How to house train a new mature dog?

[Stephen Rathbone]

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Hi all
We have just rescued a 2 1/2 year old whippet/lurcher cross bitch called Honey. We already have a sha pai/lab cross dog called Jimmy. The two dogs get on great and she has really settled in well.
The only issue we have is Honey messing in the kitchen during the night. She is clean during the day, but every morning we come down to a little present in the morning. Its both poo and wee.
The rescue center are very surprised to hear this. Any advise on curing this would be very much appreciated

 

[JoanneF]

It's possible she may have been scolded or punished in the past for toileting in the house. That often makes dogs reluctant to toilet when someone is around so they wait for an opportunity to do it when you are gone (or seek an opportunity to do it in a different place).

Perhaps a vet check to see if it is definitely behavioural and not medical but after that back to basics with toilet training. Out more often than she needs, immediate (so it clearly is for the toilet and not for anything else) praise and reward for outside toilets with a huge happy dance - maybe even a special reward only used for outside toilets.

 

[JudyN]

If you can work out what time she's doing this, you could also try getting up in the night, taking her out (on lead, very little interaction, you don't want to encourage this!) and encouraging her to go. I'd be a little wary of this though, as there is a chance that it'll become a habit. But it could at least get her out of the habit of pooing & weeing in the kitchen.

If it's a case of her needing to go, shifting her evening meal might help. So say feeding her at 5pm results in her pooing at 5am, feeding her at 7pm instead might mean she can hold on to 7am.

 

[Stephen Rathbone]

Hi again
Thank you both so much for your advise. Well, the steps we took worked instantly!!!!
We started by letting both our dogs sleep on our bed with the bed room door shut.
Then it was no food after 4pm. No water after 8pm.
We now give them a short walk in early evening.
She is now as clean as a whistle
Again, thank you

 

[JoanneF]

Excellent news, although withhlding water can be harmful to their health so maybe reconsider that?

 

[Violet Turner]

excellent news!!!!!!