Introduction
This isn’t a topic I usually write about, but I have a feeling it might come in handy for anyone who struggles with housebreaking an adult dog. At the same time, I remind you I am not a veterinarian. Please contact your pet’s veterinarian before applying anything you find online, regarding physiological processes.
Housebreaking a dog at any age can be very frustrating. Sometimes you have several days with no accident, you feel you’re making progress. Other times it’s the exact opposite and you can’t explain why you’re back to square one, even if you’re doing everything right.
After trying many different things I found online, I realized that I had to be strategic about it. I used self development books and applied the techniques I found to housebreaking an adult dog. I’ve linked all the books I’ve referenced. All of them are free.
Here’s a little step-by-step that I’m pretty sure will have your dog housebroken in less than a week.
Why is my dog still peeing or pooping in the house?
It’s difficult not to get upset about the accidents, I know. You feel you’re doing everything right and then he pees somewhere he’s totally not supposed to, making it seem like a vengeful act.
Odds are it’s probably not. It’s just a management issue.
Start with the Why.
Here’s my example.
The subject in question is my dog, a 1 year old Doberman named Kenny. He’s had a pretty inconsistent upbringing. He left the kennel relatively late, at 4 months, ended up with a family that couldn’t keep him and then changed households again, ending up in mine. Dobermans are fairly easy to train, however Kenny switched homes, spent some time in pet boarding where he could just go anytime he felt he needed. He even got hit by a car and had an entire month of no potty training, as he was recovering from surgery.
Needless to say, this dog has been through a lot. All these events affected his normal housebreaking rhythm. He ended up being a young adult dog that kept having accidents in the house.
So I had to be strategic about it.
Housebreaking is All About Timing
Dogs that are about 1 year old can hold it for 6-8 hours. If they’re not doing it, they’re understanding something wrong. Older dogs can hold it even more (although I really don’t recommend anyone forcing their dog to wait more than 8 hours without going outside. In time, this can cause medical issues.
As a dog owner, you have to anticipate when your dog has to pee or poop. Just remember, everything is under your control. You decide when to feed him, you probably cause him to wake up from naps, you have control over the water intake. Like Gay Hendricks says, ‘time flows from you.’ Therefore, you can anticipate when your dog has to go. If he’s in the right place at the right time, eventually he will get the message that it’s OK to go outside.
When does your dog need to go?
Most dogs need to go pee right after they wake up, naps included. Some dogs, as is mine, need to go number 2 in the following hour after a meal. That implies at least two morning walks instead of one: the first one right after they’ve woken up, the second one after breakfast.
During the housebreaking phase, always take your dog out before leaving him alone in the house. Even if it’s just for a little while. Dogs may have to go, but not want to upset you, and so they’ll wait until you’re gone.
Take your dog out right before dinner and an hour after.
The walks after meals should be the longer ones, so your dog has enough time to poop.
Last but not least, take your dog out right before you go to sleep, regardless of the hour.
Build simple systems
In order for housebreaking an adult dog to be achieved in very little time, it’s important to have systems in place. They must be really easy to implement. Just like in Atomic Habits.
Below are some suggestions.
1. Feed your dog at the same time, every day
If your dog has its meals every day at the same hours, he’ll most likely have bowel movements at the same hours. That will make it easier for you to anticipate when he has to go and establish a scheduled routine.
For example, if your dog has two meals, you can feed him in the morning at around 8am and in the evening at around 7pm. This way, the meals are set apart well enough for him to have a healthy day while dinner is early enough to help him wind down.
Your dog will probably have a slight energy spike right after a meal so be prepared to take him/her out during the following hour.
2. Have an intake cut-off time
While yes, it’s true, dogs should have water available for them at any time, during housebreaking an adult dog you have to be a little more strict. While you’re housebreaking an adult dog, don’t have water available for him at nighttime. They should get used to the fact that nighttime is for sleeping and no other activities are available.
For example, if dinner is at 7pm, water can be restricted at around 8:30 pm, giving you time for one or two walks before bed. Keep in mind that dogs get thirsty after eating, especially if it’s industrial food. And don’t forget the energy spike after every meal.
3. Adopt your dog’s sleeping habits
A dog owner’s sleep schedule is not for everybody. Lots of us, myself included, prefer to sleep in during the weekends or stay up late.
Your dog will sleep more than you do, so matching sleep schedules will only apply at night. Even if you took him out twice after dinner, be sure to take them out last thing before you go to sleep. This way, you will both be asleep at the same time for most of the night. This might even prove to be helpful for you as you get to go to bed earlier.
4. Be ready to go at any time
Most healthy dogs become restless when they have to go. Chances are you can hear them fussing about before they have their accident. Have the leash and poop bags, together with your jacket and slip-on shoes ready, at the door, always.
My habit change for this was switching my morning routine to an evening routine (exercise, shower, deep cleaning). My evening routine (reading, writing, researching) was moved to the morning, right after the dog’s first walk. I feel this actually helped me, professionally, but that’s a different story.
Aside from switching routines, I started sleeping in gym clothes instead of pajamas (or nothing). This way any time I heard he was restless, it would take under 2 minutes to leave the house, giving him less time for accidents.
5. Try not to wake him during the night
Dogs try to pay as much attention to their primary caregivers as possible. Even at night. Remember, any time he wakes up, he probably has to pee.
After bedtime, it’s best you ignore your pet and try to make as little noise as possible. The idea is for your dog to have as many uninterrupted hours of sleep as possible during the night.
Be patient and consistent
After 3-5 days of applying all of the above, I’m sure you’ll notice an improvement. However, there may be days in which you cannot control the situation and accidents might occur. Just remember to keep your patience and consistently apply the systems that you’ve built. That’s why, above all, it’s most important for the systems to be easy to apply in your particular situation. Dogs are flexible creatures and eventually will adopt your routine, as long as you apply your routine consistently.
Eventually you’ll both start understanding each other better and start being less strict, falling into a sustainable rhythm.