There are many dog owners who are having a hard time knowing how to toilet train an older dog, especially when the dog is already older and has been potty trained in the past. The dog may have even been trained at home but still, there are many dog training tips that you should consider in order for you to successfully toilet train your dog. Here are some of the dog training tricks that you can use in training your dog:
o Teach your dog to use the bathroom on a regular basis. Potty training is a gradual process, so it would be better if you will start with toilet basics. Make sure that the dog is properly potty trained first, and then you can introduce other toilet topics such as elimination. As your dog ages, it will become harder for it to hold on to its feces, hence the reason why it needs to be toilet trained consistently.
o Use scent recognition in teaching your dog how to toilet train an older dog. Once you get used to conditioning your dog’s elimination habits with positive reinforcement, then you will be able to teach the dog easily. The dog will eventually learn without your help and without much difficulty.
o Give your dog enough opportunities to potty train itself. You should also allow your dog to go to the bathroom on its own when it feels like urinating. Always make sure that you do not punish your dog for going to the bathroom when it is not supposed to. A dog may be potty training but it does not mean that it is done.
o Try using the toilet seat as a substitute for the toilet. This is one of the best ways on how to toilet train an older dog because the dog will be familiar with the scent of the seat and will automatically go after it when it feels like urinating. Just keep in mind that your dog has to be comfortable with going on the toilet especially if it is not already used.
o The use of a crate can help in how to toilet train an older dog. Make sure that you allot adequate time to your dog for toileting. It should be done regularly, even if it means getting up early in the morning. The reason is that an older dog’s digestive system may not function at its optimum if it spends most of its time in a crate. Also, you should make sure that your dog gets enough physical exercise every day so that it does not develop any bowel problems.
o Never let your dog go to the bathroom alone. If you think that your dog may be nervous about potty training then it would be better to leave him at home. Potty training is easier when you have constant supervision. Your dog will learn faster if you have more say in its training.
How to toilet train an older dog does not have to be a difficult task. If you follow these tips, your dog will be potty trained quickly. Just make sure that your dog follows your instructions diligently and properly. If you have no idea on how to toilet train your dog then you may seek the assistance of a professional dog trainer.
You do not need to pay a lot of money for dog training classes. Just find out how to toilet train an older dog by yourself and you will save a lot of time and money. There are many helpful articles online that will help you through the process. Most dog training tips will also come with free advice and support so you do not need to spend your money only to find that they are useless.
Most older dogs become accustomed to bathroom habits very quickly. It is recommended to start training with older dogs if you have not done it before because they may be harder to train. Make sure that you praise them generously when they behave properly. By doing this, your dog will become relieved and comfortable with going to the toilet even when you are not around.
Be consistent. Older dogs learn best by being taught rather than simply having a hard-on. It is best to stick to one training method rather than switching from one to another. Once you start to see some positive results, you can introduce another method of how to toilet train an older dog in the future. You will soon notice that they are no longer afraid to use the toilet at all and in fact, even loves going there!
