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The doghouse

10 month old dog still peeing in house.

23 replies

iseveryoneelsemadorisitme · 15/06/2015 23:30

Pup (toy type heinz) is 10 months old she was bloody hard to toilet train but we got there. However since her season started and ended two weeks ago she has regressed. She has two walks a day, one for 1-2 hours another a quick stroll. She goes to sleep at about 8-9 for the night. I make her go out at around midnight and she just sits by back door waiting to come back in. Tonight i spent a painful hour out there waiting for her to pee but she didn't. Then every morning I wake up at 6am to a massive wee and most of the time a pooh aswell Angry.
How can I fix this?! My previous dogs were so good with house training few mistakes but she is proving to be a real pain. During the day is accident free.

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MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 15/06/2015 23:41

Are you making sure you completely clean the area of any wee residue? Some urine cleaners have ammonia in and don't mask the smell. Washing powder is apparently quite good. If she can't smell where she's been inside it should discourage her from using it as a toilet.

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StarsInTheNightSky · 16/06/2015 08:06

Have you checked she doesn't have a uti? If she's just being a little sod and not ill, then the method I have always used has had a 100% success rate within 48 hours from being completely unhousetrained or meedijng a reminder, with all ages and breeds of dogs (I've rehabilitated quite a lot of dogs).
You will need distilled vinegar, floor cleaner, a scourery sponge and kitchen roll. As soon as you see the wee or poo, gasp (panto style) and say in a big mean voice "WHO DID THIS?!!" Looking at your dog the whole time. Grab them and drag them over to it, make them sniff it (don't actually rub their nose in it though) all the while ranting in a big mean voice about how bad it is. It doesn't matter exactly what you say, its the tone of voice, don't shriek-- or about though, just angry ranty low growly voice if that make sense. Either pin your dog between your legs, or put their lead on and put it under your foot as you're going to make them sit through the clean up process. She will not want to participate but you must make him. If she struggles, stop cleaning until you've got her back watching closely. Rant all the while, "bad dog, this is bad, we do not poo in the house, in the house is BAD" that sort of thing. When you've cleaned the floor, making her sniff it at intervals, dip the sponge in the vinegar and wipe the vinegar thoroughly all over the area, then, holding her firmly, make her sniff the sponge for a second. She will HATE this. At this point up the ranting volume and enthusiasm slightly. Immediately take her mouth side and start praising in a Disney voice "outside is good, good girl, outside is good" and give your command to toilet if you have one. Stay outside until she at least does a token wee.
Do this every time she sees or poos in the house, even if its long after the event, dogs do know its their own wee or poo as their own has an individual scent, so the don't punish after the act as they won't know what they done is rubbish.

This has always worked for us, even with some of the most stubborn breeds. Not the nicest method, but effective.

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elastamum · 16/06/2015 08:11

We got given a 11 month old dog that wasn't properly housetrained. Crate at night when you go to bed then straight up and outside early in morning. Did this for about 3 weeks, sorted out the problem very quickly as dog wont foul her own bed.

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basildonbond · 16/06/2015 09:31

Really really really really don't try Stars' method - there are many more effective ways of house training which don't involve you intimidating your dog

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Lilcamper · 16/06/2015 09:34

First stop would be a vet for a UTI check.

Then don't do what stars suggested. All that will happen is your dog will become scared to go in front of you and the first thing you'll know about it is when the smell of stale urine starts seeping from the gap behind the sofa.

Have a look at the file 'Toilet Training' on the facebook group 'dog training advice and support'. It will give you a kind and errorless way to retrace the steps of house training.

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iseveryoneelsemadorisitme · 16/06/2015 11:21

She has had a thorough check including UTI and anal glands all ok. She just won't go when I put her out last thing before I go to bed she just sits looks bemused. I sit there with treats willing for her to go!
I'll check out groups thanks. I've always had bigger dogs and had heard small breeds and shit tsus are notorious for being hard to house train. She is a shit tsu/pomeranian/chi/ something else !

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iseveryoneelsemadorisitme · 16/06/2015 11:22

She got so upset by crate I gave up (Bad me) but she'd scream and quiver!

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StarsInTheNightSky · 16/06/2015 12:06

For the record, in nearly thirty years of dog training of all different breeds and sizes of dogs (including some rescues at the end of the line with very severe behavioural problems) I've never had a dog scared to go to the toilet in front of me or one who starts sneak toileting, the whole point is about teaching them to go in the correct place.
I've also yet to come across a more effective method of housetraining, happy to stand corrected if anyone has one. Smile. I have also never had any of my dogs growl at me. Not even once.

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StarsInTheNightSky · 16/06/2015 12:07

Meh, just noticed my overuse of the word also, my excuse is its still very early morning here Grin.

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Floralnomad · 16/06/2015 12:44

Don't know where you are stars but those methods just are not the done thing anymore where most of us are (UK) . OP do you have a command word as that may be something that's worth introducing ,even at this stage as it does generally work . We use 'quickly' and my dog will always squeeze out a token pee / or at least try . Also if your dog doesn't like crates (we don't use them ) would it be possible to barricade her into a smallish area using a baby gate until the problem is solved .

