My cousin gave me her dog because she doesn't have time to take care of it. The dog is already 16 months and she is not potty trained to go outside. This is my first time having a dog. Is it possible for me to train her to go outside instead of in the house? What about commands?

[Lunareclipse]

What kind of dog is it? If it is of managable size keep it on a leash and tied to your belt loops at all times. That way it is a lot easier to catch her going in the house and correct her when she is about to go. When she is just starting to pee or is looking for a place to pee, tell her "OUT" in an authorative voice and take her out. Give praise and a treat if she goes outside. If you have to go out of the house put her in a crate big enough for her to turn around in. Dogs will not pee where they sleep. And then when you come back, let her out of the crate and take her immediately outside. Since this is your first dog, I would suggest dog training courses. They not only teach your dog to listen to you, but teaches you how to listen to your dog too.

[chevy & karen]

Originally Posted by diamond0505

My cousin gave me her dog because she doesn't have time to take care of it. The dog is already 16 months and she is not potty trained to go outside. This is my first time having a dog. Is it possible for me to train her to go outside instead of in the house? What about commands?

Use lot's of praise and yummy treat's when she does what you want her to and patience when she make's a mistake.....

[wishbone]

There's a lot of tutorials and training guides/articles in the net that is appropriate for the kind of dog you have. Learn first about your dog's information. Please start with bringing him to the vet for some examination, do't hesitate to ask advise to from him.

You could buy a book on the particular breed which may help with some things. For potty training, buy some puppy pads, put them inside and get her to pee on them (if she makes a mistake and doesn't pee on them, bring her over to it and show her that thats the place she's supposed to go), then stake them to the ground outside, she should still pee on it, and eventually take it away. Another thing you could do is buy a bell and attach it to the door, everytime you take her out make it ring, if she even sniffs it praise her and take her outside immediatley, she should learn to tell you if she has to go.