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Sat 30 Dec, 2006 06:25 pm
my 1 year old dog keeps peeing in my house. we take her outside but sometimes she still pees in the house. how can i get her to stop that, and pee outside?
First question - has she been spayed?
Next question - are there any cats or other dogs in the house?
Last question - is she left without humans in the house for any appreciable time?
1- no i dont think she has
2-we have not cats or other dogs
3-since its holidays we have been home but starting tuesday she will be alone from 9:30ish to about 2:30
Timber asked if she was spayed because some dogs can lose bladder control after being spayed. This is fixible with medication.
Other reasons for peeing can be a bladder infection or kidney failure. You need to take her to a vet to rule these things out.
Couple good points there, G W - definitely wanna rule out any possible health-related/medical factors - regular vet check always is a great idea.
OK - well, for question 1 - females which have not been spayed will tend to mark their territory - particularly anything they consider to be the immediate surrounding area of what they think of as their den - and as they approach and enter their estrus cycle, they get real busy about marking. That might have something to do with it; in fact if its a behavior that seems to have come on recently, I'd suspect it very strongly. And if it seems neighbor dogs are hanging around more than you've noticed before, that would just about nail it down.
Your answers to questions 2 and 3 give me reason to suspect she might be lonely, and perhaps even a little frightened when left alone. That can be a tough problem to deal with. I dunno if it'll help for sure, but I think mebbe caging/kenneling her while you're gone might be a solution. If you go with that, there are some things to keep in mind.
First, the cage/kennel setup hasta be non-threatening, comforting, secure, and she can't be made to associate it with punishment or correction. Either a cage or a suitably large pet transporter can be used, as long as there's room for the pup to move around some comfortably - stand on all 4 feet with head erect, sit fully upright, stretch out, turn around without bumping the sides - it oughtta be fine. Even a gate arrangement that confines the pup to a small room or nook in a larger room works fine. In fact, the gate idea is pretty much what we most often use here when its necessary to confine a pup.
Next, it oughtta be in a relatively quiet, outta-the-way spot, but should be situated so the pup can see a good bit of what's going on in the general area - putting it in a corner ot the kitchen prolly would be fine, putting it a closet, unless there was a good view of at least some of the rest of the dwelling, prolly wouldn't be fine.
Next, there should be comfortable bedding - rags or old blankets will do, and there are commercially available dog beds too. In my experience, it seems to me dogs appear to favor the rag/blanket approach; often, they like to arrange it to suit themselves. Whatever you use, its gotta be kept clean; unless the pup soils it by pooping or piddling (not real likely; dogs generally try to avoid fouling their sleeping area/den), changing it out every couple months or so oughtta be OK, more often is fine if it makes you feel better, but isn't really necessary. Keeping a favored toy or 2 in the cage/kennel can be a good idea, too. If the pup is gonna hafta spend hours at a time in confinement, there should be at least a fair-sized water bowl - food availability while confined isn't that big a deal if a regular meal schedule (whatever works for you and the pup) can be maintained, but available fresh water is a must if the dog is gonna be more than a couple hours or so in confinement. Make sure there's room enough to accommodate that in such manner that tipping it over isn't real likely ... and a well-designed, purpose-made, tip-resistant dog bowl is an excellent idea.
Now, once you've got the confinement details worked out, familiarize the pup with the confinement space. Leaving open access (door not closed or gate partially open) encourage her to enter it (tossing a couple treats into it while she's watching usually works pretty well to get to enter it voluntarily), praise her - calmly - when she does, and the first few times, sit with her a while, you outside the confinement setup of course, she inside it, comfort her, encourage her to engage with a toy, that sorta thing. At first she may want to get out, but if you work it right, not making a big thing out of it but letting her figure out the confinement place is a comfortable, safe, relaxing place, she'll get the idea and become comfortable with it pretty quickly - a few days at most, usually. Praise and comfort her when she does what you want her to do, DON'T PUNISH HER when she doesn't do what you want. The whole deal here is to get her comfortable with the confinement arrangement, not to get her to hate it. You want her to understand you appreciate it when she does it your way on her own, and you want her to understand the confinement area is her own safe, secure, comfortable place. A few sessions of a few minutes a time (just a few minutes - a pup, young or old, hasn't much attention span) a couple or 3 times a day or so, for a few days, oughtta do it. Any time she enters the confinement area on her own, outside a training session, try to let her know its cool to do that, and let her stay in there as long as she wants to. Once the confinement place is accepted by the pup, shutting her up in it when necessary should be no big deal, either for her or for you.
