MidAmerica Border Collie Rescue/DiaperTraining

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The Male Dog That is Still Learning About Housetraining: the Diaper Method

One of the most common reasons for a dog to lose his home or to end up in a humane society is lack of housetraining.

Many dogs comes into our rescue and they have never been housetrained. The dog that was housetrained and the suddenly seems to have lost his housetraining, is probably a dog that is ill in some form. The lack of housetraining may not be the dog's fault at all. Therefore, we recommend the first step toward housetraining is to take your dog to the vet for a wellness check, and specifically, check for a urinary tract infection. Perhaps the problem is a bladder infection. Perhaps the problem is a tumor.

Once you've ruled out the physical problems, think about the possibility that a regular schedule is missing. Realize that what goes into the dog will eventually come out. A regular schedule not only helps your dog (and your house) stay clean and dry, but it is also healthier for your dog. Feeding your dog on a schedule will greatly shortening the time it takes to housetrain.

This particular article deals with using a diaper while your dog is in the process of being housetraining. It is the diaper method. It keeps your dog from peeing in your house or marking on your furniture. If he lifts his leg, he only gets his diaper wet - and not your furniture or carpeting.

The dog in the photos is an older male named Cy. He was found wandering the streets still wearing a radio collar for an invisible fence, and stitches in his left eyelid. The owner was never found. Cy was partially housetrained when he arrived in our rescue.

	Underpads are sheets made of the same materials that diapers are made of, and you will find them in your grocery store in the same aisle that products for incontenience can be found. The photo is the brand called "Assurance" These are 30"x36," are just a little bit too large for the typical Border Collie. The brand Depends makes a similar product that is slightly smaller, and are a little bit more manageable. At the time these photos were taken however, we couldn't find the Depends brand.
	Take one sheet out of the package. You'll see that it is an absorbant sheet. Since the photo is for the Assurance brand, the description will describe how to cut the sheet for usage. Open the sheet up and cut off the non-absorbant strip along the end, then cut a strip about 11" long down the length of the sheet. The sheet should now be square.
	Cut the large square into three equal lengths. Then cut each length into thirds again. Your pieces will be approximately 11"x17." The long strip that came off the length on the first cut will be a slightly different proportion, but still useable. Each piece is a separate diaper.
	After trying many different fastening methods, an elastic bandage has turned out to be the quickest and most convenient. A 6" wide bandage, folding in half works the best.
	Take one diaper and hold it under your dog, making sure you've covered his penis. Hold the diaper in place with one hand and hold the open ends of the folded elastic bandage against his loin.
	Wrap the elastic bandage around your dog. It will probably wrap around him one and a half times. Make sure the diaper material is still in place, with the diaper riding up higher toward his sterum rather than lower toward his hind legs.
	Try to end the bandage on top or near the top of your dog's back.
	Each elastic bandage comes with two clips. Stick them in place and you're done!
	To housetrain, start by taking your dog outside every hour when he is not in his crate. (Remember to remove the diaper when you take him out). Give him his potty command when he gets outside, and praise him for a job well done. Train him as though he were a puppy regardless of how old he is. Never put a wet diaper back on your dog. When your dog has remained dry about four days in a row, he is probably housetrained.

MidAmerica Border Collie Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

Cut the large square into three equal lengths. Then cut each length into thirds again. Your pieces will be approximately 11"x17." The long strip that came off the length on the first cut will be a slightly different proportion, but still useable.

Each piece is a separate diaper.

After trying many different fastening methods, an elastic bandage has turned out to be the quickest and most convenient. A 6" wide bandage, folding in half works the best.

Take one diaper and hold it under your dog, making sure you've covered his penis. Hold the diaper in place with one hand and hold the open ends of the folded elastic bandage against his loin.

Wrap the elastic bandage around your dog. It will probably wrap around him one and a half times. Make sure the diaper material is still in place, with the diaper riding up higher toward his sterum rather than lower toward his hind legs.

Try to end the bandage on top or near the top of your dog's back.

Each elastic bandage comes with two clips. Stick them in place and you're done!

To housetrain, start by taking your dog outside every hour when he is not in his crate. (Remember to remove the diaper when you take him out). Give him his potty command when he gets outside, and praise him for a job well done. Train him as though he were a puppy regardless of how old he is.

Never put a wet diaper back on your dog.

When your dog has remained dry about four days in a row, he is probably housetrained.