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Adopting a house-trained dog will save you time, money, and a lot of effort. If you don’t have the patience to train a dog on your own, it’s possible to purchase or adopt dogs that are already house-trained. That said, the level of training may vary, and house training might not mean the same thing for everyone. For example, you need to consider if potty training is all you need or if you’re looking for a dog that’s well-behaved and ready to listen to commands.
While finding a house-trained dog can be complicated, we’re here to help. Whether you want to adopt a dog or train yourself, read on to learn more about house-trained dogs and how to adopt them.
What Is a House-Trained Dog?
A house-trained dog is a dog that’s trained for houses. While that may make sense, that only tells you a little about what exactly this type of dog is and how it’s trained. Other than that, it’s ready for a home. Ultimately, house-trained dogs are trained in many ways to be good dogs in a house. For example, house-trained is commonly used to refer to dogs that are trained to use the bathroom outside and other behavioral training. What’s more, the definition of a house-trained dog depends on who you ask and what they think a house-trained dog should be.
Can You Adopt a House-Trained Dog?
Yes, you can adopt a house-trained dog. You need to work with a reputable organization, a specific dog breeder, or adopt a dog and train it yourself. The good news is that most older dogs will be house-trained to some extent, especially if they’ve spent time in a shelter. It’s also possible for some puppies and other dogs to be house-trained at a younger age by a breeder or rescue organization to help with the adoption process.
What Are the Easiest Dogs to House Train?
The easiest breeds to house-train vary in size and temperament, so you have plenty of options. Some examples of easy dog breeds to house train are found below:
- Border collies
- German shepherds
- Labrador retrievers
- Australian shepherds
- Maltese
- Shiba Inus
- Poodles (standard and toy)
- Papillons
These are only a few examples of the easiest dog breeds to house-train. When adopting a house-trained dog, look for these breeds for the best results.
What Are the Hardest Dogs to House Train?
Not all dogs are easy to house train. While you can get it done for most dog breeds, some are easier to train than others and will take much less time and effort. We list some of the dog breeds to avoid adopting for house training below:
- Jack Russell terrier
- Afghan hound
- Pomeranian
- Bichon Frise
- Dalmation
- Dachshund
Every dog has a unique personality, so adopting one of these breeds doesn’t guarantee that you’ll run into trouble. Be cautious around these breeds because they’re known for having more problems than others.
How to Find a House-Trained Dog
Adopting a house-trained dog can be done in a few ways. Typically, you’ll have to get an older dog that has some training experience under their belt. Otherwise, you have to start fresh and train the dog on your own. The good news is that there are plenty of organizations that help people get house-trained dogs.
1. Search for House-Trained Dogs Online
The best place to look for house-trained dogs without worrying about visiting shelters or breeders in person is online. There are dozens of online options for dog adoption, and many of these options can help you train your dog or offer a house-trained dog ready to live in your home.
You can also find different levels of training that depend on your needs. Some dogs may be potty trained, while others might have potty training and some leash training. Ultimately, this depends on the breeder and how long you’re willing to wait.
Some great places to check for dogs online include websites like PetFinder and Adopt a Pet. You can also check the websites for breeders and shelters in your area to see if any house-trained dogs are available for adoption.
2. Call Local Breeders
Depending on how far you want to travel, calling local breeders isn’t a bad idea. If you’re looking for a puppy, this is likely your best option, and some breeders will train all of their dogs to help them find a home. When calling local breeders, make sure you ask about their puppies and their training level. Some breeders may also work something out with you where you agree to purchase the dog, and they train them for you.
If you want a house-trained dog from a breeder, be sure you choose an older dog. Breeders won’t want to deal with dogs going to the bathroom inside or in the wrong places, so the more time they spend with the breeder, the higher the chance that the dog is house-trained.
3. Check with Rescue Organizations in Your Area
Like breeders, some rescue organizations will train their dogs to make it easier for them to be adopted. These dogs will be from all ages and backgrounds, but their supply depends on the dogs that come through the door. For this reason, it’s not always easy to know what you’re getting. Still, some rescues will train their dogs well, and it’s worth giving them a call to see if they have any dogs available and if they’re house-trained.
You can also assume that most older rescues have some type of house training. Therefore, if you see an older dog that’s been at a rescue for a number of weeks, there’s a good chance that the staff house-broke that dog for you.