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StarsInTheNightSky · 16/06/2015 12:52

OP sorry to derail for a second.
Floral as I said, not in the UK but I'm in an unusual location so don't want to out myself by saying where (we've had death threats in the past, hence the reason for emigrating). If its not then done thing, how would you solve this in a ten month old dog? How long would it take you? I'm genuinely interested, not trying to be confrontational. I've met dog trainers and breeds the work over and I'm always interested in hearing about different methods Smile.

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StarsInTheNightSky · 16/06/2015 12:53

*breeders, not breeds, although that too!

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Lilcamper · 16/06/2015 13:20

I am a trainer and would use the method on the Facebook file I mentioned. Don't give them a chance to go wrong and they'll get it right quicker.

We now know dogs learn more quickly and it stays in their heads' better without punishing and/or forcing them.

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SunshineAndShadows · 16/06/2015 13:22

Vet and behaviourist here. Don't use Star's method. Intimidation and fear can be extremely effective at training, but generally create other more long-term behaviour problems even if these are not immediately apparent, and are terrible for welfare. Also, I'm assuming that you've chosen to have a pet as a companion, rather than a fear-driven automaton? In which case you'll probably want your dog to respond to you because it understands the concept of where to toilet rather than just trying to avoid your anger. The method described above is about 20 years out of date and shows a total lack of knowledge about animal welfare, dog behaviour, physiology or learning theory.

OP - great that you've already checked for a UTI - this can occur after first season and may be causing bladder sensitivity that is triggering the issue. Once toileting in the house occurs, there is an element of learning, reinforced by the scent profile that can maintain this behaviour. Firstly clean the area well with biological washing powder solution - do not use ammonia based detergents.

Give her frequent access to toilet outdoors (as often as you can, ideally every hour or two and always after a feed or a nap) and praise her each time she does so, just as you did when she was a pup. Make sure she gets a couple of opportunities to toilet after her evening meal (again praise when done in the right place). You'll need to go outside with her (not clear if you already are or not), and remember the world can be a scary and distracting place for a small dog so she may need some reassurance.

Its worth persisting with crate training - don't lock her in! Put her bed and treats in there and let her choose to enter and come out when she wants. Only when she is totally relaxed in there should you close the door for a few minutes, then gradually build this up over a period of several days. Dogs won't toilet in their sleeping area unless desperate. An alternative is to use a baby gate/close doors to restrict access to the area where she's started toileting.

Toy breeds are difficult to toilet train and can regress with stress or anxiety so DAP diffusers in the room may help too.

A combination of lots of praise for appropriate toileting behaviour and restricting her opportunities to toilet in the wrong place will facilitate her learning - this article has some useful tips for small dog training
www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/living-small-dogs

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iseveryoneelsemadorisitme · 16/06/2015 13:53

Thank you great advice. She is certainly my pet/baby and I think I have possibly created a monster. When I do speak in my disapproving voice she looks so utterly cute I am not so good at acting cross. She managed to get through the bars of baby gate so I got a material one she chewed through. Letting her sleep with me seems to stop her however she is a pain in the ass to share a bed with an prefers to sleep on my head. I shall use these methods and persevere. During the day is never an issue its night time. I do sit out with her on her last visit for up to an hour but nothing !

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Floralnomad · 16/06/2015 14:56

I'd do what lilcamper advises but that's because ,although I'm not in any way a dog trainer / behaviourist I am a firm believer in only using positive methods .

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dotdotdotmustdash · 16/06/2015 23:29

then the method I have always used has had a 100% success rate within 48 hours from being completely unhousetrained or meedijng a reminder, with all ages and breeds of dogs (I've rehabilitated quite a lot of dogs).


I've owned several cars over the last 25 years. I'm still lousy at changing tyres and you certainly shouldn't expect mechanical advice from me.

Be kind, she'll get there.

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kilmuir · 16/06/2015 23:36

yes, terrify the poor creature, what a cruel method Stars. might work but its horrible.
back to basics, i would get up half way through night and put her out, gradually getting later and later. lots of praise etc. they do get there

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Focusfocus · 18/06/2015 11:14

What stars has described was - for me - impossible to read. Others have explained better why its beyond wrong.

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Liamdwyer73 · 06/04/2020 18:58

I have a 10 month old lurcher, I walk him first thing in the morning, lunch time, tea time and around 10pm, I have only just had him.

Every time I take him out he goes to the toilet with no issues but he is still peeing in the house, sometimes he is just walking as if he’s unaware. I am telling him he is a bad dog and cleaning it up but it seems to keep happening.
I know this could be a sign of infection but with coronavirus it’s difficult to get through to them. Any ideas?

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Gingerninja4 · 06/04/2020 21:52

Also what about putting on lead about 9 pm or what ever works quick 5 min walk that way you know had a wee or even just in front garden on lead

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Liamdwyer73 · 07/04/2020 09:27

I walk him at 10pm every night and he goes fine.

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Funf · 07/04/2020 09:46

I would get back to the crate training they rarely pee in their own bed.
Its about routine

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