Q: My husband and I recently adopted a 9-month-old puppy. He was trained on puppy pads. How do we get him to start going outside?
A: Dogs are creatures of habit. Once they’ve been trained to behave in a certain way or have learned a behavior, it is difficult to retrain them. Consistency and perseverance will be key in this situation. If you keep the puppy pads available, the dog will use them. He also will have a tendency to go where they were once you remove them, as he has been taught that is the correct location to relieve himself.
To change any behavior, you have to be consistent. A complete training process will need to be implemented to retrain him to the proper place for elimination, outside. As soon as your puppy wakes up in the morning, you must always be available immediately to take him outside. After he is finished with his meal, you need to take him outside. Initially, you need to take him out about every two hours so he never has the need to go inside. Then last thing before bedtime, take him outside again. Praise him for eliminating outside every time he goes where you want him to. Even though yours is an older puppy, you need to go back to potty-training like he is a much younger pup. Removing food or water two hours before bedtime will help him not need to go out at 2 a.m., so don’t skip this step.
Be patient. Techniques such as rubbing his nose in it or smacking him for improper elimination are completely ineffective. Praise, rewards and consistency will help your new pet bend to your rules and become the loyal loving companion he is meant to be.
— Karen Walsh, executive director McKamey Animal Care and Adoption Center