Expert: Jill Connor, Ph.D. - 1/10/2008

Question
Thanks for your recent answer about the new dog chasing the family cats. We are making some (but steady) progress with both dog and cats. Now a question about housetraining. Oscar the shelter-rescued Aussie has been housetrained at some point and is doing really well for us, but seems to be falling into a pattern of wanting to go outside A LOT. I think he just enjoys the change of scenery and is taking advantage of our new dog parenting skills and tricking us into thinking he has to go. Should we try to follow a regular time pattern of allowing him food and water and taking him outside...ignoring all his other door scratchings and whinings until he's on a schedule? I should add that he seems to be able to urinate often and quite a lot and drinks a lot too but not all of his trips outside seem to be necessary and indeed he can manage quite well overnight in his crate. Also am wondering if when we have him neutered if that will change his urinating patterns (is he perhaps marking?). Are we training him or is HE TRAINING US?! Thanks again.

Answer
Your dog might be confused about what "going outside" means right now.  This is quite common!  Observe how often he really needs to go outside to eliminate.  Keep a chart!  You don't want to ignore his signals at the door, however, or they will extinguish.  Remember, you've had this dog a very short time and you're both getting adjusted.  He might be scratching and whining at the door a LOT but, as you and he become accustomed to patterns (and he learns to trust that YES you will let him out to pee and poop), this should resolve into solid signals when he really needs to go out.  On average, it takes approximately 2 months for a dog to habituate to a new household and new people.  Whenever he scratches, let him OUT.  Watch him closely.  KNOW when he needs to poop so you won't short circuit this biological need by calling him in too quickly.  If he pees outside (and you know he does not need to poop this time), call him in with verbal praise and food reward with cookie.  Do NOT food reward OR call him in when he does NOT eliminate.  If he does nothing out there he will eventually come to the door.  Just let him in and say and do nothing and wait for the next opportunity.  It's time consuming and it can often feel as if it's going to last forever, but this method ultimately works.  Your dog will continue to signal at the door and he will connect the reward (praise and cookie) with his own behavior of elimination.