How to House Train an Adult Dog

The earlier dogs learn the most important educational principles, the fewer problems they will cause later in life with humans. That much is certain. But what if such a basic training was missed in puppyhood? Can you also house train adult dogs? How should I train my adult dogs? We will show you what to consider when training your adult dog and which seven exercises you should train with him.

Dogs learn for a lifetime

The good news: dogs learn all their lives. They never stop learning - just like us humans. Up to old age they are able to acquire commands, rules and certain behaviors - just as they are able to get used to undesirable behavior patterns even as adult dogs. So your upbringing should never stop. After all, the best basic training is of no use if you let the pubescent dog get away with everything later out of convenience. Instructions once taught must be maintained for a lifetime. A clear “stay” must not become a “please wait a moment” later.

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Raising Adult Dogs: Benefits

Of course, small dogs - just like children - often learn faster. They are easier to “shape” because they are extremely inquisitive, learn a lot in a playful way and still face the world with an open mind. This can be used in puppy training. On the other hand, puppies also have to learn basic behavior first - no dog is born house-trained and no puppy will leave furniture and shoes alone if they have never heard a clear “no”. The training and socialization of a puppy therefore usually takes up more space than when you train adult dogs, which have usually already got used to living with humans.

So raising an adult dog can also have advantages. Older dogs tend to be calmer and more stable in their behavior than young dogs. They are house-trained, can usually be left alone at times and have already got used to a more or less fixed daily rhythm of sleeping, eating and walking. Long walks with him are already possible and adult dogs need fewer breaks during exercises than playful puppies, who can quickly become overwhelmed.

What problems can there be in raising dogs?

If you want to train adult dogs, this can also have disadvantages. A disadvantage is usually that a certain behavior has already been established over months or years. If this is suddenly no longer desired, the dogs react stubbornly and insecure. Changing behavior, once learned, demands a lot from the adult dog and therefore requires a lot of consistency and, above all, patience from the owner. So the question is not whether adult dogs can still be trained, but rather when they will put what they have learned into practice over the long term. An older dog can therefore be trained in the same way as a young dog - it can just take a little longer.

What to do in the event of severe behavioral problems?

A lot of patience is required if you want to train dogs that have already developed severe behavior problems. Before you begin to “fight” the undesired behavior with targeted training, you must first investigate the cause. Why does my dog ​​destroy? Why is he reacting aggressively? Why doesn't he stop barking? Especially behind the bite and destructiveness of some dogs there are usually serious psychological disorders that can not only be triggered by traumatic experiences or chronic pain, but also by constant stress, isolation or a lack of physical and mental stress. The better you know the causes behind your dog's behavior, the more targeted and promising the training of your adult dog can be. In such a case, especially beginners should definitely seek the help of an expert. But even for people who already have experience in dog ownership, a conversation with a dog trainer and attending a dog school can be useful.

What is basic training for a dog?

Certain rules are necessary for the coexistence between dogs and humans to work. No other animal lives as closely with humans as the dog and no other animal is more "humanized" than our four-legged friend. It is often overlooked that the dog is descended from the wolf and, like the wolf, requires a certain order in its "pack" that offers it security and orientation. Dogs need clear rules that are consistently adhered to. Every exception to these rules unsettles him and particularly tempts self-confident races to take the lead themselves.

In order to avoid conflicts, your dog must master the basic commands such as "sit", "sit down", "off", "stand by" and "stay". He is not allowed to simply run into the street when you shout "Sit", he must not walk across the supermarket parking lot if you have ordered "Stay" and he must not chase after the neighbor's rabbit or bitch if you "Walk" have arranged. The following exercises are a basic framework that your dog should master and will make not only your life easier, but also that of your dog and those around you.

The right training for adult dogs

It hardly matters whether your dog is a puppy or an adult dog that has so far only lacked education. Nonetheless, when you are training your dog, you should consider his or her age. While one can use the play instinct in puppies and learning and exercise phases should be kept short, more experienced dogs often need more incentives and challenges in order to readily learn new things. Adult dogs have already developed fixed preferences. The better you know your dog, the better you can use it for your education. Dog training works best through positive reinforcement. Knowing what your dog likes is a great way to reward him once he has shown the desired behavior. These don't always have to be treats, but can also be pats, a word of praise, a toy or a fetch game with a stick or ball.

