Potty Training for the Adolescent Dog
Should your Westie have got over ‘peeing’ in the house by the time it is an adolescent? Yes, but many Westies that are apparently house trained early, go through a short forgetful stage. Always be sure there are no low-grade infections at the root of the problem. One cause may be that when you find a puddle, you react (very normally) with anger, and perhaps punishment. This only heightens anxiety, and makes the dog make more mistakes. Dogs don’t make the connection between a puddle on the floor ,and your displeasure minutes, or hours later.
Food
If food is left out all day it makes elimination unpredictable time-wise. Food is best given as a small breakfast, and a larger supper, always about the same time, and left on the floor only about five minutes. Then, take it away - no more till next feeding time. (Water is available at all times to the dog, even when in the crate.) Five minutes seems like a short time, but most often the meal is consumed in one minute. The type of food you use is important. Most foods are ok, some are good, several are very good. The latter are easiest to get through a Vet. They cost more, but the advantages are (1) better nutrition, (2) smaller denser ‘poops’ which are easier to clean up, and (3) you feed less, thus bringing the price per serving in line with the cheaper food.
The Spot
Select a spot in your yard that you want used for ‘potty’ purposes all year long. It can be either, grass, or small pebbles, no less an area than about 6' x 4'. This also makes it easier for you to keep it clean.
Schedule
Westies will need to go out first thing in the morning, after their breakfast, just before you leave for work, as soon as you get home, after supper, and just before bed. Also, they should go out after any energetic play time. If you work away from home all day, it is a good idea to have someone drop in at noon to take the dog out. For a while, someone will have to go with the dog on leash each time it needs to go out. Take several small bits of food as a reward, and give them each time the dog ‘pees’ or ‘poops’, but only then. Be enthusiastic with your praise. This way it will learn what is wanted, and it will always have a positive experience. If perchance, nothing happens, there is no food reward given. Return to the house keeping the dog on leash. Go back outside again in about five minutes to provide another opportunity for success.
If you come home, and find a puddle on the floor, don’t scold the dog. If you scold, it has no idea what you are talking about even if you push its face in it. The dog will think you don’t like it any more, and it has no idea why. Do, without showing anger, take the dog to the spot outdoors, and wait. If you are rewarded by performance, treat and praise. If not, talk to the dog casually, and go inside. If at any time you catch the dog in the act, say nothing. Without showing anger, pick her up and go outside again to ‘the spot’. Say nothing. If you get results, reward and praise enthusiastically.
Note On Cleanups
Cleanup of messes should be done with warm water and disinfectant. First, mop the spot with a paper towel, wipe with warm water and disinfectant, blot dry. If this is on the carpet, clean as above, then cover with baking soda which will draw any water and urine to the surface to be vacuumed off when it is dry. If carpets are already stained (used often) the smell cannot be removed, only covered up. The carpet should be replaced if possible. Persistent smell in a carpet will suggest to the dog that this is an approved place.
In a nutshell, always praise and reward the positive, ignore the negative. Training will take time and effort on your part, but don’t give up. It will work. You’ll see improvement soon, and dependability should be in sight in a couple of months. The dog’s natural maturing will also be an asset in the training. Be consistent.
Author: Anne Matheson