Does anyone have any suggestions on housebreaking dogs?

I had a puppy that was very hard to break. I think they need more time outside until they can go. They are holding it, running outside and then running back in. Don't let them back in till they do the job and then reward them for it. No they aren't puppies but they need to know they did a good job. I would suggest getting them to sit infront of the door, then taking them outside. It sets a routine for them. If it take 10 minutes, 20 minutes or even 40 minutes for them to do the deed when they go out, then give the time they need to relax and do it. I think it's important, especially for an animal that came from a rescue shelter, to hear the praise that they did something good. The good girl or boy and then a treat for going might be the ticket they need to know they are doing it right. In time they will get it and then you can teach them to bark or sit at the door until they have to go outside. It isn't going to happen over night, but don't get discouraged or give up on them. The sitting by the door then the reward system will take in time. Just give them the benefit of the doubt and keep working with them.

You need to be consistant, I know with my dog the signs before he is going to go to the bathroom. He begins sniffing and walking in circles I know when he gets to that point we need to go out NOW. So watch for the signs of when they are about to go potty Another thing you might try is be out there with them and when they go potty as soon as they are done give them a treat. When you give them a treat when they come in after going potty they think they are getting the treat for coming in. They need associate the treat with going potty. I would also take up all the papers, and possible put them outside, they have learned they can go on the papers so move where then know they are allowed to go potty outside and eventually you will be able to stop putting the paper outside once they know to go out there

The way I got my dogs to stop going in the house was to take them for a walk. I take them for a walk before I leave the house. If I am not leaving the house I still take them for a walk in the morning. The dogs will pee everywhere. It also gets rid of some of their boredom and is great for bonding. Even a short walk works great. When I was gone for a couple of weeks and my dogs were not getting walked regularly they behaved very badly. My husband was ready to give them away. As soon as I got back and started walking them again they were fine. Walking is great exercise for you and your dogs. It may take awhile to get used to walking a number of dogs but the payoff will be worth your while. I would go to a pet store and see what kind of leashes they recommend. I think you can get multiple dog leashes. I also think the individual kennel idea is right on. Most rescue groups around here strongly recommend buying kennels for rescue dogs. Good Luck.

First of all, only feed them twice a day - once in the morning and once in the evening. Give them 20 minutes to eat and then take the food away. If they finish sooner, pick up the bowls and put them up high.(This is important!) Then put them outside immediately and tell them to go ( "go poopie.....go pee...sounds silly but try it - repeat this over and over) (My chihuahuas wait to be told! If I don't tell them, they don't go). A dog usually goes about 10 to 20 mins after it has eaten. No pottie and they don't come inside. If they do go inside, tell them "NO" (deep voice - not a yell) show them the place and put them outside. If they go outside praise them profusely (high voice) no treats. We have a new chi puppy and he is three months old. He does not get a chance to go in the house and he is now starting to ask to go outside! Buy each one a separate crate so they each have a space that is quiet and theirs. (The crate should be gig enough so they can stand, sit and turn around, but not so big that they can find a 'poop' corner.) Do not leave them in a large space (like in the kitchen) If you are not home or cannot watch them, they should be in their crate. Dogs love their crates and many will go to their crates on their own. They will not 'go' in their crates unless you do not give them a chance to go elsewhere ie - don't feed the dog and them put it directly in its crate - this should be obvious. They should be in their crates over night. This is not cruel - it give the dog a sense of safety and calms them. We have four dogs (2 chis, a shih tzu, and a choc. lab), and all love their crates. And I paid a special trainer who deals with 'special' dogs $200 for this information. Try it - its yours for free! Be consistent and persistent.

Hi, let them stay out until they do their thing. 2 When u get home before u let them out pick up the papers from the floor.3 When they do something in the house, make sure u catch them, let them smell what they did, pick them up by the scruf of the neck, tell them NO, and place them out. they r eally bad habits, they need to stop what they r doing wrong.. REMEMBER ALWAYS LUV/TRAIN/ CARE FOR YOUR DOG/ PET, THEY WIL ALWAYS LUV U..

I do have some suggestions, I hope they can help you :-) I have a yellow labrador and I got him a year ago, he learnt housebreaking within a month or so, I thought it was pretty good. I remember the first day when I brought him home, he pees, my partner and I kept paying attention on it so when we saw this, we said NO and took him right out to the back yard, repeated doing this when he did it agin and again; the other thing is remember to use only one door to let him out when he is a puppy so he realizes if he wants to do business, he can stay in front of the door and look at you. So make sure you keep an eye on him, when he does it in the house, say No and take him out at the same door everytime, say good boy when he does it outside, do it consistently, he will get it very soon. Good luck with your puppy :-)

keep them out longer.. once you feed them take them outside and leave them until they go pee or both

[i]Hello razzberry, that is really very irritating because then all that pottie things are to be cleaned every now and then.My cat is of same case she never pee or poop when she is locked inside my dinning room, but when she is left out she will just get her things done anywhere she wish too and then it is hard to find where she messed up, till she is locked up she will keep yelling there. I have tried to control and train her myself but that was so much impossible.I think they are to be trained that is the only thing, i see my aunt's cats they are so much mannered, they dont even sit on the couches if told so, they will only pee in the toilets and no where else.Plus they listen to whatever you talk to them[/i]

Hi Razzberry, I can understand your problem. Because my dog also likes to pee inside. But he is sensible, he goes inside the toilet and pees on the wall next to the door and my observation in respect of my dog is that when he goes out, he is in a hurry. While peeing at one spot, he smells the other spots where another dog has done his toilet. So after sprinkling few droplets, he rushes from one place to another and it is only when he is at home or in the garden that he urinates to the maximum. Rubbing dogs nose or punishing them is useless. My doctor told me that dogs prefer to urinate in the place where some other dog or they themselves have urinated before. So after cleaning that place,we should sprinkle it with talcum powder. Fragrance of talcum powders prevents them from smelling their or their friends' urine.