Is it Possible to Crate Train the Elderly Rescue Dog

When crate training a dog you don’t generally need to worry about age until they reach the elderly stage. Obviously puppy hood is the easiest time to do this but it is not always an option. No matter the age being comfortable being crated is something that should be tried with every dog, with that being said not all dogs will be able to be crated. As an older dog they may not be able to handle being in such a confined space, if this turns out to be your situation than you may need to resort to baby gating them in a corner of the kitchen.

When crating an elderly dog you never want to leave them to long, they are older and are prone to joint stiffness and pain, they also don’t have the same level of control they had in their younger years. The process of training is much the same in the steps used. Start with having the dog get comfortable in the open cage possibly using treats toys and food as a motivator. Once a good level of comfort has been reached you may now close the door, staying in the room at all times during this period, once your dog is comfortable with the closed door you may start leaving the room for increasingly longer periods of time. When the dog is out, constant supervision is a must. If an accident happens, oh well, clean it up and move on. If you catch your elderly dog in the middle of having an accident, escort the dog outside to the potty area, ensure you don’t frighten or confuse the old dog in the process. Remember they are old, and a little set in their ways, love, understanding and patience are needed more during this time than any other. If you find that no matter what you try they will not house train properly, they are constantly having accidents, then you may want to take them to the vet, as they get older there are numerous medical issues that can effect their bladder and bowels.

As you can see, when crate training a dog, whether puppy, adult or senior you need to provide patience and understanding. With Elderly dogs this is required even more so. Dogs, no matter what age, want to please, as they get older this gets harder. You have to ensure that they know they are loved and that they please you no matter what.