Help please house training the older dog ?

[Horseback Rider]

I've had my 4 yr old lab x husky from 10 Wks and the we were living in had a dog flap . I moved about 3 weeks ago and now he doesn't seem to be able to manage over night . I've tried putting him in the garden for a while before bed but he just sits by the door NOT going to toilet . I realise it's a change for him but by the look on his face every morning we both know he's in the dog house so to speak . He's wonderful in every other way so if anyone has any ideas I'd be grateful ?

 

[CorvusCorax]

He doesn't 'know', he's just confused and stressed by the situation and can feel your own frustration, he's had a way through a door for four years and could just pop out when he felt like it and now it's not there anymore.
Imagine it from his point of view. Imagine if your bathroom door was suddenly locked or bricked over - what would you do? I bet you'd be confused as well.

Are you willing to crate train him, so he learns, this is where I sleep, and I go outside to pee? Or could you sleep downstairs for a while/in the same room, so that you can spot when he needs to go, let him out, and lots of praise and create a cue/word for when he does go outside?

 

[Horseback Rider]

Thanks and I appreciate this is an upheaval for him. As my room is on the 3rd floor I'm going to sleep downstairs with him at first at least that way we should be able to get him out side in time

 

[CorvusCorax]

Good luck! I was being optimistic and hoping it was a bungalow, whoops!

 

[satinbaze]

I would go out with him and encourage him to pee, rather than just putting him in the garden. Good luck

 

[Horseback Rider]

I do go outside with him but how does one encourage the dog to pee ??

 

[Morag4]

Teach him a cue word, everytine you see him peeing say 'toilet' or 'pee' or whatever you like and praise him he will catch on. Could you hook him up before bedtime and take him for a teeny walk, he may go then as the stimulation of sniffing might kick in and he might empty his tank.

 

[twiggy2]

I would take him for a walk last thing at night and crate train him so after the walk he gets into the routine of being put to bed, to start with I would set an early alarm to pop him out on the lead again in the morning