How to House Train an Adult Dog: A Step-by-Step Guide for Success

Have you adopted an adult dog and discovered they’re not yet housetrained? This is a common issue with adopted dogs or those who have moved to new homes from where they’ve spent a few years. New homes mean new anxiety and stress. These emotions often cause housetraining challenges in their new environment.

Any dog of any age can be trained using positive association and reinforcement. Follow this housetraining guide, of how to housetrain an adult dog, to help you overcome this challenge and be on your way to an accident-free home and a great relationship with your dog.

Just because a dog is an adult doesn’t mean they’re housetrained. This is especially true for dogs who have been recued from a bad situation, rehomed , neglected or allowed to relieve themselves indoors for a long time. Training rehomed or recue dogs can sometimes be very challenging.

The main difference between adult dog housetraining versus a puppy is their ability to contain themselves longer. Most young puppies must relieve themselves every hour and a half; more often if active.

But if the adult dog hasn’t had any experience learning how to contain themselves at any time, or in any situation, it will be shorter intervals between taking them to their relief zones, much like a puppy.

Realistically, adult dog housetraining can be as time consuming and challenging as house training for a puppy. The main difference being that adult dogs tend to have a longer attention span and a physically better ability to control themselves than a young puppy.

Consistency creates reliability. You need to maintain a consistent schedule to be successful potty training an adult dog.

Here’s a few important points to follow to develop a dog potty routine:

• Keep a consistent feeding schedule. A good example is 6 am and 5 pm, for feedings.

• Maintain a consistent relief schedule. Take your adult dog outside to their relief zone at the same time every day. If you cannot do this, do your best to follow a similar schedule as closely as possible. There are specific times when this is most important.

  • First thing in the morning

  • Within 30 minutes after meals

  • After exercise or training

  • Just before bedtime, which should also be at a specific time every day.

It is very helpful if you observe your dog closely as much as you can to recognize their visual cues that they need to go. These dog potty break signalsc can be circling and sniffing, moving to the door where they normally go outside to their relief zones, staring at you and whining or barking, hopping about and barking, or pawing at the door. The behaviors that you respond to will be repeated, turning into normal dog potty behavior.

You should designate a specific spot in your yard as a relief zone . This will teach your dog to do their business in that one area instead of throughout your yard. It’s also helpful in teaching your dog to relieve themselves outdoors as that specific area has their smell throughout.

You can teach your dog to potty on command as follows:

• First, use a specific word for going outside to their relief area, such as “Time to Potty,” “Go do Business,” “Outside,” or another short phrase that works for you. Say this as you move toward the door.

• Take your dog directly to the relief zone you chose. If your dog tends to move away from the relief zone, keep them leashed, but keep the leash loose. Anytime they attempt to leave the area, coax them back with a happy voice.

Continually use one word to teach your dog to potty on cue. For example, you can use, “Go Potty,” “Do Business,” “Hurry,” or another word that you’ll use specifically for this situation. Say it repeatedly until your dog relieves themselves.

Dogs naturally repeat behavior that’s been rewarded. Using positive reinforcement dog training during house training will speed up the process. Be sure to always keep a bag of treats nearby. Use treats that are of high value, such as freeze-dried meat, cheese or hotdog.

The moment your dog does their potty outdoors in their specific relief spot, be sure to praise enthusiastically as you give them a piece of the high value reward. Not only will this give your dog a positive association with the overall behavior, but it will also speed up the process. As your dog associates what they did with getting rewards, they will take less time to find the “perfect” spot prior to voiding. This dog training tip will save you loads of time where you might otherwise be standing around waiting.

There are likely to be accidents in your home along the way. Your dog cannot instantly understand how to relieve themselves outdoors. It takes consistent training and regimentation to build a reliable behavior. Therefore, avoid any punishment for accidents, as that creates bad associations with you personally. Instead, be observant and stick to a schedule. This will prevent accidents and lead to long term dog training success.

Accidents do happen. There’s no way around it. Your new adult dog will be loose, you won’t be nearby, and something took you off schedule. The point is, however, that you cannot punish your dog for this. It was your failing. You are your dog’s manager.

When this occurs remain calm, clean the mess with an enzymatic cleanser to reduce the lingering odor, and get yourself (and your adult dog) back on track.

The best means of cleaning dog urine or feces is a thorough soaking of the area with vinegar and an enzymatic cleanser. Moisture can soak through flooring. The longer it is left, the more it will fall to the subfloor and cause stains and odors that will be difficult to remove.

