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Nothing is as exciting as welcoming a rescue dog into your home vicinity. It shares the same feeling as if there is an addition of a new family member. However, things may not go straight if that rescued dog is not house-trained previously. Moreover, it might be possible that he used to follow a different schedule, and you want to train him on your terms.
Therefore, all you need is to re-house train a rescue dog to your specifications. Some pet parents assume it is difficult to house-train an older dog. Fortunately, house training or potty training is actually much easier for a senior dog. Most people think older dogs, much like older people, are already set in their ways and refuse to change. But all that it requires is patience and consistency.
Here you will get potentially useful tips. So don’t skip it out and read on.
House training of a rescue dog
You will want to follow these guidelines if you want to successfully House train your dog.
1. Find and clean a potty spot
First, when planning to house-train a dog, you have to find a perfect spot. Moreover, always bring your dog to the same spot every time he needs potty breaks. It will help your dog to associate that place with the toilet. Likewise, dogs have a powerful sense of smell that also assists them in reaching that spot.
However, if you don’t pay attention to taking your dog to the same spot, he might get confused and end up having an accident in your home. Therefore, always follow a strict schedule along with a fixed spot for house training of your dog.
2. Show consistency in the schedule
Always follow the golden rule of a dog’s house training i.e.
Consistency, consistency, and consistency
If you want a successful house-training session for your dog, make a strict schedule and then follow it. It is necessary to take your doggy outside according to a pre-planned schedule. Here is an example:
- At 7 AM = Morning! Take your dog outside for a walk, come back home, and enjoy breakfast
- At 8 AM = Take him out again for a potty break, perform some longer exercises
- At 10 AM = Go outside for a potty break
- At 12 PM = Potty break
- At 2 PM = It’s snack time! Take him again for a potty break 20 minutes after snacking
- At 4 PM = Potty break and park time for more extended exercise session
- At 6 PM = Enjoy dinner with your dog and then take him outside to do his business after half an hour
- At 9 PM = Last potty break of the day for your dog
- Overnight = Schedule an outside trip as needed
Are you getting afraid to see a hectic schedule that demands your attention throughout the day? Don’t worry, as most of the senior rescue dogs take only 3 to 5 days to potty train.
However, in the beginning, consistency is the key that you have to pay attention to.
3. Sharpen your observations
During the training and learning session, don’t allow your dog to roam about your home freely. By doing so, there are chances of accidents by your dog at some hidden spots. The major disadvantage of this is the scented area that will attract your dog for potty breaks – thus, confusion.
Moreover, it will be better to restrict the movement of your rescue dog to only 2 to 3 rooms of your house. Otherwise, the training session will prolong and become boring and hectic for you.
Therefore, avoid it as much as you can.
4. Search out supportive clues
House training of a rescue dog will be successful if you learn to understand the body language of your dog. For this purpose, you have to observe him closely whenever he is with you. Moreover, keep a close eye on his body postures and movements when you take him outside.
For an instant, he might start circling, sniffing, sliding, and becoming restless whenever he needs to poop. If you get yourself at home in understanding these clues, you will end up in a successful house-training session with grace.
5. Don’t forget to applaud your dog
There is nothing as motivating as praise. Therefore, when you accompany your dog, and you see him getting the right spot for potty and doing his business well, don’t forget to praise him. You can simply show affection by patting his back or by offering delicious treats.
This act will bring about positive reinforcement in your dog to do things that way. Moreover, it will also help to add charm and fun throughout the training session. Lastly but most importantly, it will help to strengthen the bond.
6. Wash the accident spots with deodorizers
In order to avoid the recurrence of accidents, you have to clean these spots with deodorizers. We know that dogs have an extraordinary sense of smell; therefore, the scent can draw your dog towards itself, thus ruing your previous efforts. For this purpose, you need to get rid of this odor.
Certain commercial products are available in the market to deodorize accident spots. However, you can simply use tap water for soaking and then apply baking soda or vinegar to get rid of the odor.
How to maximize chances of success in house training of a rescue dog?
Follow these golden rules for successful house training of your rescue dog:
Take your time – don’t hurry up, as things take time, and always remember that each dog has its own pace. Therefore, keep patience and be consistent.
Watch for incontinence – if your dog is constantly disobeying your commands and fails to pick up the potty station, you need to visit a vet or a dog trainer.
Take time off – Dog house training demands time. Therefore, it will be okay if you take some days off from work to spend quality time with your dog.
Conclusion:
Look, you’re already a hero in my book for taking on a rescue dog. It truly breaks my heart to see any pet confined to a rescue shelter. It really will make your heart smile in the end. House training of a rescue dog is not a big deal as it is similar just like a newly born puppy. All it needs is your time, patience, and consistency to follow a handsome schedule. Moreover, don’t forget to appreciate the good deeds of your dog as it adds interest and charm to the training session.
