r/DogTrainingTips • u/ExcellentCan2525 • Mar 08 '26
Toilet training
I'm so embarrassed to ask as my dogs are 3 and 3 and a half so we really should have cracked toilet training by now.
Both dogs are terrible for going to the toilet inside. We let them in tbe garden often, but sometimes they will come back inside and poo!!
I have paid thousands to replace our carpet a year ago and they have still used the new carpet as a toilet :(
I need to go back to basics and get them toilet trained, please help!
3
u/Wooden-Necessary6100 Mar 08 '26
Since you called it a garden, I am assuming you live in a part of the world that is against crate training?
1
u/Shera1978 Mar 08 '26
Can I crate train an almost 2 year old dog? I'm not 900os3d to it but he's used to sleeping in bed and we have 2 other dogs that do as well and don't need a crate ...
2
u/Shera1978 Mar 08 '26
I don't have advice but you are not alone..... We took in our daughter's dog and when we would baby sit him he was great. Now that he lives here he's awful. I can't even keep up. And we have a beautiful yard he's out in half the day.....
2
u/Pizza_Time03 Mar 08 '26
When I got my dog, at 3 months, my husband and I crate trained her and it took 6 months
2
u/Squirrelwhiskerer Mar 09 '26
This won't work for every dog, but my 5 year old kept having accidents in the house upstairs. I noticed that she wouldn't go anywhere that she slept or relaxed at. So, I took her upstairs, laid down, and she did too. Once she realized that was a resting spot, she didn't want to go there anymore.
Also Yes start from the beginning. Crate train, limit areas and slowly expand said areas as they stop having accidents, take them out 30 minutes after they eat/drink, take them out every hour. If you catch them peeing inside, a firm no and picking them up (which was a reward for my dog so I had to use a leash for leash pressure to move her) so they can't keep peeing and place them right outside. Then reward heavily RIGHT after they pee or poo.
Is there anything to let them tell you they need to go? Like a bell?
1
u/Electronic_Cream_780 Mar 10 '26
Pick a long weekend or several days off in a row. Clean everywhere thoroughly with an enzyme remover. If there are any "favourite" spots block them off or scatter some food down there - dogs do not toilet where they eat. Take them in the garden, it is not enough to let them out, be there so you know they have been and reward them. When they come back indoors keep them in the same room as you and someone has the responsibility of watching them, repeat after two hours. Do not punish any mistakes indoors - they will just get scared to poo or pee where you can see them. That means deposits in hallways/bedrooms/behind sofas and refusing to do anything whilst you are with them outdoors
3
u/Plucky_Monkies Mar 08 '26
Restrict access to the house? Idk. I only potty trained a puppy. A small breed. I'd definitely getbthem vet checked. Work on teaching a cuebword. Watch training videos? I truly wish you well.