Now, on to actually housebreaking - there's a lotta things that don't work, and a few which do. An approach I've found very effective centers on attention, praise, routine, and repetition. Pups frequently want to relieve themselves on waking whether from overnight sleep or just from a nap, and frequently also after a play session or any sort of excitement, and just about as frequently, soon after mealtime. Before retiring for the evening is always a biggie - make the 1st thing in the morning and last thing at night deal an absolutely constant bit of the pup's routine as well. Pups are real big on routine, make that work for you. When everybody gets up in the morning, make sure one of the first thing thst happens every time is that the pup gets taken to wherever you've determined is the best spot for the purpose - or even, if practical, for a leashed walk around the block or something like that - and if she relieves herslf when and where works for you, praise her, let her know you're pleased. If she doesn't, no big deal, just return to the dwelling and go on with normal activity, but keep an eye on the pup. Same thing shortly before bedtime. If when back in the dwelling you notice her getting ready to pee or poop, or catch her in the act, calmly interupt her BUT DON'T PUNISH HER, take her someplace you'd prefer she use, and give her a reaonable amount of time (sniffing, snooping, and exploring are important - it might take a few minutes), and if/when she gets the job done, let her know you're pleased. Pay attention to nap, meal, and play times, and to incidents of excitement (leaping around and barking as mail or package delivery people come and go, for instance), and consistently, without fail, take the pup to the "business place" just as soon is practicable after the pup is awake, finishes eating, or the activity has tapered off. Again, praise her if she does what you want her to do when you get there, but if she doesn't, DON'T PUNISH HER, just return to the dwelling, go on with life as normal, pay attention to the pup, and again, if she seems to be looking for a place to relieve herself, or if you catch her in the act, just interupt her, take her to the "business place", give her a bit of time, see what happens, and follow through appropriately. And of course, if she indicates she wants to "go out to do her business" see to it immediately. Do that scrupulously, without fail, and in a matter of days, sometimes just a couple days, rarely more than a week, most dogs have the concept down for life.
Good luck.
And remember - you're gonna get better results by letting a pup know you appreciate it when she does as you want her to do than by punishing her for doing things you don't want her to do.
well, our dog is totaly not lonley. we just got her last week from my brother. so she is sorta new to the house.
i think she is only peeing because shes not outside in time
what should i do when she does pee in the house?
A new house easily can lead to nervous peeing - always a possibility. As for what to do if she pees in the house, just go with the housebreaking routine I outlined above. If you see her getting ready to, or catch her in the act, interupt her firmly but calmly, take her to a suitable place, and follow through appropriately. If you notice she has peed, but you didn't catch her in the act, clean it up without fuss - deodorize the spot, too, using any of the very effective, inexpensive products designed for that - and, while not making any sorta bif deal out of it, just take her to the "business place" as soon as practical, then follow through appropriately. The idea is to make her understand you appreciate it when she pees where and when you want her to, and that you appreciate it that she doesn't pee where and when you'd prefer she not pee. A pup really pretty much puts pleasing its packleaders above just about everything else - if you make it clear to the pup you're her packleader(s), and make clear what pleases you, she's gonna respond in pleasing manner. Punishment, which if used at all should never be excessive or abusive, if it works at all (and often it doesn't, but instead has effect opposite to what was intended) only works if it occurs immediately upon the pup getting busted in the act - even just a minute's delay and the dog likely will be unable to associate the punishment with the act - you'll just confuse the critter (damned near no attention span, remember - to a pup, the world is pretty much just about reborn minute by minute; almost every minute is a new experience unless and until a corresponding routine has been established), and very possibly you'll actually make things worse.
Let her know what pleases you, let her know you're pleased when she does what you want her to, make her feel appreciated, and she'll appreciate and respond to being appreciated. Let her know she gets lots more attention, cuddles, and happy words when she's good, and she'll really try to be good.
Another thing to bear in mind - a pup is only slightly less work to have around than is a kid, but pups are a whole lot easier to train than kids are.
Did the dog pee while it was at your brother's EMxLUU?
