Can you train a 2yr old puppy?

[zoe_star]

We adopted Zoe from an owner that was unsuccessful in house breaking her.
In fact her entire house became her potty pad. Her scent was everywhere. We thought if we took her out of that environment we could retrain her where to go potty. How's it going? Well I am here aren't I? Zoe, about 95 percent of the time goes on the potty pad we have in the bathroom and she always goes several times when we go for walks. The problem is when we are not looking, out of the room, or at work and at night when we are asleep, she will potty and poop on the carpet in our bedroom, or next to the pad. She go 10 times a day on her potty pad, but if we accidently leave the bedroom door open, she'll go in there and pee. Someone will suggest crating her, but i think she has seperation anxiety because she cries and whimpers for hours if she is not in the same room as us. Can a puppy of 2 years be broken of this habit. We dont want to give her back or our new house to be ruined like the previous owners house. Any suggestions would be great, THANKs

[MyTrixie143]

Originally Posted by zoe_star

We adopted Zoe from an owner that was unsuccessful in house breaking her.
In fact her entire house became her potty pad. Her scent was everywhere. We thought if we took her out of that environment we could retrain her where to go potty. How's it going? Well I am here aren't I? Zoe, about 95 percent of the time goes on the potty pad we have in the bathroom and she always goes several times when we go for walks. The problem is when we are not looking, out of the room, or at work and at night when we are asleep, she will potty and poop on the carpet in our bedroom, or next to the pad. She go 10 times a day on her potty pad, but if we accidently leave the bedroom door open, she'll go in there and pee. Someone will suggest crating her, but i think she has seperation anxiety because she cries and whimpers for hours if she is not in the same room as us. Can a puppy of 2 years be broken of this habit. We dont want to give her back or our new house to be ruined like the previous owners house. Any suggestions would be great, THANKs

Yes, even a 2 year old can be trained, I have trained dogs alot older than that with no problems. You could crate train her, and move the crate room to room to where she can always be with you. Or since you said she goes when you are not looking, tether her to your waist. This ensures that she does not wonder off and go pee when you are not looking or paying attention. Also, you have to train your pup to the like the crate if you choose to get one, majority of puppies hate their crates until they are trained to like them. To do that stick delicious treats and fun toys in your dog's crate and leave the door open. Let her wander in on her own time, don't force her. Throughout the day keep leaving treats and even putting her food in there. And never use a crate as a punishment. I also find that it helps to put a blanket or towel over the crate to give it the cozy den feel for your dog.

It sounds like at this point it would be easier to train her to go outside than on the pad. You can still train her on the pad if you need to. Put her where she is suppose to go(outside,pad) and tell her "go potty" if she does not go put her in her crate or tether her to you. In about 15 minutes try it again and keep doing so until she goes. Once she goes praise her like crazy and give her a delicious treat. In addition, play with her after she goes, it will sweeten the deal. If it helps, write down her potty schedule. For instance, if she can only hold it for 5 hours then you know that you have to take her to go potty atleast every five hours. You first have to figure out whether or not you are going to crate her or not and whether you are going to continue with the pad or have her go outside. Outside is less confusing because then she won't be allowed to go in the house and only outdoors whereas a pad is inside of the house. When you are at work or sleeping at night where does she stay??
I hope this helps you, if you have any questions just ask.

[Olivier]

You can trained a dog at all ages . Recently , my friend rescued a 7 years old dog and began to train him on pee pads .

[Erin]

I think because she is already used to going on carpet that you will have a difficult time if you continue to use pads. Try housetraining her and eliminating the pads. She will do better with the inside/outside distinction. It is also important that you crate train because otherwise she WILL make mistakes and she has never been taught to hold it until someone can let her out. She needs to learn that before she will ever learn to go in a specific spot.

[zoe_star]

We would love to be able to crate her but how can a little one hold it for so long, we are a mon-fri 7-3 family. She can't hold it all day, can she??

[zoe_star]

We tried to confine her at night and she cries and scratches and whimpers for hours and hours, that can't be healthy either.

[shecass]

Originally Posted by zoe_star

We would love to be able to crate her but how can a little one hold it for so long, we are a mon-fri 7-3 family. She can't hold it all day, can she??

You will be amazed at how long she can hold it. If you are concerned do you have someone that you trust that can come and let her out around lunch time? If not she may pee or poop a few times but, it won't take her long to get the hang of it. Yorkies have by far been the easiest dog's that I have every housebroken.

I also agree about not using the pads. My opinion only I not a lot of people use them. I've never used them, both of my dogs go outside and are completely housebroken. I have a 2 year old and a 10 month old. Consistency is the key. These are smart little guys they can get the hang of it. Some just take a little longer than others.

Good luck.

