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AIBU?

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Original poster

To return puppy to breeder?

144 replies

TrueBlu · 05/03/2016 07:42

I'm really at the end of my tether with this.

I've had dogs all my life, mainly labs and collies who've house trained very quickly but also rescue dogs who've not been properly house trained as pups.

We now have an 8 month old boxer bitch.

She will not house train. The problem is she won't give any signals to be let outside. Everything has been done by the book, done again and redone again.

Lots of praise, treats, tethering to us, crate training, let out every 30 mins etc.

She continues to poo and we in her crate, or if she's not in the crate in the house.

I've contacted the breeder who says her mother was the same Angry

One of the other owners from her litter says she's having a lot of problems with her bitch too.

The vet says she has no health problems.

We have DC and caught out 18 month old walking around with dog poo in her hand the other week...

Just don't know what to do.

OP posts:
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7
shinynewusername · 05/03/2016 08:18

If thet was the case she would just go where she is sitting etc and wouldn't crouch

Like I say, I'm definitely no dog expert. But in humans, anyway, it is more complicated than that. Part of the brainstem receives messages from the bladder/rectum that they are full but how the higher brain responds is complicated. Having the sensation that you are peeing or pooing (or are seconds away from doing so) is different from knowing that you need to pee or poo in a few minutes' time. So - if dogs are like humans - it is possible that she knows to crouch but doesn't know to go out.

OP, is there a canine specialist vet in your area who you could contact? If you are anywhere near Bristol, there are certainly some at the vet school there.

Original poster
TrueBlu · 05/03/2016 08:18

Thank you damneddog, that's really interesting. Will the rescue be able to give me behavioural advice rather than just rehoming?

OP posts:
Original poster
TrueBlu · 05/03/2016 08:19

Yes shiny we are near Bristol!

OP posts:
TheoriginalLEM · 05/03/2016 08:20

tpalk to dogs trust. they have behaviourists but i think the crate is the issue

StuffandBother · 05/03/2016 08:20

trueblu whereabouts in the country are you? If you are thinking about rehoming her I may have an option for you Wink

Greyhorses · 05/03/2016 08:23

My own opinion is that lots of behaviour issues are genetic. My dog wasn't raised by the bitch but still has lots of the bad habits her mother had despite not being anywhere near mum...still that's a discussion for another time.

Boxers are typically stubborn and hard to train though. Not a breed I would say are easy in any way, have you consulted a good behaviouralist? Mine literally saved my sanity at one point and although expensive it was worth every penny.

If not I would consult a good breed rescue and see if someone else can take her own who is aware of the issue.

Hope it goes well for you!

Original poster
TrueBlu · 05/03/2016 08:23

But I can't have her roaming the house while she's incontinent.

OP posts:
VinceNoirLovesHowardMoon · 05/03/2016 08:23

I didn't know you could return dogs to the shop if you don't like the one you've got
Surely it's your responsibility to find a good behaviourist to try and improve it before you take her back?!

TheoriginalLEM · 05/03/2016 08:24

she isn't incontinent0 though.

Original poster
TrueBlu · 05/03/2016 08:25

Vincent, it's not really a question of not liking her....

OP posts:
NettleFarseer · 05/03/2016 08:26

I've had Boxers my whole life.
The majority have been buggers to toilet train.
My current one is one and still doesn't let me know when he needs the toiletHmm

TheoriginalLEM · 05/03/2016 08:26

im not saying i could cope but keeping her in her crate all the time is cruel and definitely won't help with house training.

ReginaBlitz · 05/03/2016 08:27

She's not incontinent.. Boxers are known for being hard to house train you should have done your research. They are hard work.

NettleFarseer · 05/03/2016 08:27

Op can you get this moved to the Doghouse??you'll get some good advice there

Original poster
TrueBlu · 05/03/2016 08:28

When she is not in her crate she poos and wees in the house. She is not in her crate all day, which is why I spend a lot of time picking up dog poo around the house. If she had no crate there would be a lot more.

OP posts:
NettleFarseer · 05/03/2016 08:28

And I agree Boxers are very hard work as youngsters...but so very wonderful at the same timeGrin

VilootShesCute · 05/03/2016 08:30

Sounds like a breed thing. Our cav was a nightmare. Subsequent dogs a dream. Didn't do a thing differently. Also we feed raw food although not sure that would make a difference other than firmer and less frequent stools. Can so understand your angst though I was almost sent over edge with our Cavalier but the cage saved our sanity as he wouldn't go in there.

Seeyounearertime · 05/03/2016 08:32

I know this is simplified but have you tried:
moving the crate outside in the day time, let her poop in it on an old sheet, move the soiled sheet onto the grass just outside the crate, praise if she poops on her sheet outside the crate, move the sheet slightly further from crate, if she poops or pees on it again, further praise, if she poops or pees back in her crate, move the sheet back and keep trying. etc

Original poster
TrueBlu · 05/03/2016 08:33

Thanks Viloot.

Everyone who's had difficulty house training, what age had yours 'got it' by?

OP posts:
TheoriginalLEM · 05/03/2016 08:34

how many poos is she doing? are they soft or hard?

my advice would be to look at her diet.
only use the crate for bed time - really important thism Yes short term it will be more difficult but crating her for long periods is stilfling her normal behaviour and she wont learn.
try the collar and lots of walks.
try not to react negatively when she goes inside as this will create anxiety.

give it time.

TheoriginalLEM · 05/03/2016 08:35

yy to letting her see that poo goes outside

Kitsmummy · 05/03/2016 08:36

Trublu, if you're near Bristol look up Roz at the Mutty Professor, she's excellent. Say Louise with Betty the pug recommended her :-)

NettleFarseer · 05/03/2016 08:37

Has she been spayed op?

mix56 · 05/03/2016 08:38

Does she have fixed meal times? or is she left to forage at any time of day?

ThatDamnedDog · 05/03/2016 08:44

The NWBR rescue can probably put you in touch with a behaviourist in your area, you are clearly a good dog owner as you're trying to find options rather than just palming her off. Boxers are the absolute devil with some things Grin hence my user name!
I have almost tore my hair out at times, and have yet to have two that will train in the same way, it was all trial and error until I found a way with each one that we have had. Is she your only dog? I found it easier to train the youngest as he copied the older one, although that still took months to get it rigt all of the time. Does she have a particular favourite spot to have accidents in or is it completely random?

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