Reverse House-Training
I have clients who, for reasons of age-related conditions-either the pet's or their own, can no longer take their dogs outside for elimination but do not want to get rid of their pets. Is there a way to retrain dogs to go indoors in a specific location?
There may come a time when a dog or its owner is unable to go outside for outdoor elimination. In some situations, it may be desirable to create an indoor elimination location for the dog. This option can be useful for small dogs but impractical for larger ones.
The House-Training ProcessWhen dogs are house trained, they learn location and surface preferences in the process1-where and on what to go. Usually, where to go is outside, and what to go on is the material available: grass, gravel, concrete, etc. These preferences can also include eliminating on or off a leash. During house-training, a verbal command such as "go potty" can be associated with the act of elimination. A dog may learn to eliminate in the presence of the owner; in other cases it may learn to eliminate out of sight. Some dogs can become quite set in their ways and may be difficult to retrain. House-training is facilitated when access to food and water is controlled (providing there are not health problems), and regular exercise is given.
Before You StartThe pet owner should have some idea how often and when the pet needs to eliminate on a daily basis. This information will be useful during the retraining process. Also note whether the pet is used to being walked and leashed for elimination. Finally, whether the dog understands a verbal prompt for elimination should be determined. Constant supervision and/or confinement during the retraining process is essential to avoid elimination that is not controlled by the owner or that occurs in an undesirable location. If time permits, it is helpful to try and teach the dog to eliminate on a leash outdoors and begin to introduce a verbal prompt.
Creating an Indoor Elimination LocationThe pet owner should find a location in the home that will be the new elimination location. Locations that are easy to keep clean are best. The site should be easily accessible to the dog and free of distractions and noise. When possible, the owner may want to include some of the usual material that the dog has eliminated on in the past. It is more practical to place the material on top of plastic and/or newspapers to facilitate clean-up. The goal is to use this material in decreasing amounts as the dog is gradually shifted to a new material, such as newspaper, prepared pads, or whatever the owner desires. It may help to create boundaries, using either a wood frame2 or a tray of some sort to contain the elimination material. Some companies have marketed indoor litter systems for dogs with a pan and material created for elimination. If time permits, the indoor elimination material can be provided outdoors to allow the dog to acclimate to using it as an elimination substrate and then gradually moved to the inside.
The Retraining ProcessCertainly, the easiest dogs to retrain are those that already eliminate on a verbal prompt and/or on a leash; those that eliminate unsupervised or unleashed may take more time. As mentioned, it will be necessary to identify the times of day that the dog is likely to have a full bladder or bowel. At those times, the dog should be taken to the indoor elimination location on a leash and given the verbal prompt. The dog should be encouraged to engage in sniffing and pre-elimination behaviors, such as circling. If the leash seems to excite the dog in anticipation for a trip outdoors, a different leash,2 a body harness, or no leash should be used. If the dog will not eliminate after several minutes, it should be removed from the location but closely supervised by the owner. After 10 to 30 minutes, the owner can return to the elimination location, give the verbal prompt, and try again. If the dog eliminates it should be rewarded with praise and a food treat. The food reward is not actually for the act of elimination since emptying the bladder or bowel is rewarding in and of itself, but rather the reward is for eliminating in that location at that time.
Retraining should take 2 to 4 weeks in most cases, but long-term reliability may take longer. During the retraining process strict supervision and/or confinement is necessary to ensure elimination in the correct location. Keeping the dog nearby on a leash at all times is the best way to supervise its activity and need for elimination. The need to eliminate may manifest as restlessness, panting, whining, or pawing at the owner.2 If the dog is already used to some form of confinement, this can be done if the owner cannot directly watch the dog or is away from home. However, it can be very stressful for some dogs to be confined to crates, or behind gates or closed doors and they may be destructive if confined in this way.
While retraining is taking place, indoor elimination in an incorrect location may occur. Punishment is contraindicated especially if the owner does not witness the act of elimination. If the dog wanders off and eliminates out of sight of the owner, once the owners find the urine or stool they should remove the dog (without punishment) and clean the area well with enzymatic odor- and stain-control products. If they witness the dog beginning to eliminate, they should use a loud noise to disrupt the activity and quickly take the dog to the acceptable elimination location. Naturally they must also be sure that the pet urinates and defecates daily and contact the veterinarian if the animal is unwilling to do so.
What to Do• Determine elimination schedule/surface preferences• Does dog respond to verbal cue?• Introduce new substrate to outdoor elimination location or vice versa• Supervise closely and/or confine dog between elimination sessions• Do not punish for elimination that occurs when unsupervised• Disrupt activity if dog begins to eliminate inappropriately while supervised• Reward use of new location/substrate immediately
REVERSE HOUSE-TRAINING • Debra F. Horwitz
References1. Housebreaking: What is a new puppy owner to do? Voith VL, Borchelt PL. Vet Tech 6:288-290, 1985.
House soiling by dogs. Houpt KA. In: Horwitz DF, Mills DS, Heath S (eds): BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural Medicine. Gloucester, UK: British Small Animal Veterinary Association, 2002, pp 90-96.