Advice needed

[JumpingJetFlash]

Hi, looking for advice. We have just rehomed a 4 yr old cocker. She went camping last week with hubby and daughter and all good. Came back Sunday and has weed in the dining room once each morning since then. On all but today, the back door was open so she could go out and at least twice she'd been out for a wee and then come in and done it.
Also Sunday and Monday slept downstairs no probs - little grumble as we went to bed but then settled. Last night she wouldn't settle at all, kept coming up to first floor where my daughter sleeps (we sleep in the attic) and then pacing and whining. I ended up sleeping on the sofa downstairs as I'm in work today and needed her to settle down.
Sorry for the long post but could do with some words of wisdom. Probably relevant that although she mainly lived outside at her last home, she did have other dogs for company, whereas she's an only here.

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

she mainly lived outside at her last home

She's probably not fully toilet trained then. I would start from scratch with her, as if you were training a puppy. Take her out regularly, lots of praise when she wees outside (you need to stay with her). If she urinates inside just clean it up (with a non-ammonia based cleaner) and chalk it up to experience.

Where does she sleep downstairs? Is she crate trained?

[JumpingJetFlash]

Thanks for the reply :-) Will do as you suggest with the training - the frustrating thing is it's only the first wee of the day, even if you stay outside with her, she'll do it when she gets in. (I am aware also that she has only been with us for 4 days so it's early days really)
She has a bed in the living room which we moved into the dining room when we went to bed. She'll go in a crate in the car but we haven't tried in the house. We can shut the door to the upstairs but it feels mean when she's whimpering and whining. Any advice for what to do to help that if we do commit to her sleeping downstairs?

[Floralnomad]

You need to do it like you would with a puppy which is sleep downstairs with her for a few days gradually moving further away so she is alone where you want her to be .

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

Well, first decide if you ARE going to commit to her sleeping downstairs! What are your reasons for that decisions? Nothing wrong with it, just so long as you're certain.

If I were you I'd bring the crate inside and leave the door open for her, to see if she chooses to go in there. If she does, you could try crating her over night, which might make her feel more secure.

So it's only the very first wee of the day that she does inside? Interesting. Do you let her out in the garden, or take her for a walk? If you could walk her straight away she'd be more likely to wee whilst out.

[TheoriginalLEM]

She will return to where she has weed before if you dont get rid of the smell. Now of course you have cleaned up and got rid of the smell, but i mean get RID of the smell. Dogs sense of smell is extremely acute. You should try Biological washing up liquid, when it is dry dab with methylated spirits. That will break down any proteins in the urine that remain. Many household cleaners attract dogs to wee on them, as the previous poster said, use non ammonia based.

Is she piddling due to stress? how long have you had her? Could she have a urine infection? If she is stressed you can try an adaptil collar or diffuser which will help her calm down.

Does she have a crate?

[adamgraham1980]

We had a similar problem with one of our rescue dogs, he would intermittently wee in the corner of the room. He was/is fully house trained and at the time 11 years old.

He stopped doing it after about a month once he'd bonded with us and was more settled in his new environment. He wasn't a particularly nervous dog, but anxiety presents differently in different dogs and for different reasons.

Lots of reassurance and treats when weeing outside and we've found adaptil plug-ins great for reducing stress as mentioned in a previous post.

I'd suggest a crate for her in the day downstairs, with her bed and toys in and leave that accessible to her all the time she's in. Have it as a happy place, play games with her around it etc so its a fixed safe happy place for her. Leave it in one place downstairs and take it from there. It just takes time :)

[JumpingJetFlash]

Thanks Cupcake - will have a discussion with husband tonight and decide one way or other. We let her out, this morn I think it was partly my fault as my bladder is weaker than hers so I hadn't let her out. Will try walk and see if that helps

Have ordered some cleaner LEM to see if it helps. Whilst it always in the dining room she does like to vary where lol. It is only day 3 of having her here properly so I'm sure that we'll sort it out (am I a proper dog owner now I've slipped in wee lol)

[JumpingJetFlash]

That's great Adam :-) will look for the plug in too. Just want her to be happy with us

[JumpingJetFlash]

Hi all who helped with advice last week. Just a thanks for all your help and an update.

We are on Day 4 of no accidents (including when she was accidentally left for 2.5 hours instead of 1 when a meeting ran over massively).

We have set up a safe space downstairs (though she was having none of the crate and walked as far round it as she could physically get lol) and a bed in the bedroom which she is happy to settle with in the night. After talking to her previous owner we also tweaked her night time routine so we take her for a half hour walk at about 9 and then she comes back and has food and goes upstairs to bed.

She seems very happy with the routine which makess us all more relaxed. Thank you all so much for your advice and help

[Boswell72]

I am literally at my wits end with our 18 month old black Lab. He's affectionate, playful and pretty good around the house but walking him is a nightmare and I just don't know what to do any more. He pulls so hard, he's hurting my wrists and shoulders and nothing I try stops him. I was using a halti collar that worked a treat but he was recently bitten by another dog and I won't be able to use it for months because it will hurt the scar on his face. Please help!!!

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

Bos you might find you get more responses if you post your own thread, but in the meantime you can get anti-pull harnesses. It's not like a regular harness, which would actually make pulling worse, but it does up at the side so if the dog pulls it makes them turn to the side.

Are you going to training classes? Try and find someone who teaches using positive methods. Work on a static heel first (I think there are videos on You Tube - can't find them at the moment as I'm at work).