Can an Older Dog Be Housebroken?
- Dale Buchanan
- Jun 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 15

Housebreaking is one of those things that new puppy owners dread the most. However, not everyone acquires a dog when they are just a small puppy, and unfortunately, not every dog ends up getting housebroken before the age of two. Does that mean that it's hopeless to try housebreaking your older dog? Certainly not. All it takes is hard work, and knowing how to work together with your pup. Remember, old dogs are certainly capable of learning all sorts of new tricks--that includes housebreaking.
First, make sure to pay a visit to the vet.
There are numerous reasons why an older dog might not be fully housebroken. However, before you get started on the training aspect of things, you will want to pay a visit to the vet to make sure that there are no health issues that contribute to the problem. In addition to that, your vet might be able to help with any complex behavioral issues, as well.
Assess your dog's level of training.
Has your dog been trained to go outside at all? Maybe they've received training to use puppy pads or other indoor methods of elimination. Even if your dog has had no training, don't despair; this step is only to make sure that you are giving your pooch credit for what they already do or don't know. For example, if your dog has been trained to go outside even a little, that is something to build off of. And consequently, if your dog has been trained to use puppy pads inside, no longer using them might encourage going outside, instead.
Put in the effort.
While housebreaking an older dog is far from impossible, it will take a fair amount of work and dedication. This may mean setting up a routine for yourself and making modifications to your own life in order to accommodate your dog's needs. For example, if your dog needs to be taken out early in the morning or late at night, you have to make sure that either yourself or someone is available at that time to take the dog out. This may involve setting alarms or reminders on your phone, re-arranging your schedule, or coordinating someone to come in your home at certain times to relieve your dog. You don't want to set your pooch up for failure. Thus, it is important to recognize your role in your dog's success.
Be consistent with your training.
Once you have settled on a training plan, make sure you are communicating consistent messages to your dog. For example, if part of your plan is to give your dog positive reinforcement every single time they eliminate outside, do not skip this step. Also, remain firm in keeping boundaries to not go inside. Once your training plan is set up, try not to deviate from it, so that your dog has a chance to catch on to what is expected of them.
Above all, don't give up!
Your dog will benefit from being housebroken at any age. And as you will find, with the proper training and support, it is certainly not impossible to housebreak an older pup. All you need is love, care, dedication, and the right strategy.
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This article was written by K. Howard for Top Gun Dog Training.