Dog widdling on carpet...

[ifitsnotanarse]

Our 8 month old spaniel cross is housetrained downstairs. However, anytime she sneaks upstairs she widdles on my lovely (nearly new) carpet. I have no idea what makes it so attractive to her.

Anyone any ideas on how to stop her bad habit? Putting stair gate up is last resort, as DS2 will have trouble opening/closing it.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Has another dog lived in the house?

[SpicyBear]

Does she understand how to get to the outside area to go? It sounds daft but dogs don't always generalise very well.

If downstairs is hard floor, carpet is very attractive as it's soft and absorbent. Also have you used a biological cleaner to break down all trace of the smells.

I would treat her like a puppy when upstairs - supervising and taking out for wees very regularly. She will get it eventually.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Tbh I would get a stairgate and look around for a type your ds can do, or rig it up in a way he can manage.

[Kleptronic]

I don't know but if anyone can tell me how to housetrain a nine month old miniature Dachshund please tell me!

I'm doing the puppy thing with him and have been for 6 weeks, but the second my back is turned...

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Klep just keep at it.I know it feels soul destroying at times but if you're consistent you will get there.You only hear of the ones that are housetrained in 3 days.Well, dogs are like children -all different.
ThatBloodyDog wasn't truly trustworthy at toilet training till a year -but now he's great.

[Kleptronic]

Thanks That. It's good to know there are others who've struggled with them! I keep reading that mini daxies are notoriously hard to house train and he's certainly living up to it! It's as though he simply has no concept of the difference between in and outdoors.

I've got a 4 year old border collie too and as the cleanest dog on the planet, who goes to the furthest reaches of the garden to toilet, he's utterly aghast and barks to let me know when there's a puddle! Probably too much info, but the collie sniffs the daxie's bum when he's due for a poo so that's amazingly helpful. Now if I can only train him to herd the daxie out of the door every hour or so...

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Now there's a plan Klep

I think my dog had a problem as well with marking because of a previous dog in the house.My 'pet' theory (do you see what I did there.....) is that it was only when the smell balance was rught to him that he stopped.Luckily before we could detect it!

[weaselwords]

My weimaraner bitch took over a year to be reliably house trained. Some dogs just take a while. Luckily I took her on at 3yrs, lol.

[Kleptronic]

Ha weasel I took my collie on already trained, it's by far the easiest way!

[ifitsnotanarse]

Thanks for the replies and sorry for the delay in getting back. Been struck with a summer cold.

She's the only dog to have been in the house. And she knows how to get to the back door when she wants to.

SpiceyBear I think you hit the nail on the head as downstairs is all hard floors. Could you recommend a biological cleaner? I had been using a mousse for cat/dogs from B&M but it doesn't appear to be working.

Really, really do not want to put up the stair-gate though as, fingers crossed, it will become a necessity next year.

[ifitsnotanarse]

mousse spray

[SpicyBear]

I used the simple solution pet one as I am a bit lazy, but you can mix up a solution of biological washing powder and use that. Something with enzymes to break down the pee smell that they can smell but we can't.

[moosemama]

Another vote for Simple Solution here. I've used it with all my pups over the years and it really does the job.