Question:
Hello! I’m a first-time dog owner in search of advice. I adopted a 5-year-old (approx.) terrier mix from a shelter back in October 96. She’s a real sweetie, and housebroken – or so we thought. We recently discovered she’s been pottying all over the dining room rug. We didn’t see it until we rolled up the rug for cleaning and saw all the stains. I take her out in the morning (8 a.m. or so) and as soon as I get home from work (4:30 p.m. or so). Is that too long for a dog her age to wait? Would it help if we confined her to the kitchen with newspapers on the floor? Is it possible to teach an old dog new tricks – like paper training? Any suggestions and similiar experiences would be *greatly* appreciated. Thanks so much. Ms. Dru Sefton, Kansas City, MO – and Widget, the dog.
Response:
You can housebreak this dog, but not if you leave it alone loose in the house all day long. You will have to crate her, and while she is learning, it would be good to let her out around lunch time to relieve herself. Once she’s got the routine she can probably hold it–many dogs just sleep while their owners are away–it will just depend on the dog. Katharine Maus and Ch. Csillag’s Bartok, vizsla
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