How to Potty Train a Difficult Dog

How to Potty Train a Difficult Dog. Part of the problem could be related to your dog's breed, since certain breeds are more stubborn when it comes to training than others. No matter how difficult your dog is being about potty training, your persistence and patience with training can help finally end the accidents, stains and odors in your house. Treating a stubborn dog like a puppy, regardless of the dog's actual age, can help the dog learn that the correct place to eliminate is outside, not in your house.

Things Needed

• Leash
• Crate
• Pet gate
• Paper towels
• Enzymatic cleaner
• Treats

Step 1

Establish a routine. Take your dog outside for a potty break after eating, drinking, napping and playing. Praise your dog when it eliminates outdoors and take it back inside.

Step 2

Supervise your dog constantly. Tether it to you with a leash if necessary. Watch for signs it might need to use the bathroom, such as circling and sniffing, and take it outside immediately.

Step 3

Confine your dog when you cannot supervise it. Use a crate or gate off a puppy-proof room with a pet gate. Use a room with linoleum or tile floor to make accidents easier to clean. Give your dog regular potty breaks from its crate or safe room and praise it when it uses the bathroom outside.

Step 4

Clean up any accidents immediately to lower the chance of repeat accidents. Dogs use their sense of smell to choose bathroom spots, and improperly cleaned urine spots can hold urine odor. Blot up as much of the urine as possible with paper towels and dilute the stain with water. Blot the water and repeat the process until the stain looks clear on the paper towel. Use an enzymatic cleaner to remove the remainder of the smell.

Warnings

• Distract your dog with a loud noise if you catch it in the act of eliminating inside. Take it outside immediately and wait until it goes, then praise the dog.
• Use treats to reward your dog for eliminating in the correct place if it is food-motivated.

Warnings

• Do not punish your dog for using the bathroom inside the house. Any accidents occur because you did not supervise correctly, and this is not the dog's fault.

References

• Denver Dumb Friends League: Re-Housetraining Your Adult Dog
• Pet Place: How to House Train Your Adult Dog