[cuteynfatal]

My dog Josh (Yorkshire Terrier mix) came to me via a shelter when he was 10 yo. He's now 12yo. We live in a large apartment and it takes at least 1 minute of fast walking to get to the elevator. Recently he has trouble "holding" until he gets to the elevator & outside and will pee half-way there.

But he's been so well trained that he can only pee outside. I want to reverse train him to pee inside the house, with a pee-pad, or doggie-litter pad. This will help as he gets older and will have more trouble getting outside on time. I've tried rewarding him when he pees (outside) so that he associate the act with the reward. No success.

Can someone provide detailed instructions/hints on how to train an older dog? Unlike untrained puppies, the time between urination urge is quite long so I only have one chance every 8 hours.

Would you recommend using a professional trainer for this?

 

[seebrown]

I would take a pad with you and try to get him to go on it, either in the elevator/halfway on "accident" (if you can get it under him in time) or outside consistently. Then start using the pad inside after a few weeks of him using it outside. Does he know "go potty"? That would make things much easier, and might be worth teaching. Basically say a command while he is peeing for a few weeks, and be sure to reward afterwards (treats, praise). You might be able to time getting him to go inside on the pad and also using the command by the time you're ready to move inside.

FWIW, it wouldn't hurt to get him vet checked for a bladder infection.

 

[cuteynfatal]

I would take a pad with you and try to get him to go on it, either in the elevator/halfway on "accident" (if you can get it under him in time) or outside consistently. Then start using the pad inside after a few weeks of him using it outside. Does he know "go potty"? That would make things much easier, and might be worth teaching. Basically say a command while he is peeing for a few weeks, and be sure to reward afterwards (treats, praise). You might be able to time getting him to go inside on the pad and also using the command by the time you're ready to move inside.

FWIW, it wouldn't hurt to get him vet checked for a bladder infection.

I actually did try everything you suggested (phew, at least, I was on the right track). I carried the pad with me every trip outside. Gave him the command (he simply stops when he hears the command). Tried it with a clicker. Treats & praise. I think the long gap between episodes and his older age make it difficult to break the "good" habit.

 

[seebrown]

Did you say it WHILE he is going? Most suggest saying it before, but I found this seemed confusing for the dogs I've trained. Say it while he is going consistently for a few weeks before ever saying it any other time. Test it one time after maybe two solid weeks of saying-while-peeing. You will know he knows it because he will sniff the ground and act like he's about to go after you say it. If he still looks at you like he's confused, keep saying-while-peeing for another week, then try again.

Since you've already been trying this, it might actually be simpler to teach one thing at a time. Teach "go potty" (or whatever) first, then intro the pee pad outside, then try moving it inside. It also might help to switch commands since whatever you were using before doesn't seem to work for him and he may be associating it with something else now.

The only other thing I could suggest is getting an indoor grassy patch. That might be easier for him to figure out.

 

[LynneMarie]

When I used pads in the house I filled a bleach bottle with water and placed it in the middle of the pad. It not only helped hold it down it gave the males something to hike on. Does he hike or squat?

 

[Collegedog]

Hi cuteynfatal,
I would suggest doing a technique I use to housetrain puppies, but reversing it. Take him outside to pee (or, if he only makes it halfway that works too) with a paper towel or two and a ziplock baggy. When he begins to pee, toss a paper towel in the spot where he's peeing. Then put the paper towel in the zip lock baggy, bring it back up to your apartment, and place it on the pee pad. Then don't take him outside past the next time you normally would let him out, and see if he'll use it now.

Also, try to put the pee pad as far away from where he likes to hang out in your apartment as possible-dogs are very clean animals and hate to bathroom where they also spend most of their day.

Cheers,
Collegedog