Labrador Rescue

hi hopfully you may be able to give us some advise on toilet training for our 18 month old lab she has lived in kennels from the start of her life, we took her in a week ago when the first night she messed in the house, since we have let her out on a regular times and have managed to have dry nights with her. unfortunately the last two nights she has gone backwards.

secondly she is extremely nervous of other dogs and sudden movements she walks well and obeys commands but when confronted with a dog she starts to shake and pull back.

any help would be appreciated.

thanks graham and fiona

You need to go back to basics with toilet training and socialisation as it she doesn't understand and needs to be shown how to do things and react with other dogs and people.

For the toilet training treat her although she is a puppy and gradually she will learn the ropes.

For the socialisation I would suggest finding a friendly but not too in your face dog she can meet and go out on walks with so she can get used to being with other dogs and shown that she can play and interact with other dogs without feeling threatened or intimidated. The more she meets other dogs the better she will get but it needs to be done slowly to build her confidence up.

With regards to the toilet training issue, we had a similar issue with a lab we adopted from MKF earlier this year.. and she was 11 years old! As Lucy has advised, we went right back to basics; outside after each meal and immediately after waking from a nap. Of course she will need to be let out first thing and last thing in addition to walks. Our girl, Ivy, was clean within one week (and during that time she only had a couple of accidents).
I had to be quick off the mark, especially first thing after a light breakfast and a drink (her, not me!) I needed to stand by and the second she lifted her head from her drinks bowl, I would take her collar and gently lead her outside without stopping (previously she had just 'bobbed down' on the kitchen floor after food and a drink as she must have been used to doing in kennels)
Initially I would go outside with her (coat and wellies always to hand) and we would stay out as long as it took. As soon as she performed, loads of praise then straight back indoors. She very quickly understood what she had to do.. everybody happy..

Good luck with it. Labs are bright dogs and latch onto a routine pretty quickly

This isn't instead of what "Willow" said above - but when we got our 1st lab, as a puppy and not rescue admittedly, we did all what "Willow" has said but also bought a large "concrete mixing tray, blk plastic from B&Q or similar and put newspaper in it. If he needed to go in the night-time he did use that. Not long after discovered the cat flap. Just a thought, may/may not work - may alleviate anxiety on both sides for a while. Never tried it but wondered since if cat litter stuff would work for dogs.

Good Luck, continue to love your dog through this difficult time, it will be more upset than you.

Hilary, Tuppence, William & Rowley

Yes start from the basics as said above but introduce a word when she goes, keep some treats in your pockets and follow her around the garden or where ever she goes to toilet and when she goes say the word, make a big fuss, say how good she is and give her a treat, you must do this all the time so you need to keep your eyes peeled and watch her constantly (on walks, garden etc). If she goes in the house ignore it (well clear it up obviously!) but no big deal. She will realise if she goes outside you are pleased and she gets rewarded but if she goes inside she gets nothing. She will also quickly associate the word for the job (excuse that!) and all you need to do when you want her to go is take her out say the word and she will go on command if she needs to. Both of ours are trained to do their business on command it is very useful and something you will use for the rest of her life.

Jackie x

Yes, we are all in agreement regarding toilet training but another thought occurred to me.. We have always allowed our dogs free roam of the house, day and night, however, during the toilet training period I think it makes sense to confine your dog to a smallish room overnight e.g. utility room. Others on here advocate the use of crates but personally I have never been a fan. Dogs will avoid soiling their sleeping area so this approach may help during with this issue overnight. Even better if that room leads off to the garden so you can head straight outside with her after you have said Good Morning!

I agree with Jackie regarding the use of a command word. With our last lab, Willow, it was 'Get Busy'. A friend of ours inadvertently ended up with the command 'Hurry up' after calling it out repeatedly while she waited for her dog to 'go' in the garden