4. Adopt an Older Dog
Dogs older than one year have a good chance of being house-trained, and their chance of being trained increases with each passing year. This is especially true if the dog is found at a shelter, rescue, or breeder. You can’t always tell with people listing dogs in the newspaper or online, but if you adopt an older dog at a shelter or rescue, you won’t have any issues with house training.
That said, you should still be patient and give them time to adjust. Dogs entering a new environment might not behave as well, so cut them some slack for the first few weeks.
5. House-Train the Dog Yourself
When it comes to adopting a house-trained dog, sometimes it’s easier to adopt a puppy and train them yourself. As long as you find the right breed and form a bond with your dog from an early age, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about the training process. Focus on training the dog from a young age and make sure the methods you use revolve around positive reinforcement. You never want to be mean to your dog because this doesn’t create a positive feedback loop.
Tips for House-Training an Adopted Dog
When you adopt a house-trained dog, it might not adapt to your home right away. Unfortunately, this means that you’ll have to put in some extra legwork and train them for your specific living situation. If you’re struggling with this process, don’t panic; we have plenty of tips to help you below.
1. Use Positive Reinforcement
Regardless of the type of training, make sure you focus on incorporating positive reinforcement into your routine. You should never be aggressive with your dog or scold them if they have an accident because that can make them spiteful and create other types of bad behavior. Instead, reward your dog with treats when they go to the bathroom outside and try to encourage them to do so.
2. Come Up with a Routine
One of the most important things you can do for house training is establish a routine. This might seem trivial for a dog, but you’ll quickly realize that they function better with a routine. For example, you might want to let them out right when you wake up, once in the afternoon, and once before bed. This is just an example, but your dog will get used to a routine like this. In fact, you may even find them waiting at the door to be let out.
3. Let Them Out Often with Supervision
When you first bring a house-trained puppy home or when you want to start training your puppy, it’s important to keep an eye on them. When they’re inside, look for signals that they want or need to go outside. These signals might look like them wandering around near the door, whining, or barking by the door. Once you let them outside, also keep an eye on them to make sure they use the bathroom.
4. Avoid Paper or Pad Training
One common mistake that a lot of dog owners make is pad or paper training. The concept makes sense, and it can be effective, but there are better ways to train your dog to use the bathroom outside. This is because the dog going on the pad can confuse them. Then, you might have to put pads outside until they stop using the pad, which can prolong the process.
5. Try a Bell
This one might sound like it’s coming out of left field, but trying a bell can help you house-train a dog. It doesn’t have to be a bell; you can place something near your front or back door that a dog can use to let you know it’s time for them to go outside. Just make sure they don’t abuse this tool to chase squirrels or go outside whenever they want to.
House-Trained Dogs FAQ
Questions about adopting house-trained dogs? We have plenty of answers to some of the most common house-training adoption questions below.
How Much Does a House-Trained Dog Cost?
A house-trained dog shouldn’t cost you too much more than the price of the breed you choose. Therefore, it depends on the type of dog that you’re adopting. Some agencies may also have different pricing based on age and their training level, so keep this in mind. That said, you can expect to spend around $500 to $1,000 when you adopt a house-trained dog.
How Much Does it Cost to House-Train a Dog?
House-trained dogs aren’t expensive to train. It’s nothing like service dog training or even therapy dog training, so you don’t have to worry about high prices. You can house-train a dog yourself for free or spend a few hundred dollars on a trainer for a few seasons. House training isn’t all that complicated, so it’s not something you usually have to spend a fortune on.
How Long Does it Take to House-Train a Dog?
The process of house training can take 6-8 weeks. During this time, you need to supervise your dog, look for signs that they want to go outside, and use positive reinforcement when they do make it outdoors. While it usually takes 6-8 weeks, most of the training isn’t hands-on and mostly requires you to observe the dog more than anything. That said, you should start with hands-on and intense training for the first few days.
What Age Should a Dog Be House-Trained?
When you’re looking to adopt a dog, look for dogs that are about one year old. There’s a good chance that they would have been housebroken in the past by a previous owner or the rescue/shelter. If you’re training a dog to go potty outside, starting at around six months to 1 year will yield the best results. It’s best to let them grow and develop a bond with you before you jump right into training.
Adopt a House-Trained Dogs Today
House training is one of the most important parts of adopting a dog. After all, you don’t want your dog peeing and pooping all over your house. That said, you have to consider what house training means to you. For example, is potty training enough? Or do you need behavioral training to also consider a dog house-trained?
Once you can answer these questions, you can consider adopting a house-trained dog or training a dog for your home yourself.