housebreaking an older dog
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Tulsa-Dan
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Five months is that much "older," and I don't think you will have any more trouble housebreaking a 5 month old as you would (maybe less trouble) than a puppy. There are many good posts here on housebreaking (puppys mostly) and they apply equally to an older dog. The positive reward method seems to work very well and keeping the dog on a strict schedule as well. It will take some time, but you CAN teach an older dog new tricks.
Good luck with your decision. I'm sure you'd make a wonderful parent for a friend who needs a good home.
Good luck with your decision. I'm sure you'd make a wonderful parent for a friend who needs a good home.
monty'smum
Completely Boxer Crazy
My Glen Terrier was 8 months old when I got him. He'd been kept outside in kennels with the breeders other glens. She warned me he wouldn't be house trained.
When we got him home he peed as soon as he put his paws on carpet (I think he must have thought he was on grass). He also panted a great deal inside as I guess he was used to cooler temps. After a couple of days he aclimatised to the temps in the house and was fine.
Potty training took a week it was very similar to puppy training Monty. Owain was used to going whenever the urge took him but the difference was he would go behind the furniture or in a corner, not as Monty who would go where ever he was at the time. A few days of careful watching, a firm no when caught doing it in the house and lots of praise when doing it outside paid off and he was soon trained.
Looking back now I'm not sure who was easier to train. I constantly watched my 7week puppy and he was taken outside about every 30 minutes apart from when he was sleeping. With Owain, still a puppy but older the signs were easier to spot.
Good luck as long as you are consistent I'm sure you'll have few problems.
When we got him home he peed as soon as he put his paws on carpet (I think he must have thought he was on grass). He also panted a great deal inside as I guess he was used to cooler temps. After a couple of days he aclimatised to the temps in the house and was fine.
Potty training took a week it was very similar to puppy training Monty. Owain was used to going whenever the urge took him but the difference was he would go behind the furniture or in a corner, not as Monty who would go where ever he was at the time. A few days of careful watching, a firm no when caught doing it in the house and lots of praise when doing it outside paid off and he was soon trained.
Looking back now I'm not sure who was easier to train. I constantly watched my 7week puppy and he was taken outside about every 30 minutes apart from when he was sleeping. With Owain, still a puppy but older the signs were easier to spot.
Good luck as long as you are consistent I'm sure you'll have few problems.
I got Maximus at 4 months old. We believe the breeder abused him and he was kept outside in a kennel on concrete.when we got him home he didnt even know what to think of grass, within a month id say he got the idea. Hes 10 months now and still has an occassional accident but I dont have the heart to yell at him and say no :rolleyes: what can I say I guess im a sucker but I stll feel so bad for him and what he must have gone through!!! I agree with the others by saying I feel that its easier at an older age I think they comprhend a little more. Lots of Luck to you and im sure everything will work out just fine :D
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