The seven most important exercises at a glance

Dogs should learn to walk on a loose leash right from the start. He must learn to ignore people and other animals when he is on a leash and must not “drag” you in a certain direction. Once an adult dog has learned that if he pulls the leash hard enough, he will move forward again and again. But with a little know-how and, above all, a lot of patience and consistency, you can stop pulling it again. In order for your dog to get away from the behavior pattern it has already learned, it can be helpful if you first try to change the situation. For example, if he previously had a collar, put a harness around him from now on. If he has pulled on both and it makes no sense to switch from harness to collar or the other way around, you can also tie him a cloth to which you attach the leash. Your dog should consciously perceive this change to something “new” by showing him his new “walking utensils” and letting him sniff at them extensively. So he will be more willing to get involved in something new.

Stop if your dog pulls

If you start the walk and your dog immediately pulls the leash again, stop. Do not go any further until your dog comes closer and the leash becomes loose again. As soon as he pulls again, stop again. Consistently stick to this pattern. If your dog is pulling hard on the leash and you have difficulty preventing him from moving forward, invite him to come to you by means of audio signals or body language. Another exercise is to place a treat or a coveted dog toy some distance away (about 20 m) so that it is clearly visible on the path. Your dog will likely want to rush for it right away. However, hold him back and order him to come to you. Once he turns around, take a few steps back and show him it is only going in your direction. Only when he manages to stand next to you on a loose leash do you move closer to the object of desire. So he only receives the reward when he has learned to restrain himself and run at your pace.

"Sit" command

To teach your dog to sit on the command "sit", a treat can be very useful. Hold this way above his head. If your dog tries to jump afterwards, your hand will remain closed. Your dog will soon sit down so that he can better see the treat above his head. As soon as the rear and front paws are on the ground, say the command “sit” and give him the treat he was hoping for. Also praise him with words or caresses.

After a few exercises, your dog will have learned to sit on the word "sit" - before you urge him to do so with a treat. To practice staying seated longer, you can further extend the time to the reward. You can easily integrate practicing the “sit” command into your everyday life: when putting the leash on and off, at the bakery or at every red traffic light.

"Place" command

In contrast to the “sit” command, your dog should lie down when the command is given to “sit down”. When he's in the seat, his back and both elbows touch the ground. You can achieve this position by holding the treat directly in front of your dog's nose in the "seat" and slowly leading it to the ground in front of his eyes. Keep the treat as flat as possible above the floor. In order to get to the desired appetizer, your dog will first go with the snout down. Then slowly move your hand away from the muzzle, holding it above the floor. Your dog will follow your hand until it is finally “forced” to lie down in the seat. Then say the command "down" and give him his reward.

Before he gets up by himself, he should "sit" on your command. Once your dog is seated, you can repeat or stop the exercise. There are many possible situations to practice "space", e.g. in a café, at the bus stop, during a conversation with the neighbor or later in the restaurant. Again, timing is important here: the more tired your dog is, the more willing it will be to lie down. So it is best to practice the command “place down” at the beginning after a long walk and not before, when your dog is still full of energy.

Command "here"

At the command "Here" (or a corresponding whistle), your dog should come to you immediately and quickly from the free run. Adult dogs that have not yet learned to listen to a corresponding command cannot, of course, initially run around freely without a leash.

Step 1: practicing in the apartment

Therefore, practice the "here" first in the apartment, ideally in connection with his meal. For this exercise, you need a second trusted person to hold the dog while you are preparing the food for him some distance away. Your dog should see you doing it. As soon as you shout the command "Here", the second person lets go of the dog. When your dog comes to you, give him lots of praise and place his food bowl on the floor. If you have the feeling that your dog has understood the command in connection with his meal, you can start calling him to you outside of his meal times inside the apartment with a clear "Here". If your dog comes to you immediately, reward him with a treat and show him clearly that you are very happy about his arrival. As a further increase, you can try the exercise in the fenced yard.

