Potty Training for Shelter Dogs

Many of the dogs available in animal shelters are already housebroken, and this information is included with the animal's description. However, adult dogs that come to shelters as strays will require a little work in teaching them how to "potty" in their new home. Following some basic steps will make the task relatively easy.

  1. A Puppy is a Puppy

    • Housebreaking a puppy can take some time.

      The techniques for housebreaking a puppy are the same, whether said puppy comes from a shelter or a breeder. Some puppies are too young to have any bladder control, and so accidents will happen. As the puppy gets older and has better control, newspapers or pretreated pads are generally set next to the door the puppy would go out of. Pretreated pads are available at pet stores and entice the puppy to use them. Once the puppy gets into the routine of using the paper, the paper can be moved outside. From there, the puppy gets the notion that outside is the place to do its business. Crate training is also an option with puppies and might not take as long as the newspaper method.

    Adult Shelter Dogs

    • Establish an "outside" routine.

      It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to housebreak an adult dog. The more time and attention devoted to the dog, the faster the dog will "get it." The dog should be let outside the first thing in the morning and right before bedtime to establish a routine. This gets the dog used to the owner's schedule. When the dog cannot be supervised, it should be confined to a specific area, such as a large dog crate, the kitchen or the bathroom. Dogs should not be confined on a carpeted area, which is more difficult to clean up. About 20 minutes after a meal, the dog should be let outside, taken to the same spot each time and given a verbal cue, such as "potty now." Eventually the dog will cobble to the cue. When inside, a dog should be watched for signs that it has to "go."

    What Are the Signs?

    • Reward the dog for "doing its business" outside.

      Usually an adult dog will exhibit signs that it needs to eliminate. These include sniffing the floor, as it looks for a choice spot, circling, or nervousness. The dog does not want to "soil its den," but if it has to go...it has to go. The dog should be taken outside whenever it exhibits such a sign. While that might mean a lot of unnecessary trips and false alarms, its better than a soiled floor. The dog should be praised when it eliminates on its "bathroom spot" outside.

    Avoid Punishment

    • Housebreaking might take a while...don't give up.

      Dogs should not be punished for having accidents inside a house. Accidents are going to happen. Catching the dog in the act is a good opportunity to reinforce training, such as by immediately taking it outside so it can finish eliminating. Rubbing a dog's nose in a spot it has soiled is more detrimental than helpful and only serves to frighten the dog.

    Going For a Walk

    • Walking the dog can help with housebreaking.

      Dogs love to go for walks...the activity is good for people, too. For dog owners without a fenced backyard, a walk is a good way to get their pet to eliminate outdoors. Conscientious dog owners carry plastic bags to pick up dog poop. The owner should continue walking the dog after it eliminates so the dog will not delay eliminating during an outing because it does not want to cut the walk short.

    Cleaning up Indoor Accidents

    • Areas where the dog has eliminated indoors should be thoroughly cleaned to remove the urine smell and thereby remove the incentive for the dog to go there again. Rinsing the area, blotting it dry, and using a wet-vac should suffice. Adding an odor neutralizer specific to pet stains can help. These can be found in most pet shops and grocery stores.