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Question: We adopted a 2-year-old dog who doesn’t totally understand the potty routine, but doesn’t like the crate at all. Can we effectively potty train him without a crate?
Answer: You can potty train without the crate but it’s way easier with one. As I’ve mentioned before, the potty training advantage gained with a crate is based on your dog’s natural aversion to soiling his den.
Some older dogs coming from shelters were never exposed to a crate, so they don’t really get the idea, even though dogs are hardwired to gravitate toward literally loving their crate. Given this fact, I would encourage you to hang in there for a bit, but perhaps take a step or two back.
And while I’m not saying this is true of you, I have seen numerous dog owners give up on the crate because they were worried about their dog’s distress around it when, in reality, the humans involved were the most uncomfortable. That said, I have seen dogs with level 10 separation anxiety either destroy their crate to get out of it, or really injure themselves trying to.
These cases are fairly rare, however. If your dog isn’t a maniac about trying to get out of the crate, I suggest starting over and moving really slowly. For the record, if your dog were solidly potty trained, I’d say don’t worry about the crate.
Remember, in all training scenarios, patience is always your best tool, and this process will likely take at least a week. You don’t want to get in a hurry.
Just like we talked about with a new puppy, I’d start feeding your dog only in the crate. I’d put his water in there, too, and any toys he loves. Keep the door open, allowing him to come and go as he pleases. You can put a piece of your clothing in there from the dirty clothes, too. I would let this go on for days.
In the meantime you still have to conduct potty training with him just like you would a puppy, with vigilant supervision. You have to keep your eye on him at all times making it all but impossible for him to have an accident in the house.
To make strict supervision more feasible at this stage, you can tether him on a 6-foot leash, keeping him with you at all times, so he can’t slip off and pee in another room. Take him out to do his business regularly and if you’re not already doing it, praise him profusely, and give him a high-value treat the second he finishes peeing or pooping. (Note: This positive reinforcement piece, will be the biggest factor in teaching Max to go to the bathroom outside.)
Each time you take him out, sit him right by the door, then quickly open the door, go out and coax him to come with you. Go to his “area” and say “potty” or whatever you use for this cue. Each time you take him out, have him sit by the door momentarily before you open it and lead him out. The idea is that he learns, “to cue my human that I want to go out to potty, I sit by the door.”
Hopefully one day you’ll notice him just sitting by the door, waiting for you.
After a number of days, randomly have Max go into his crate, immediately give him a treat when he’s in, close the gate and stay in the room. Shoot for a minute of silence. Ignore any fussing, and do NOT let him out. (Many people inadvertently train their dog to fuss by letting them out when they do so.)
If he’ll be quiet for one minute, open the gate and praise him up. Repeat this several time that day. The next day, you’re shooting for 2 minutes. The next, 3 and so on. Repeat the exercise at least four or five times a day. Continue feeding him the crate. By the time he gets to 5 minutes, there’s a chance you can leave him in there for 10 with you out of the room. From there, you may be able to keep him in there as long as is needed.
Never let him out if he’s fussing, and take your time with this remedial training.
Originally from Louisiana, Gregg Flowers is a local dog trainer who “teaches dogs and trains people.” Contact him at [email protected] or dogsbestfriendflorida.com.
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