Potty training is arguably the most intimidating part of getting a new puppy. There is nothing like the thought of a nice smelly, yellow stain next to your coffee table for your guests to see. So it is understandable that many people worry so much about potty training. While potty training would hardly be classified as “fun”, it does not have to be such a drag.
There are a few things that will make your life a little easier while house training your Collie. For starters, you need to gain an understanding of your dog’s particular body language. Most dogs will begin to exhibit some sort of sign that he needs to potty. My dog would stand up on his hind legs and tremble. What this had to do with potty, I will never know, so of course I didn’t know what in the world he wanted. But I quickly learned that he would have an “accident” on my carpet immediately following this behavior if I did not promptly take him outside.Another thing to remember is that puppies may not necessarily show any signs that they need to potty. However, they need to go potty at pretty frequent intervals – when they awake in the morning or after napping, after playing, after eating, and before going to bed at night.
Taking your Collie for regular walks can also help him learn where he is supposed to potty. After he relieves himself in an appropriate location, make sure to give him plenty of praise. You may even want to give him a little treat each time he goes so that he will begin to associate putting potty in the correct spot with treats. This worked great for my dog. Of course, consistency is key here. You must give him a treat EVERY time he does it correctly in order for him to learn.
Another trick is to place a small bell he can reach on the door and teach him to push it with his nose when he needs to go out. One way to teach him to do this is to place a little peanut butter the bell and have him lick it only when you know he needs to potty. After he licks the bell, lead him outside. He will then begin to associate the ringing bell with potty time. Until your Collie has been fully potty trained keep him under strict vigilance. Do not let him roam around the house freely.
A crate can also be helpful in training your Collie. The advantage of crate-training is that the dog will not soil his own bedding, so he will not potty in the crate.
But what if your Collie is grown? Can he still be potty trained? Of course he can. The best way to housetrain an adult Collie is to start from the beginning. Watch his behavior very closely. For example, if you notice him pooping around the same time everyday, try to be home by that time so you can let him out. You can try crates, but because this is an adult dog, you want to be careful not to traumatize him. Introduce the crate slowly so that it doesn’t feel like a trap or some other scary object.
For more tips on how to train your Collie, Click Here.