Timber's correct to note that there can be regression when there is a change in a dog's living circumstances - new home, new member of household, another pet in the house etc.
What type of dog is this?
Has your brother given you her vet records? Have you taken her to your vet for a general new dog/new vet visit yet? The vet will be able to tell you if your dog's been spayed.
thank you guys.
ehBeth-- she is a mini pinschers. and yes i have all her vet records and stuff
similar problem
I have a similar problem, however, the dog I just adopted won't go outside at all. The people we adopted her from said she was housebroken but ocassionally had accidents when they didn't get her outside in time. I know it hasn't quite been a week, but we take her out constantly and she just walks around and looks at us. She has gone pee outside once, right after we got home and she came out of the crate and she pooped outside once, I think it was simply a timing thing. I heartely praised her on both occasions.
She absolutely hates the crate thing. She just whines and barks the whole time. She is smart enough to have learned how to open the door of the crate. So we have pretty much given up on that idea.
We use a baby gate on the bottom of the steps so she can't come upstairs and a baby gate at the end of the kitchen. We used to have it just on my daughter's room, but since we discovered that the dog likes to run out the door, we have decided to have it at the end of the kitchen so she can't get access to the door without us being ready for her.
I don't even know where to begin to get her to go outside. I thought maybe I'd just keep her out there until she went, but 20 minutes in the freezing cold was just too much for me. I thought maybe one night when she was whining and barking in the crate that she needed to go out, so there I was at 4:30 in the morning walking this dog. She is going outside at least 6 times a day, with the first being first thing in the morning and the last being just before we go to bed. She doesn't do a thing out there, just looks at us like, what am I doing out here???
Help!!!
She is a Jack Russel crossed with what looks to us like a short haired pointer and she isn't spayed yet. That's first on the list after this housebreaking thing. Then we can work on the running for the door thing next.
Thanks for your help.
Tracy
Getting her to go outside --- I realize the weather's been bad but hopefully it's improving (it finally is, here). Plus it's the weekend. So grab a paperback book (one you can fit in your pocket), the dog, the leash and some plastic bags, bundle yourself up and go outside, under the assumption that you're going to be outside until the dog makes some sort of bowel movement/pees. This may take a while, which is why I'm suggesting bringing a book, you may be able to go to a park bench or something and sit and read while waiting if you get tired of walking.
Yep, it's kind of a battle of wills. So you need to stay out long enough until something happens. Then praise like crazy, preferrably during the, er, evacuation process.
You might want to couple it with words like "Do your business". Then, the next time you take her out, go to a spot where it's okay for her to pee and poop (e. g. not your neighbor's lawn) and say "Do your business". Eventually, the dog is going to figure out the following-
* outside is where you poop and pee
* the phrase "Do your business" means, get started
* praise and love (and perhaps treats) comes from the above 2
Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer, says to handle dogs in the following order:
1. Exercise
2. Discipline
3. Affection
This process will definitely give you a lot of #1, Exercise, and hopefully you'll be able to do a lot less of #2, Discipline, so that you can mainly get to #3, Affection.
I was out for most of the day today....My husband was home with the dog working on the vehicles. He had Bailey outside with him for hours. She did not a thing. GRRRRR. I told him to keep an eye on her and try to catch her doing her business and praise her like crazy. That was even before I read your note. She didn't do a thing. He brought her back in the house late this afternoon, she went right upstairs and pooped. We aren't making a big deal about the accidents we come across. I cleaned and deoderized where she went in the two places she has gone. It's almost like she has things in the reverse, that inside is where you poop and pee and outside is the fun place to be.
Otherwise, she's adjusting quite well considering we've had her not yet a week and the previous family had her since she was 6 weeks old. My son is thrilled cause she slept on his bed last night.
We're going to keep at this. I can't do a crate cause she's smart enough to have learned how to open the door and she hates being inside, crying and whining the whole time. I keep taking her outside, hoping that one time she'll actually do something. I take her to the "business place" where I want her to go and tell her "go potty" and "hurry up, go potty". All in a very positive upbeat tone. When she starts to walk around and sniff the ground, I tell her "good girl, now go potty." I can't wait to get this potty thing settled.
Any other advice would be wonderful!! Thanks. Tracy
You probably need to take the dog on a leash and walk her, and
at the beginning take always the same route, so she will get familiar
with it. Don't let her in the garden in the hopes she'll do her business,
most dogs do consider the garden part of the house and won't
do anything.
