How to house train an older dog

You can’t teach an older dog new tricks, right? Wrong! A trained dog is happy - pups relish discipline and routine, it makes them feel secure, settled, and comfortable knowing their place in your home human pack. It’s all-natural, honey! So, if you find yourself as a pet parent with an adult dog who’s a bathroom anarchist, you might wonder where to start with the most important of rules: Potty training.

Dog potty training is often achieved when a pup is young, however, certain circumstances can lead to certain… accidents. Don’t be shy, let’s find out how to house-train an older dog and put paws on potty-training presumptions.

Why might an older dog need potty training?

Sometimes, an adult dog or senior pup might need to be re-trained to use the bathroom. This is no fault on their pet parents, but part of the aging process (like humans). This can include:

• Lack of mobility or joint issues
• They need an indoor toilet
• Lack of cognitive abilities (sight, hearing, etc.)
• Age-related health issues

This just means their routine needs to be changed and some new rules enforced with gentle training. However, adopted or fostered senior dogs may have previously been somewhere they were never potty trained in the first place. For example, because of:

• Lack of training or discipline
• They’ve never lived outside
• They’ve only been trained to go on concrete or paper
• Health problems not age-related

While adult dogs still respond well to new training and tricks, rescued pups might need a bit more guidance and patience when house training. 

Tips on how to house-train an older dog

Pick a place to pee

For them, not you! This is all part of beginning a new routine for house training. If they’re showing signs of mobility issues, your vet may suggest an indoor bathroom for them. There are plenty of indoor pee and poop pads to choose from online (or that your vet will recommend) which are hygienic and odor protected.

If you’re starting from scratch with potty training an adult dog decides where they can take potty breaks in the morning, throughout the day, and before bedtime. Consistently keep to a regular spot - be it your backyard, a place outside your apartment block, or a patch of grass near your home - so your pup becomes familiar and accustomed to the area. Are a while, seeing this spot with trigger your dog to use the bathroom without being told.

A routine with potty breaks

Tying into that first point, pups need a good routine, particularly if you’re teaching them something new.  Consistency is key, so regulate frequent potty breaks throughout the day. The older your doggo the more frequent these bathroom breaks may need to be. You may find your doggo doesn’t need to go as often as you suggest, and that’s okay. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

Look out for signs they need to go

Very important! Being able to read your pup’s body language is key to fixing a routine for potty breaks and avoiding early accidents. Some common signs they need the bathroom are:

• Pacing in circles
• Barking, scratching, or whining at the door
• Sniffing the floor

When in doubt, let them out!

Make sure they’re crate trained

We know this is meant to be about one type of dog training, but all lessons are connected. Crate training is an important part of discipline and routine training, it also helps them learn to hold their bladders for a few hours at a time, rather than just going to the bathroom whenever. 

Related article: How to crate train an older dog

Paw-sitive reinforcement

Finally, the rule favored by all puppers is positive reinforcement. Most dogs respond best to reward-based training, so along with plenty of comfort and patience, make sure you have their favorite toy or treat to hand. This can include rewarding them for not using the toilet - if they’ve gone a few hours without an accident, reward them, let them out, and reward them again once they’ve done their business. It’s better for the pup and it helps build that paw-some parent-pup bond and relationship.

Potty training a rescue dog

Every dog, regardless of their age or history, deserves to be trained with patience and kindness. This is especially important when it comes to training rescue pups. An older dog with an unknown history is a potential risk to their new pet parents. Of course, it’s entirely up to you as their parent as to how you would like to train them, but often starting out with some professional guidance is advised. As always, consult your vet before making any big doggo decisions.

Are you a new pet parent to an older dog who needs house training? Or perhaps you have some potty training pearls of wisdom to share with other canine carers? Head to our Community Forum to share the love and knowledge of pet care with other pet lovers. Otherwise, browse our list of trusted dog sitters near you to find the paw-fect sitter to care for your precious pooch.