Housebreak an Abused Adult Dog
Hundreds of abused dogs are abandoned in local shelters and rescues every day. They are often unhealthy, untrained and frightened of people in general, making them a challenge to adopt. However, training and housebreaking a dog with a history of abuse is not impossible. But it does require a bit of time, effort and patience.
Instructions
1. Set your dog's crate in a quiet, low-traffic area of your home. Your dog's crate will serve as a home and a sanctuary to him. He will retreat there for comfort when the world around him gets too frightening. Add your dog's favorite bed and a few toys to his crate to give him a feeling of comfort and security.
2. Feed your dog on a set schedule. Abused dogs are often unfamiliar with structure. So feeding him at the same time every day will not only give him a feeling of order but will make determining when he might have to potty easier for you.
3. Designate an area of your yard as a potty spot. Choosing one area in your yard that the dog uses every time she goes potty will help her associate the potty command with the act of going potty and make cleaning the yard much easier for you. Be sure to select an area free of litter and debris to avoid injury.
4. Watch your dog carefully for signs that she needs to go outside. Sniffing, pacing and whining are often signs that she needs to go potty. Your dog will need to go upon waking and after filling her belly most urgently, giving you a good indicator of when she might have to go. Abused dogs often potty out of fear or when stressed, so try and stay as calm and upbeat as possible when taking her out.
5. Take your dog to the potty area and give her the command to go potty. It can be something as simple as "potty time" as long as you use the same phrase every time. Allow the dog a few quiet, undisturbed moments to go potty. Don't talk to or bother her and repeat the potty command and ignore her if she tries to play with you.
6. Praise her lavishly and offer her a few of her favorite treats once she goes potty. Most abused dogs have never been praised or shown affection. Telling her she's a good girl and feeding her a tasty treat will re-enforce that pottying outside when asked is a good behavior.
7. Repeat this routine as often as necessary until the dog no longer goes in the house. It may take just a few days, or it may take months depending on just how severely the dog was abused. Always encourage her and let her know she did good by going outside, and your formerly abused dog will grow into a stable, happy member of your family.
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