Otherwise, give her some time, she has a lot of adjusting to do.
I just wanted to add I strongly suggest using words. Like jespah mentioned
above, "do your business". I use "go pee pee". Whatever you use as a command, the less words the better, and be consistent. That way the dog will learn exactly what those words mean.
Thanks a lot for the advice. I always tell her "go potty" and when starts walking around sniffing, I say, "Good girl, go potty". I didn't think about the walking thing. Maybe we'll try that today. My son said that the other day when she got out and he was following her to get her back she did poop on someone else's lawn. He apologized to the man explaining that he was chasing his dog to get her back and didn't have anything to clean up after her with him. I've just been walking her around in my backyard. It's pretty big. I keep bringing her back to the one place where she did poop once. We'll try the walk around the neighborhood thing today. Thanks again.
You are very welcome. The suggestions you have been given by the others are very good (in my opinion). It is nice to get a variety of view points from people.
I am pretty sure Slappy Doo Hoo was joking. Do not wait until your dog is 2.
Also some dogs like to go on grass, some on gravel, some on dirt and some on beauty bark. Dogs are different and can be stubborn.
Also, in my opinion only, I do not give praise for sniffing. If the dog is sniffing, I use the command that I choose. I also use the command often
at first. I feel like a broken record sometimes.
As soon as the dog starts to go I say the command. When the dog is done is when I praise them. After the dog is older and knows what the command means then I might add the words "good girl" during "the process". I always praise the dog when the dog is finished. Praise is extremely important.
Sincerity in that praise is also important to me. I don't say "oh good dog" like it is no big deal. When I say "good dog" I mean woo hoo!!! Party time!!! Otherwise, I say it enthusiastically. I want the dog to know what they did was great and I am happy. I then show them how happy I am by petting or playing or even a kiss. It depends on the dog. I do not give my dog a treat (food), some do.
I would love to be able to jump up and down and do "backflips...that is if i could do a backflip". She will not go outside. We went out at 6:00 am this morning, as soon as she woke up. Nothing. I watched her in the house until around 9:15 or so. We went outside around 9:20 and we've been outside literally all day. I walked her around in the backyard, I had her tied to a hugely long rope so she was near the area we want her to go and kept a close eye on her the whole time. I could tell by looking at her butt that she needed to go. It was sticking out, like bulging. I did fall asleep with my 4 month old for about an hour on one of the recliners in our 2 seat recliner and Bailey slept on the recliner next to us. When we woke up, her butt looked exactly the same. I left my baby with hubby while he was working on the cars and walked Bailey all around the church grounds next to us. Nothing. We were outside until about 4:30. When we came in, I brought the dog in first to set up the gate, then went back out to get the baby. I was literally outside for a minute gathering her toys and bottle and picking up the seat. When I came in with her. Bailey was coming down the stairs. She had run upstairs and pooped in the hall. GRRRRRR. Literally all day outside and nothing. One minute in the house and blam! I didn't say anything to her....Just went up and picked up her poop....put her leash on her and took her and the poop outside. I put the poop on the ground where I want her to go and told her this is where we go potty. Then we went back inside. When I take her outside later, I'll take her to that place.
I'm considering picking up some wee wee pads to start with. Maybe putting one in the hall upstairs and one by the door. Then maybe once she has the hang of going on the wee wee pads, I can move the pads outside. Any ideas??? I'm fresh out. She is STUBBORN!!! I know she had to go and she held it all that time. It's like she's got thing reversed. That outside is not for potty and inside is. FRUSTRATING!!!!!
It sounds like -- and if I'm not understanding you, please tell me -- that you walked her plenty in the yard. But what about down the road, elsewhere, outside of the territory? I think she's just getting confused, and may see the yard as an extension of where you don't go. That doesn't explain the inside thing, for sure, though.
With our dogs, they always needed, heh, a little walking to get everything ready to go. Plus I'm sure they liked the social/fun aspect of seeing another part of their world. I realize that with a baby it may not be easy but I see mothers around here with a stroller and a dog on a leash all the time.
I didn't walk her all around the neighborhood, but I did take her next door to the church grounds and we walked all over the church grounds. After about 30 minutes of walking she didn't do a thing and we headed home.