I adopted a rescue yesterday. She's a two year old Aussie shepherd. She was previously housebroken. She's soooo well behaved and loyal already! I took her for 3 walks last night. She never peed or pooped outside. Overnight she pooped twice and peed inside. I walked her first thing this morning and again after eating. Nothing. I took her to the dog park for 2.5 hrs. She's incredibly social with people and other dogs. She ran around the entire field and played with a couple of other dogs. No peeing noted. I walked her a bit when we got back. Nothing. She's out cold now from her busy morning.
How do I get her back to being housebroken?
I don't want to crate her as she's never been crated and I don't want her to feel like she is being punished now.
Any advice?
Until she's trained, she stays in the crate unless someone is there and will keep an eye on her. If you spot her trying to go in the house, give her a firm NO and immediately take her out. When she goes outside, give her a treat and effusive praise.
when used correctly dogs use crates as a solace, a sanctuary where they can be alone when they want to. You should have a sheet over the crate so it's dark inside and maybe a couple toys or chew treats.
My dog now sometimes just goes in her crate on her own since the crate door is open.
She only is ever crated anymore when everyone is going out and we try not to leave her home alone too long, but when she senses we're all leaving she is smart enough to go and lay in her crate on her own.
I don't know if this will solve the housebreaking issue, but for us, our dog was in the crate and first thing we did when taking her out was bring her outside. Like Jim said they won't pee or poop in their crate unless you leave them in there too long, so when they come out of it they usually have to go and that helps train them to go outside. I assume.
You post sounds closer to: Reason the dog was available for rescue.
And... they are so STUBBORN. If she is going inside at 2 yrs that could be one of the main reasons someone gave her up. Tough to break that habit. On the crating, honestly I never was a fan but it helped to house break my Aussie (who would only go on a rug in the house). She refuses to soil where she sleeps, so she will literally never go to the bathroom in her crate. If she is going in the house at night you may want to try crating her for sleeping, and then bring her out first thing... at least until she starts going outside.
I know you can break that though, my dog still has accidents once in a while if she is in too long but she really wasn't getting the not going in the house thing for the 1st year (or more) of her life. Crating and removing rugs is what worked for me... oh, and their energy levels are through the roof. If mine doesn't get enough exercise she can slip.
We had a puppy who did and then also proceeded to eat the entire crate bed to shreds. but it's rare and usually it's a puppy with a small bladder that needs to go out every few hours or you left the dog in there too long. The crate should be size so it's not huge the dog should be able to stand and turn around, but not a lot of excess room and they won't go to the bathroom in it (generally speaking).
Pretty soon, she will see the crate as her personal den and even go in there on her own to relax in with the door open.
When you start crate training, don't leave her in that long, just 3-4 hours and then immediately take her outside to do her business. Then gradually increase that time.
Do the crate training, give some routine to her life, and shell be good to go
That explains why my English Bulldog likes to chill out in crevices. He'll wedge himself between two connecting sofa's and be right at home.
I am hoping it's just a case of her getting used to your routine Berry and that wouldn't surprise me. That said I know you'll get it worked out... enjoy that doggy!
I have a shetland sheepdog. He is a herder like your dog. Do you have a yard that she can go to the bathroom in without being leashed?
It is going to take time. The dog has to get comfortable with its new environment. I agree with you and the other posters. Yes, crates are great BUT this dog is older so you don't know the nature or history with crates. Yes, it absolutely can be a disaster if they piss/poop in the cage. I would do the crate thing but only during certain times and probably after she gets comfortable going outside.
Just keep saying a phrase. I say a dumb phrase but my dog gets it. I just say, "Do you have to go pee-pee or poo-poo?" He gets all excited. When the dog does go outside get very excited. I cannot speak for Australian Shepards but my herding dog does much better with positive reinforcement such as getting really excited and making a big deal about something. Not every dog is he same.
I think if the dog was house-broken then it won't take long for the dog to learn its new environment.
#1 - NEVER use the crate as punishment.
- You may want to initially leave the door open and put in treats or toys (whatever turns her on).
- use a consistent cheerful command; e.g. "kennel up"
- Be creative, buy a 1/4 " piece of plywood to cover the top of the crate and then find material that matches your room's decor to go over the crate. Makes a fine end table. (most seamtresses know how to make a crate cover with a flap.)
- If you're lucky the pet will enjoy going in the crate on command (e.g when you have company). Our goldens would eagerly obey "kennel up".
- You breed has LOTS of energy. You may find it helpful to crate the pet before company arrives and then let her out (if you want) a while later after she gets used to the calm voices from you and your guest. (Initial greetings are often problematic)
Dogs are smart they can get it. I would always put their nose close to the (pee or poop) and tap their snout a couple times while saying "no, no, bad boy". Don't hit them or push their nose into it, that would be cruel, but by just holding the nose very close to it, and with a couple small taps and the verbal correction most dogs will learn pretty quietly that is frowned upon behaviour and if they are properly praised when they do go outside they will learn to wait.
If you have a yard you could even after having corrected them take the poop and carry it (with them in tow) outside and place it in the area that you desire they relieve themselves. I train my dogs to go to the same back corner of the yard so the yard isn't a constant mess.
Ok, great: help out Berrylish.
I put down wee wee pads just as a precaution. She seems to favor that area. She hasn't barked since I got her so I'm not sure of what signals she may be throwing out there. She hasn't run up to me all antsy or jumpy to go outside.
She's definitely tuckered out from her busy day, so hopefully the damage tonight is minimal.
I put down wee wee pads just as a precaution. She seems to favor that area. She hasn't barked since I got her so I'm not sure of what signals she may be throwing out there. She hasn't run up to me all antsy or jumpy to go outside.
She's definitely tuckered out from her busy day, so hopefully the damage tonight is minimal.
What you need to do Beerylish. It can help you in sooo many ways as you have an active/protective breed.
LOL - it's a joke! Lighten up. In case you didn't understand the punch line, it was that the dog was "so smart" and a "quick learner".
How big is the crate? It should only be enough for the dog to comfortable turn around in. Any larger, your just inviting the dog to poop\pee in the corner of the cage that won't be near her.
If she pooped\peed in the crate while you were gone, try to use the divider that comes with these crates to make her space smaller.
The best advice I could give a dog owner is not to treat your dog like a human child. They're social animals who have an instinct to follow. They're comfortable in homes with structure and rules and someone they can identify as in charge.
Great job Berrylish. Keep up the the good work. Don't let down
conrats on the outside peepee -- that's got to feel good that you were able to turn this around.