Clean the mess immediately! As your dog has already relieved itself, taking them outside is useless at this point. Concentrate on cleaning.

Remember this occurrence the next time you intend to leave your dog on their own or miss a scheduled relief time.

If you don’t have the time to observe your dog all day every day (and be honest, who does?), begin crate training the day they arrive in your home. You’ll want to have obtained a crate of appropriate size prior to bringing the new adult dog home. The crate size should be large enough for your dog to stand upright, turn around and lie down stretched out.

A crate can be a safe place for your dog to reside when you aren’t home or are otherwise occupied. It serves as a natural den, where your dog will feel safe. Also, most dogs are naturally clean in their dens. They tend to hold themselves better when within a crate as they’re not moving about much. Once they understand the relief routine, it becomes a habit.

There are several types of crates and the type you choose depends on your preferences. There’s wire crates, enclosed crates and soft crates. While soft crates work well while traveling, as you are there with your dog, an enclosed or metal crate would be more appropriate for when you cannot be with your dog.

Crate training adult dogs should be approached in a positive, step-by-step manner. Forcing or keeping them within for long periods of time will only create a negative association. Here’s a step-by-step method that will ensure a positive outcome:

1. With the door open, throw some treats inside as you say, “Kennel Up,” in an enthusiastic tone of voice. When your dog enters, eats their treat and turns around, praise and offer another treat, letting your dog make the choice to remain or exit the crate.

2. Repeat this at least 4 times. Your dog will be remaining nearby waiting for the treat to be thrown into the crate. When they make their own decision to remain within the crate to get their next reward, close the door and give them the treat.

3. Each time you close the door, continually praise your dog as you gradually increase the amount of time the crate door remains closed. Then, give your dog the treat and open the door.

4. When the amount of time has reached 2 minutes, begin giving your dog a treat periodically (every 30 seconds) as you continually praise. When your dog is relaxing within the crate, leave the room for 10 seconds, return, praising as you approach. Give them another reward and open the door.

You can increase your dog’s positive association with the crate by feeding their meals within and, if you must be gone for more than an hour, give them a nice bone or high value toy, such as an antler chew.

Sometimes there are housetraining setbacks. You cannot control everything, especially anxiety about being in a new environment or illness.

Dogs that have been moved from one home to the another will experience anxiety. This can cause physical issues such as loose stool, vomiting, inability to control their urination, destructive chewing and chewing on themselves.

Crate training will help with the anxiety as it gives your dog a place where they can feel all the sides around them. It also keeps them from destroying household objects and having accidents. But it will not keep them from hurting themselves by chewing their feet or tails. To redirect this behavior, you’ll need to provide high value toys, such as meaty shank bones, or interactive toys where the dog must manipulate the toy for treats to fall out.

Should your dog urinate often, appear to strain, or try without anything coming out, take them to the veterinarian immediately. It’s likely a urinary tract infection . Incontinence with loose stool, especially if you see red streaks in it, can be a sign of another medical condition, such as giardia, parasites, coccidia or leptospirosis. This is another reason to consult with a veterinarian.

Training your adult dog may take upwards of 3 months, but it will be successful provided you remain patient and persistent. When your adult dog is not having any accidents and goes to the door to let you know it’s time to go to their relief zone, you can begin adding time between those relief periods. Adult dogs can often comfortably control themselves up to 4 hours; 9 hours at night when not active.

At this point you can begin leaving your dog loose without as much constant observation, provided they’ve also learned to not get into other types of trouble, such as destroying electronics, books, bedding or shoes. Providing your dog with plenty of toys should prevent the destruction of household items.

The best means of ensuring your dog stays out of trouble it to give them plenty of exercise. Time loose in a fenced area, playing with other dogs is great stimulation and socialization. Walks through the neighborhood can also be very stimulating. If you’re not able to take your dog on long walks, or mountain hikes, you might want to consider a dog treadmill. Your dog can get the exercise they need without your having to leave home when you might be crushed for time or physically unable to do so.

Should you continue to be unable to housetrain your adult dog, consult with a professional trainer or behaviorist.

House training an adult dog is easily achievable and should not take longer than doing so with a puppy who must mature enough to have relief control. You may face challenges, but you will persevere using patience, persistence and being consistent. Establish a routine and stick to it, so your dog will know more about their environment and what is expected of them. 

Be observant, reward appropriate behavior often and begin obedience training right away. This will help in every aspect of house training, as it opens the communication between you and your adult dog. Begin this process on day one!