The conventional wisdom for housetraining dogs is to take them out when you think they need to go, and if they haven’t gone within 10 minutes, take them back inside and put them in their crate, then repeat the whole process in 10-15 minutes.

But what if you have a dog who’s actually been taught to go in her crate, and you’re trying to retrain her?

I woke up this morning, and while it was clear it had rained last night, it was no longer raining. Until shortly before it was time to take Chester out. I waited for a lull in the rain — luckily it’s rare for us to have anything that lasts more than an hour, usually much less — and took Chester out.

He was just getting started on his dance, when it began to rain again. He stopped. I moved him over under one of our trees, and proceeded to stand there in the pouring rain and dark for another 15 minutes, but no go.

Frustrated, I took him back inside. It’s been a long time since he’s had an accident inside, but it was clear he wasn’t going to do anything. I have been clicking & treating him for doing his business for 2 months now, but it’s still not on command. I doubt it ever will be.

After feeding them, I took Lola out. It wasn’t raining that hard initially, but she had the same reaction as Chester. What’s worse, I didn’t want her to have another accident in her crate. She hasn’t had very many, and she’s been getting rewarded for going outside for 2 weeks now (and seems to like that idea), so how long would she hold it? After 40 minutes, I had my answer.

I was finally forced to bring her in, and take Chester back out. Luckily by this time it was barely raining, and he did his business quickly.

Then I retrieved Lola, who luckily hadn’t messed in her crate, and she cooperated this time, too.

I can excuse Lola, who truly doesn’t know better by this point. But Chester? I would’ve thought by now that he’d know enough to finish his business quickly so that we could go back in. But I guess I just didn’t count on the stubborness of chis. He always seems pretty desperate to go when I take him out first thing; I truly didn’t think he could hold it that long. Apparently he can.

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