My Westie has not been potty trained for almost three years. This summer, I plan to begin potty training him. I would like to know if there are any differences in the process for an adult dog and a puppy. In addition, I want to toilet train him using a kennel.
My daily schedule will be:
First thing in the morning, take him out of his crate and place him in the designated site for feces and/or urine. If he does not go, I will put him back in his cage, wait fifteen minutes, then return him to the spot until he goes potty.
Serve breakfast.
after eating, return to the feces or pee area.
3.When he is finished urinating or pooping, place him back in his box.
4 For dinner, repeat steps 3–4.
slumber in a cage
Is there anything about this potty training regimen that I should adjust?
Training an older dog to use the bathroom outside is similar to training a puppy, though it might take longer since they are accustomed to peeing indoors.
I potty trained a 2-year-old dog by consistently using a command and positive reinforcement. Whenever she peed or pooped during walks, I said “Go potty” and praised her, helping her associate the command with the action. I took her out in the morning, before bed, and every two hours during the day, using the command and praising her when she went.
Inside the house, I watched her closely. If she started to squat, I would quickly snap my fingers to get her attention, say “nope” in a gentle tone, pick her up, take her outside, and then praise her when she finished. If I found that she had already gone inside but didn’t see it happen, I simply cleaned it up without saying anything since she wouldn’t connect my words to the act.
While I’ve never used a crate for potty training, I understand how it can be effective, and your schedule seems well-planned to me.
If your dog has been having issues with indoor accidents, observe the times when these incidents happen. This can give you clues about when they might need to go out. Best of luck with the training!
At first, you should take them outside every two hours and praise them a lot. Each time they go outside, give them a treat that they can only get by going outside. To get them used to going outside every day instead of staying inside. Train just like you would a new puppy.
To potty train an adult dog, be patient and consistent. Set a routine for bathroom breaks—take them outside often, especially after meals and naps. Use a clear command like “go potty” and praise them when they comply. Watch them indoors and gently guide them outside if they start to go indoors. Clean accidents calmly to avoid encouragement. With time and positive feedback, your dog will learn.