[MelAnnDoll]

I am in the same situation, only she is 8 months instead of 2 years...and it's my fault she is not trained! We did really well with her when she was little, but I got depressed and couldn't get out of bed to go to work, etc. So Cappi suffered because of it. Now I have an 8 month old who is not crate trained or house broken. I work from home, so I would like to get her on a schedule. My questions, when I take her out, how long do I wait for her to "go"? Also, how do you crate train a dog that is used to having run of the house? If I am home do I put her in another room that is quiet like downstairs, or is it better for her to be in her crate in the room with me? I guess I just need help with a starting out schedule for not a puppy. Any info would be appreciated!!!

[MyTrixie143]

Originally Posted by MelAnnDoll

I am in the same situation, only she is 8 months instead of 2 years...and it's my fault she is not trained! We did really well with her when she was little, but I got depressed and couldn't get out of bed to go to work, etc. So Cappi suffered because of it. Now I have an 8 month old who is not crate trained or house broken. I work from home, so I would like to get her on a schedule. My questions, when I take her out, how long do I wait for her to "go"? Also, how do you crate train a dog that is used to having run of the house? If I am home do I put her in another room that is quiet like downstairs, or is it better for her to be in her crate in the room with me? I guess I just need help with a starting out schedule for not a puppy. Any info would be appreciated!!!

When you take her outside to go only wait for 5, 10 minutes top any longer and she will foget what she is suppose to do and you want to train her to go right away instead of her taking a half hour to go. If she does not go for those 10 minutes take her and put her back in her crate. In 15 take her out and try again and keep doing this until she goes. When she does go praise her like crazy and give her a treat. Also, don't forget to 1. ask her "do you got to go potty" right before you go out the door and 2. tell her "go potty" once she is outside where you want her to go. The first one is so that she will be able to tell you if she has to go out when you ask this and the second one is so that she knows what is expected from her when you take her outside and give her this command.

I would have to say that it is better if she is in a crate in the same room as you are.

If you keep track of how often she goes and many times a day she goes then you can try to give her run of the house if you keep with it. For example, scampers needs to go out every 5 hours except at bedtime so he gets let out 4 times a day every 5 hours. Now I know that he has to poop and pee first thing in the morining and right before bed and the other times he just has to pee. So I know that if I take him out in the morning and he does not go both that I can't let him out to go play otherwise he will have an accident. When he does go both I can let him out for awhile because I know his tank is empty and don't have to worry about him having an accident. Of course you have to keep up with it like clock work other wise they will have accidents. Consistency is the key.

Your best bet however is to just crate train her. Let her out first thing in the morning to go to the bathroom. If she goes then you can let her out for awhile based on her bathroom schedule.

I wish you the best of luck with training!!!!

[MelAnnDoll]

thanks you mytrixie! One more thing...how do I go about crate training her now? I know to put her in it tonight when we go to bed (i'll put it in the bedroom) and then what would be a good crate schedule to try out tomorrow? Since she's not a puppy she doesn't need to sleep as much. I just don't know how it will work when I am here...she's gonna want to come out to play!

Melissa

[SnowWa]

I agree that a dog of any age can be trained.

Often there is a little extra work involved because "old habits" have to be changed, but with good training methods and a little extra patience, there is no reason a dog of any age can't be trained.

I think a dog's entering a new environment might even be the best and easiest time to make these changes.

Good luck! Carol Jean

[zoe_star]

Well were are going for tough love and trying the crate method. We eliminated to potty pads and we are going to try to train her to go outside exclusively. Everyone tells us that she will be able to hold it all day, we'll find out. Were going to 2 meals a day, once in the AM when we get up at 6am, then go potty outside, then in the crate. Home by 4pm, potty outside, then dinner then potty outside before bed. It sure sounds easy on paper, but were willing to try it, a happy dog is a trained dog.....thats no secret.

[MelAnnDoll]

Well, I decided to give crate/potty training a chance as well, and Zoe, I sure hope it is going better for you than it is for me! Here's how it went.

Outside 9:50-10pm nope
Crate 10pm-1:20am (good job!)
Outside 1:20am-1:30am nope
Crate/Crying 1:30-2:20am
Silence 2:20-2:30(YEA!)
Whining 2:30am decide to take her out again...look down and she is out of her crate!!!! That explains the silence!!!

Anyway, after that she slept with me the rest of the night until 6am. She did poop in the 10 minutes she was out of her crate...couldn't find any pee.

Tried to take her out twice this morning...nothing

Had to leave from 6:45-7:45...confined her to kitchen.

Still hasn't went as of 9:09am!!! I am rotating...keeping her in the crate for 15 minutes and then trying to take her out. I dont' know what I'm gonna do if she doesn't pee outside soon!!!! Sorry, I had to get all that out!! Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[zoe_star]

Zoe goes in and out of her crate on her own, she even sleeps in it already, now we have to try it with the door close.....ugh!!!
We have elminated the potty pad and she did not go on the floor where it was yet, we know this is not control just luck :-)

[MelAnnDoll]

well, it's now 11am here and still no pee pee! I will keep trying every hour. She is being good in her crate, but I can tell she is getting antsy. Maybe we'll do a walk if she doesn't go this next time.

That's great that zoe is doing good with her crate. Cappi is warming up to it. I keep it right next to me and if i try to go get something from another room she doesn't like that!