The art and science of adopting a dog can run the gamut of two extremes: puppy or adult. Potty training an older dog is just as real a problem as trying to potty train a puppy. Just don’t fall for the old adage that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. This is simply not true. First of all, potty training is not a gimmick, it is a discipline that older dogs can learn just as easily as a younger dog.

So what’s the “trick” to potty training an older dog? Here are some tips:

Just like with real estate, potty training your senior dog is all about location. outside. Teach your adult dog to eliminate after him in the garden and not in the house. Keep in mind that when it comes to an adult dog, it is much easier to train it to do something new, rather than not to do it. Old habits really do die with adult dogs, so if your dog is already used to potty training in the house, your job in training your adult dog is not to stop pottying on the living room rug, but go out An alternative option, instead of stopping doing what has already become a habit.

As with most dog training techniques, consistency is the key to success. The same goes for potty training. Being consistent here means showing your adult dog that he has a special place, his own outdoor toilet, where he gets to get the job done, all the time. A small spot on the patio would be ideal. Repeated visits to the same spot will give your dog a reference that he can use to learn where he is expected to go to the bathroom. And, as harsh as it may seem, keeping the spot dirty until your dog gets used to using the spot as a potty will make training your dog easier.

Keep your vocabulary consistent too. Don’t use a lot of different words when describing your adult dog “pooping.” Think of it as issuing other types of commands, like sit and stay. In this case… potty. Or something like that. Just pick a word or phrase and keep it the same.

If a potty malfunction occurs in the house, get rid of the evidence as soon as possible. Because a dog’s muzzle is very sensitive, he might mistake the smell of urine or feces for the smell of the potty, and therefore the potty stain. Cleaning with a deodorizing agent should help here.

Adult dogs do not want to sleep where they go to the bathroom. So arrange your bedrooms in such a way that they can sleep there, maybe move around a bit, but nothing more. Then, when your dog wakes up in the morning, make it a habit to take him outside to his special potty spot, so he gets used to where to go when nature calls.

As with human adults, adult dogs should not eat as much food or drink as much water right before bed. This will prevent your dog from having an accident while sleeping. You don’t want to test the theory that your adult dog would be able to run out of the house to his special spot in the yard in the middle of the night.

This brings us to the access your dog will need to get to his special potty spot. For this, you’ll want to install a doggie door or, like my next-door neighbor does, just leave the door open. Of course, not every neighborhood provides the safe and secure atmosphere that my neighbor does, so if neither the dog door nor the open door work safely for you, then you’ll need some kind of notifier who can teach you how to your dog. so you know it’s time to go to the bathroom. A bell or similar noisemaker would be perfect. A “ringle” to go “tingling”.

Potty training an older dog is just a matter of not being lazy. Use these tips, combined with a lot of love and a lot more patience, and you’ll do just fine training your dog to doo.