Housebreaking a shelter dog

[mikeyf26]

I adopted a dog last Wednesday, it is a 7 month old Lab/collie mix, she was spayed a day before I brought her home. She is very shy and scared often (but seems to be warming up slowly). She stays in her crate during the day while I work, however I have someone to take her out at 10, 12, and 2. She has not gone to the bathroom outdoors yet. She has soiled her cage and recently another part of the house. I usually take her for 10-15 minutes walks. Occasionally after walks I will put her in her crate and within 3-4 minutes she will eliminate in her crate. She has been a very obedient dog but I can not praise her if she doesn't go outside. how can I help the process, is this normal, am I just training her to go in her crate instead of outside, and how do I get her to go to the bathroom outside? I'm pretty sure she'll catch on if I praise her when she does it.

[the_gunny]

The crate may be to big. Dogs generaly won't elimante where they sleep. if you catch her in the act intrerupt her with a sharp nah! nad walk her to the door let her out and see if she finishes. say a phrase like go potty while she is going and do not praise until she finishes. do not play with her until she has gone outside.

[Dax]

Was she in a shelter? Long time? You are doing the right thing by treating her as a puppy and starting housebreaking from scratch.

Keep a close eye on her in the house so she can't have the accidents and be sure to feed her in her crate.

[erdog3]

She sounds really scared to me, do you stay with her outside, she needs heaps of reassurance, especially having the operation,(scary enough for a dog, I know, Sophie was done the other day), then straight to a new home.
Give it some time and patience, lots of love, games, toys.
After you feed her, take her outside, or for a short walk, she will soon have to go, then you can praise and bring her back in.

[ivysaur]

I also adopted a shelter dog about a month ago. He is a year old and was a stray. I thought he was house broken but recently he has been soiling our carpet. I don't have a backyard so I take him on walks 4-5 times a day. How should I go about training him?

[gypsy]

I agree with doglover, she is scared. Dogs that have come from shelters have gone through traumatizing experiences, not having had positive family lives, specially a dog that a stray. Having had the surgery on one day, and on the next day having been taken to a new home and a new owner, I must say, I feel compassion for this dog, she has to be scared and confused. The best thing to do when adopting a dog, (and I know this is far too late to even say this) is to spend of the first days at home with the dog, to make the transition easier. It will take some time for her to acclimate herself to her new home and family. This is all too new for her and too many changes at once in her life. Living her in the crate is the right thing to do, but when you are with her outside, come up with a word command of some sort for her to go potty, and say to her, once she does it you will praise her and play with her and make her so happy and she will gradually learn what is the right thing to do. Also, get a good produt to remove odors for the parts of your house that contain her scent, it is important to remove her scent from those spots so she won't smell them. When you are home with her, you must keep an eye on her all the time, the important thing is to catch her in the act, if you see her doing it in your house or in her crate, imediately correct her, say a forceful NO and take her instantly outside and once she resumes it outside praise her happilly. Good luck with your dog. My heart goes out to shelter dogs. They deserve a second chance in life. Believe me once she understands you are her new family she will be grateful to you and your best friend, life without her will be unimaginable. I adopted mine from a shelter back in early January, and today neither myself nor her even know there was a point in our lives she wasn't here. The accidents you are having are normal in the beginning, with consistency from your part it will all pass. But you must be forceful and consistent when catching her in the act!! Best of luck!!

[mikeyf26]

I appreciate all the advice! It helped put me at ease. There have been small steps in the right direction, at least I think so. The major problem I've begining to see is that she will not go infornt of me. I've never told her NO when she was going but I don't know if that has happened in her past.
I spent from 2:00 to 10:30 with her yesterday and she held it. this morning she had gone in her crate.
I know if she would actually go outside and I could praise her she would catch on, she seems to be receptive to praise.
How do I get her to go infront of me (preferably outside)?

[weimlover0816]

Take her out and tell her too pee. Stay out with her until she doe sand then tons of praise. Just like a puppy, take her out after EVERYTHING!!!! Eating, drinking, sleeping, playing, EVERYTHING!!
Give her a chance and she will get it, she just doesn't know what you want from her yet!!!