The following is a recent question from a reader of my site:
Question: I recently adopted a puppy mill rescue dog. She is a Yorkie-mixed breed. All I know about her is she is that she is two years old and was kept in a barn with other breeding females. She was not even given a name and is quite shy and timid, but has a sweet disposition.
The problem I am having is house training her from peeing and pooing in the house. No matter how many times I take her out and no matter how long a time she is out, as soon as she comes in, she pees or poos. We have bonded and I love her, but I’m afraid my husband may want to get rid of her as she is destroying the hard wood floors. Please help if you can, I want to keep her.
Answer: The key lies in convincing her that it is okay to go to the bathroom outside. With puppy mill dogs this is often difficult but here are a few tips:
1- Load her up on water and then take her outside. Wait as long as it takes for her to pee outside. When she does give her a great deal of praise and treats.
2- Supervise, supervise, supervise. Dogs can only go to the bathroom in the house if they are allowed to. If you see her do it you must quickly correct her. Keep her on a leash in the house so that she can’t sneak off and go to the bathroom. If she tries to do it in front of you quickly give her a few firm tugs on the leash as you quickly rush her outside.
3- Try my matchstick trick for house training a dog.
Good luck.
