise.

Leash-walk your dog to learn how often he or she eliminates. Save the best part of walks for after business has been completed; that can entice a dog to relieve itself quickly. If you are observant and consistent, re-housebreaking should happen quickly with few mistakes.

Supervision
Constant supervision is your best tool. Tether the dog to you as you go about household activities. Use baby gates when needed. Watch for signs expressing a need to go. Don’t just let your dog outside alone.

Confinement
If you can’t provide supervision, it’s best to use humane confinement, such as baby gates. A small bathroom or utility room sectioned off with baby gates or large cardboard boxes will work. Large places are counterproductive. Areas should be large enough only for a dog to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably. Dogs don’t like to dirty where they sleep or eat.

Crates used properly are humane. Encourage your dog into one with highly valued treats. Don’t use these treats at any other times. Feed inside the crate to develop trust. Don’t push dogs in or close crate doors during mealtimes. For extended confinements, offer Kong toys (available in pet-stores) filled with soft dog/cat food, peanut butter, soft cheese, etc. You may add kibble to these soft foods but deduct from meal allotments.

Make release from the crate boring, then swiftly proceed to the designated toilet spot.

Establish a routine
Stick to a feeding schedule. This makes elimination more predictable. Supervised outings should occur at least four times daily: first thing in morning, afternoon, after dinner, before bedtime.

Accidents
Giving new dogs free reign before reliability is established asks for trouble. If you witness an accident, interrupt the behavior with a sound before hurrying the pet outside. Reward, if the dog finishes outside. Don’t punish mistakes; instead, clean the spot with an enzyme-neutralizing product and be more observant.

When dogs relieve themselves inside, it’s because they don’t understand. Their ability to comprehend is roughly that of an 18-month-old child. If your dog makes many mistakes even with consistent training, schedule a medical check-up.

Finally
Once your adoptee is house-clean, slowly grant privileges. If a slip-up occurs, don’t punish the dog. Clean the mess using an enzyme cleaner and return to the training point where the dog was most reliable. Build skills and add freedom from there.

Re-housebreaking does not take very long, as long as there is consistency on the part of the trainer.