Okay...where to start?. Following on from other threads I have seen, I have some questions about my dogs.

[DustyTv]

I have 2 dogs and they hav been a little bit naughty just lately and I don't know what to do.

They are both peeing and pooing inside the house despite hardley ever doing this unless we have had to leave them on their own for a long time, which is very rare. they have constant access to the back garden while one of us is in the house. (thinking about a doggy door for when we are out)

One of the dogs weed on our bed over the weekend, neither of them have done this before. Why would she do this?

They have both taken to barking at EVERYTHING and it is annoying the hell out of me, Why?

I hate the peeing and pooing in the house, I don't know what has come over them.

They have a good life, they get walked at least 3 times a day, they have toys etc. They get lots of attention off DH and I. They get fed 2 small meals a day with occasional treats and tid bits.

I have tried taking their water bowls up and giving them access to it throughout the day, as opposed to leaving it down all the time and it does not work.

I am at my wits end with them both, they are now in last chance saloon. I am getting them a kennel so that they can stay outside in the day while we are out and come in and sleep in the kitchen at night.

What has changed in the household recently (and I mean anything)?

Are there new neighbours?

Has their diet changed?

No their diet is the same but it has always been rather varied anyway.

DD is now 10mo and one of my dogs had a bit of a funny turn after we brough DD home, but nothing untoward since that first week.

Our neighbours are the same. The only things I can think that have changes is that we have decorated (maybe they don't like the decorations lol )

We have moved our dining room around, well it is no longer a dining room but it has DH's music stuff in there.

I really cant think of anything else. We got rid of the car and they haven't been for a drive for a while, but we still make sure they get to the same places for walks.

Do you think they could need walking more?

Oh, my brother got a dog, but they all get on well, could that be it?

The two things that spring to mind are: are you getting rid of the smell completely when they do a wee (i.e. no ammonia based cleaners, dilute biological washing liquid and/or special spray from pet shop), and also if the door's open constantly they may not be able to diferentiate between the garden & the house.

As for weeing on the bed, I believe they supposed to do that because that's where your body scent is strongest, so they want to leave their smell there too.

I would confine them to the kitchen or similar until they stop soiling in the house, if only to make it easier to keep on top of the cleaning/washing.

I don't know if you tell them off for barking but this can be counter productive as they think you're all excited & barking too.

Finally, (don't laugh, anyone who knows me) - do they have enough toys?!

lol, yes they have loads of toys, we buy new ones regularly as well.

I do shout, a la screaming fish wife when they bark. I take it I shouldn't shout at them. What should I do?

Bella are you Barbara Woodhouse?

No dont shout when they do, else they will bark more as you are communicating with them iyswim?
I would check them out with the vets to rule out urine infection or the like.
Could be a dominance issue- again speak to vet.
what type of dogs are they?

So should I just ignore them when they bark?

They are both cross breeds, one is a Jack Russell + Staffie cross and the other is a Collie + doberman cross.

They are due at the vets on the 1st of october for their boosters so I will get the vet to check out the possibility of urine infections with them both.

When you say it could be a dominanceissue, do you mean over each other or over us?

Shut them into a room away from the rest of the people in the house (ie, the 'pack') when they bark. Do it without speaking, and definitely don't shout at them. They think you are joining in! Let them back into the room only when they are quiet.

Are they dogs or bitches? Neutered or not?

Dominance- over you- hence why the wee on bed.
Yes ignore them when they bark or try another technique- maybe spray them with water you know from a squirty bottle spray? or you can get barking control collars I think.

Confine them into a space for the short term, offer lots of time outside for walks and dont let them on your bed

Both bitches and both speyed.

Do you think they need more walks? they already get at least 3 a day.

Prob not any more walks- you sound like a very dedicated dog owner

Cant really offer much more advice tbh.
Would def go to vet and ask their advice though
HTH x

Thanks.

Nope no more walks - I'd say three is plenty.

You do sound very dedicated I agree

Does sound like dominance issues (over you). Have you tried things like visibly eating in front of them before you put food down?

Yeah both of them get fed after us and they are usualy in the kitchen behind the child gate while we are eating. I do let them eat the remnants of DD's food from the floor (DD is BLW and v v v v messy)

They are like my babies, I hate that they do this and that it makes me so mad.

You could try a DAP diffuser, its Dog Appeasing Pheremone(supposed to mimc the pheremones the nursing bitch releases when they are pups). My dog got a bit unsettled when I had a period of 2 mths when my dad kept staying with us then heading off for a couple of days(he was between houses), when he was with us he'd make a huge fuss of my dog and walk him (he does get walked anyway!)and let him walk all over him. When my dad moved out my dog got quite unsettled and started being a bit destructive - scratching at the door at night etc, we're reinforcing the dominance training and using the DAP diffuser too and it seems to be helping. It might help for yours.
You don't say how long you walk your dogs for, just 3 times per day, if thats only 10-20mins each time I wouldn't think thats enough, I think those breeds would need 1.5-2hrs excercise. Perhaps some playtime in the house too to stop them getting bored.
Good luck with them.

Not sure how to take the Barbara Woodhouse question! [sceptical]

Oops, should have been !

Hi littleb, thanks for replying, I have a DAP to help with the dogs epliepsy (I must be the only owner who has two eplieptic dogs ) The vet said as their epilepsy isn't bad only very minor that the DAP should help, and it does

They get 3 walks a day, one in the morning for about 30-40mins, one at somepoint in the early afternoon for about 1.5 hours and one early evening for about 1.5 hours. MY brother comes to pick them up for a walk with his dog about 4 times a week and that can last from 1 hour to literally all day (my bro likes to walk ) At the weekend they get more walks as DH is home and one of us is able to spend more time with them while the other one stays with DD.

I must aadmit I do feel a bit guilty as DD is very very demanding at the moment so they sometimes do not get a lot of play with us or one on one attention, this is something I am going to have to deal with as it isn't fair on them.

On the plus side today has been one of the very rare days that they have been at home for a long time on their own and I have not come back to any poo or pee. I am very happy with them.

It sounds like they get plenty of excercise then! I didn't know DAP helped with epilepsy too, thats interesting. Afraid I can't think of any other suggestions, hopefully they will get better over time with some of they other things you're trying.