Step 2: Exercise during a walk

Only when your dog comes to you reliably on your signal can you leash him for a walk and carry out the exercise there. It is best to choose lonely areas first, where you will not encounter any other dogs that could distract your partner. Alternatively, you can do this exercise very early in the morning or very late in the evening when there is little going on on the street or in the park. Only give your dog the command "Here" if you are sure that he will obey it. If you see another dog, first put him on the leash again and only perform the exercise when the other four-legged friend is out of sight.

It is also advisable to practice the command “Here” in connection with the name of the dog. Experience has shown that owners tend to call their dog by his name in stressful situations.

"At foot" command

In heavy traffic, on pedestrian zones with many people or when meeting other dogs, it is helpful if your dog runs reliably "on foot". This means that when you give the command “Walk on foot”, it stays close to a certain side of your leg - regardless of whether you are walking slowly or quickly, straight ahead or to the right, or whether you stop. Traditionally, a dog is led by its left side, but you can get it used to your right side if you prefer. The important thing is that you stick to one side. You start the exercise by showing your dog where you are with a treat in hand. As soon as he is in the correct position, say the appropriate command.

Hold the treat in your hand and let your dog lick it as you go. As an additional visual cue, you should clap your thigh every now and then with the same hand. After a few meters, give the command “sit” and reward him with the appetizer. Make the exercise more difficult by building in more and more curves or changes of direction. Gradually, you should also move the treat away from his snout. Put the treat in your pocket, for example, and keep practicing walking on foot. Walk sometimes slower, sometimes faster, sometimes right, sometimes left, sometimes forwards, sometimes backwards and occasionally repeat the command "At your feet" and the corresponding visual signal. Only when your dog remains reliably by your side can you perform the exercise off the leash. If your dog moves away from your side after being unleashed, do not pull it back by the collar, but calmly put it back on and repeat the training again with the leash.

"Off" command

At the command "Off", your dog should let go of a certain thing or object. If, for example, your four-legged friend grabs a shoe or has “doggedly” one of your children's toys, you should give them a clear command “Off” to indicate that you do not want this to happen.

First, offer him a barter deal

In order for an adult dog to react to your command, you have to lure it with another "object", for example a treat or a dog toy. You have to offer him a barter, so to speak. Hold the treat in front of his nose and say "Off". As soon as he opens his snout and lets go of the other item, give him the treat and praise him with words and pats. Little by little, you can leave out the treat or the dog toy and only reward him with words and petting for “ending”.

Command "stay"

Dogs need to learn to sit or lie down in a specific spot. Not only in front of the supermarket, but also when the doorbell rings or when a visitor comes who is afraid of dogs, he should listen to your command “Sit and stay”. To do this, he must first of all master the command "sit" or "sit down". If your dog can stand or lie quietly by your side on your command, you can start with the exercise “stay”.

This is how you practice staying in the seat or seat

Give your dog a sign (for example, point the palm of your hand at the ground) and clearly say “stay”. Now stand in front of your dog and only move away from your dog so that the leash is slack between them. Stop for a moment and then walk back to your dog. If your dog remains in the seat or seat, give him express praise. If you reward your dog with a treat, he should only get it if he is sitting or lying down when you come back. Even if he waited well and only jumped up at the last moment, don't reward him. If you would then give him the treat, he would not associate this with “staying” but with “jumping up”. You can do the exercise with a longer leash initially and later off the leash. You should also gradually increase the duration of the “standing still”.

Is it worth attending a dog school?

Practicing the commands described here not only takes a lot of time, but also a lot of discipline. Especially if you are raising adult dogs in which wrong behaviors have already manifested, an owner needs patience and perseverance in addition to consistency and instinct. Don't get discouraged if it doesn't work right away. It takes a while for a dog to embrace the alternative behavior and understand that it is worth listening to your commands. Regular attendance at a dog school can be a good motivational incentive. Talking to experts and other dog owners is often very insightful, especially when you have your first dog. No matter how many guides you read, in the end you have to put what you read into practice. It is important that the concept of the dog school suits you and your dog. In principle, the groups should not be too large, so that the trainer can devote himself intensively to each individual dog (and owner) and willingly answer all questions.

We wish you and your dog every success on the way together!