How To House Train an Adult Dog

The key to potty training a new puppy is consistency. Remember that

when he is with his mother, he can relieve himself whenever he needs to,  

so it will take some time for him to learn that he must wait for someone to

take him outside to go to the bathroom.

For the adult dog, house training is an entirely different matter.  You should

be prepared to actively monitor the dog, when he is outdoors doing

his business, for up to 1 month. 

It is an error to assume that because the dog has been previously

potty-trained, he will immediately adjust to your household and to your 

schedule.  See more on this subject at my family-oriented website.

Training an Adult Dog:  The Walk

The walk can be very hard to master, but with the right practice and the

right patience, your dog will be walking right by your side in no time.

Firstly, do not allow them to leave the door first. When you put his leash

on, make him sit first or give you his paw. In short, some sort of obedience

to get him in the spirit. Then, once outside, if he begins to walk in front of

 you, give the leash a quick tug to assert yourself as the one in charge.

House Training an Adult Dog:  General Guidelines

When dog training, it is vital to have a lot of patience with your dog 

if you want to maximize the effectiveness of the overall process.  It

takes quite a bit of conditioning, and patience, to get your dog to 

behave just as you want him to.

Also, your friends and family, in most cases, are not dog trainers. 

While those around you may have advice and opinions on how you

should handle your dog's training, it does not mean they are correct. 

This input may be well-meaning, however, you can ignore most of it .

(you've taken the time to do your homework)

House Training an Adult Dog:  Tracking Your Progress

Set up a solid plan for what you want to accomplish with your dog training

If you have certain goals marked on your calendar, it can give you a way

to measure your progress with the dog training, and also offer you hints

about whether or not you would need to change anything in your routine.