Suggestions for outdoor dog.

[TexasProud]

So the only dog we have left is a 15 year old border collie. She normally stays outside, but we brought the giant kennel that we actually used for another dog inside. Yesterday she slept off and on inside it, and then I let her out for an hour or two to patrol our big yard like she normally does. Today, it is 11 outside. I let her outside to eat and even huddled by the house she had snow all over her.  I doubt she went to the bathroom. I've got the cat shut off in a different part of the house. I'm letting her wander for awhile in the living room. I don't want her to be in the kennel all day for the next two days. I don't know how to get her to use the bathroom...  I will let her out for short bursts, but for how long? And I doubt she will go off the porch since even our porch is covered in snow. How do I get her to use the bathroom outside?

[Katy]

DH shovels an area for the dog. I put on a parka and boots, leash the dog, take him to the area, say “go potty” and walk him back and forth until he does.  Then we come in. 

[Pawz4me]

Put her on leash and take her out, walk her around until she does her business. You may have to sweep the porch and shovel some in the yard. At 15 yo she's not likely to be steady on her feet on slippery stuff--arthritis, loss of muscle mass, etc. makes it challenging for them to walk on carpet or grass, let alone on slippery surfaces.

[mommyoffive]

Just echoing the already good advice.  Sweep or shovel an area for the dog to bathroom and leash her and walk with her telling her to go. 

 I have an older dog that hates the snow and cold and she will go fast and want to get right back in.  But my dog has a thin coat.  Is your dog enjoying being out there? Is she cold?  If not I would let her in after a bit.  My older dog sleeps a lot of the day so she would be fine in the kennel, outdoor trips, and a little around the house time. 

[TexasProud]

1 hour ago, mommyoffive said:

Just echoing the already good advice.  Sweep or shovel an area for the dog to bathroom and leash her and walk with her telling her to go. 

 I have an older dog that hates the snow and cold and she will go fast and want to get right back in.  But my dog has a thin coat.  Is your dog enjoying being out there? Is she cold?  If not I would let her in after a bit.  My older dog sleeps a lot of the day so she would be fine in the kennel, outdoor trips, and a little around the house time. 

Your last sentence is what I am doing. She has never been on a leash and she would have no idea what "go potty" would mean if I said it.  That was part of my question.  She has never been trained that way. 

[TexasProud]

Let me clarify. I have never walked her on a leash. I have used the leash when we take her to the vet once a year and she pulls. She doesn't like it. When we walk on our place, she just stays near me. 

[Pawz4me]

Then I'd just go out with her and encourage her to move around. She'll be much more likely to move around if you're out in the yard with her, and movement will naturally encourage pottying. Chances are she's just totally out of her element (no pun intended!) and needs some reassurance. I agree that at her age she'll be perfectly fine spending most of the time in the kennel.

Edited February 15, 2021 by Pawz4me

[mommyoffive]

59 minutes ago, TexasProud said:

Your last sentence is what I am doing. She has never been on a leash and she would have no idea what "go potty" would mean if I said it.  That was part of my question.  She has never been trained that way. 

Ah ok.   No leash then.   I would just go out with her and make her a path and an area.  Maybe she will come in the area with you.   I always say "go potty" to dogs even ones I am dog sitting, so it is just my normal talking to do things.  I don't think mine are trained to do that, just my automatic thing I do. 

[Scarlett]

Poor girl.   So hard to on old dogs to deal with the cold.   She will go eventually, but yes, you should probably go out with her so you can encourage her and put your mind at ease that she went.  

[Spryte]

Yes, just echoing that I would sweep or shovel, and go with her to be sure she goes.

Our old boy loves to be dried off in giant beach towels after a trip out in the snow.  Extra cuddles and attention, in his mind.  

[Drama Llama]

Do you have neighbors with dogs?

My dog is a rescue, and came to us from a place with no snow.   

The first time he saw snow he was a couple years old and we took him to visit my mother.  He got in the car with no snow, and got out with a lot of snow.  He clearly didn't know what to make of it, and wouldn't pee it in.  My guess is that it didn't smell like "outside" to him, so he had no idea what was expected.

We walked and walked, until we found a spot where another dog had peed, and then it was like a lightbulb went off.  I don't know if it was like "oh this is outside" or if he was like the people in Alice's Restaurant who figured that one mess was better than two, but he peed and then we praised him like crazy, and he's peed in the snow ever since.  

Anyway, if you have neighbors who have a dog, maybe you could go get a scoop of pee-snow, and bring it to whatever part of your yard you want him to use?

If your neighbors think you're nuts you can blame me.