I've got a problem with both of my dogs........some advice needed please..........

[GoodGollyMissMolly]

Since bringing DD home, both of my dogs have taken to relieving themselves on the bathroom floor (luckily it is a wipeable floor) if they are left on their own. (BTW the bathroom is downstairs at the back of the kitchen, I don't lock them in the bathroom or anything )

The longest they are left on their own is a couple of hours. They have only done it before if they have had a bad stomach or dioreah (SP?) , you know when they cannot help themselves.

I went out yesterday to a hospital appointment and was gone all of 1 and a half hours and when I came back I knew they had done something as the whole house stank.

I let them out just before I leave the house and they are in and out most of the day, so they can pretty much go whenever they need to.

In every other way they have been fine since DD has come home, well apart from one of them developing epilepsy, but that is another story.
They are very protective of DD.

What do you think could be the cause?
What do I do about it.

By relieving themselves i take it you mean poo!
I think they are probably just a bit thrown by DD being in the house ,you havent chenged their food or the time you give it have you? Im no expert so i cant really help with advice ,but i imagine they will probably stop after a few weeks once they feel settled . Is it definately both dogs ? is the one with epilespy on medication? might be a side effect . They are very considerate doing on a easy clean floor though

It may be that they did it once and now the smell is there attracting them to do it again, you could use a different cleaner, I use a special anti-odour pet one, I think you can also use biological washing powder/liquid, or perhaps try shutting the bathroom door. They may settle down but you don't want them to develop a habit. Perhaps go back to bascis a bit too and praise them when they go outside.

i think it may be a form of attention seeking. tney are releiving themselves as they feel put out since they are no longer your babies! may sound daft but i have 2 dogs and have a 9 month old now. they are house trained but there are times that i have come home ot accidents. just the other day i took one to work and left the other at home and came home to a delightful present on the living room carpet!!!
are they still getting attention at home? if it is happening everytime you leave the house you may have to start to retrain them again, and by that i mean leaving them in the house for 5 mins one day then rewarding them when you come in and themn increasing the time you are away each day and not forgetting plenty of attention and hugs when you are at home and at least one nice long walk, maybe in the mornign so they relieve themselves plenty before you leave them?

Message withdrawn

Hi, thank you for your replies.

I have been out today to get DD weighed and I have been out for a couple of hours and I've some home to nothing, no accidents at all.
SO I have fussed both dogs and given them a treat.

I do think it is both dogs the poos are different sizes IYSWIM (Not that I inspect the poo or anything )

The dog with epilepsy isn't on meds as the vet said it is only a mild case which has just shown itself more since DD came home.

We really do try so hard not to push the dogs out, but I suppose with a LO to deal with they inevitably get pushed out.
We have asked people whenever they come round to fuss the dogs first and the baby second, I do they to do that myself also.

Thanks you for the washing powder idea, does it really work?
I think you are all right I'm gonna have to go back to basics with them.
No point in shutting the bathroom door as they will only do it in the kitchen then!!

Could you go back to putting newspaper down and gradually moving it nearer to the door along with fuss/praise when thev'e been good?

Denny, looks like that is what I'm gonna have to do.
I feel really bad for them both, feel like we are leaving them out. Even though we have done loads to keep them from feeling that way, but DD just takes up so much of my time.

I thought It was wrong to fuss dogs before children as the dogs need to learn that they are bottom of the pack so to speak?

Ooohhh I dont know, I just thought it was a good way to make the dogs not feel left out.

I think that pack ranking is very important within the family, people especially children should be greeted first, dogs a v ery definate last. The dogs of course can then be given lots & lots of attention - it's just the order of initial contact.

The dogs need to know that your dc are 100% above them in rank order.

There are some ace dog owners who can advise you on here but are perhaps busy with the Christmas stuff at the moment.

have to say would agree with cargirl, fuss the dogs last as trhey are the lowest inrank, anything else may ensourage dominant behavr, towards your lo.

Hi,

Have you always put them out there when you go out or i it something you have just started to do since little one arrived??

They will be very insecure because of new smels etc. They just wont understand but they should settle down. Just do the usual...dont acknowledge the accidents clean them up and get on with it. Maybe put them outside while you clean so they dont see you.Also if you know you ae going out only allow them ice cubes a couple of hours before and No food. The ice cubes are slow releasing and so they wont feel the need to go as much.

When you come home walk straight pass them at first but then you can fuss them. Each dog is different. I have a naturally submissive dog and so rank isn't an option anyway but I have fostered many dogs who need to be shown these measures in these cases I let them out first as soon as I get in and then treat them after.

Hi Horseshoe, thanks for replying.

We have always put them in the kitchen since moving into this house, we have been here nearly a year.
Good idea about the ice cubes, I will try that one.
One of my dogs is also naturally submissive, however with regards to the other one I couldn't tell you if she is submissive or not. She is very hyperactive though, but not in a bad way, shes nearly 7 and it's like having a puppy in the house
I do generally put them in the garden as soon as I come in and while cleaning anyway, because they are so excited to see someone they tend to run through the mess that they have done in the bathroom.

I don't know if i has been a very short phase as I have been out for a couple of hours today and when I came home I didn't have any mess from them. So I let them out and then gave them loads of fuss and a toy (I had bought them a new one each) SO thats been two days in a run with no mess