My Dog Is Just A Problem (Need Advice)

[Christine]

I have a 4-year old Jack Russell Terrier named Lola. She is the 5th dog I have owned. At the same time, we own a beagle/blue tick hound mix, Paisley, who is 5 years old.

The JRT is a problem. We have NEVER been able to fully housetrain her. We use a crate and have since she came home. She will go for long spells where she doesn't have a problem, then she will have "issues". She has totally ruined the carpet in our basement by making her little "squirts" everywhere. We don't see them right away as we are not down there all the time. When we are home she has free roam of the house.

She will urinate and defacate in her cage and pretty much lay in it. We do work all day, which I know is a problem. This week she has defacated in her crate area twice and then proceeded to walk through it and lay in it.

Last night, I noticed that she had been laying on my bed briefly. She usually likes to do this while I'm bathing and I do allow it for the brief time (probably not a good idea). So last night, I pull the covers back and I smell urine. I see that there is a big urine stain on the top sheet. So, now she lays in my bed and pees at the same time?

I certainly will no longer allow her on the bed, but what does it mean when a dog NEVER learns to NOT go in the house? I've never had this problem before.

I brought this up with my vet about a year ago and she is healthy in all ways.

She is a very sweet dog, very alert, and energetic, but doesn't seem like the brightest dog I've ever had. Any suggestions?

 

[LindaR]

If she has recently been checked for and cleared of any health problems, then it is an issue of training/enforcement and dominance. Also, a crate should only be large enough for her to stand up and turn around in, not any larger. Dogs do NOT want to lay in their own urine or feces. If she is pottying at one end and tracking around her kennel, then the kennel is way too big.

I suggest you get in touch with a trainer (obedience) so that you both can learn what needs to be done. The trainer will not fix the problem. It is up to you to learn and enforce the training at all times......now and 5 years from now.

More time in the kennel (which would be most folks inclination) will not correct the problem.

 

[LindaR]

I forgot to add.............

This will be a hard habit to correct now. She has done this for a while so you will really need to consistently (not just when you have the "time") train and work on her issues.

Taking her out on a leash and supervising her potty "transaction" and giving profuse praise and love when she does her thing is what needs to be done. When she goes in the house (unless you actually catch her in the act and then a sharp "no" and taking her out immediately) you need to ignore and not punish. Right now she knows that she gets attention when she potties. Maybe not loving attention but attention all the same! If you yell (or whatever) you are actually reinforcing her bad habit.

JRT's really need to have a ton of exercise.........how many times a day do you take her for a walk or exercise her?

 

[Christine]

Well, for the first few months we had her, we do go to a trainer. She responds very well to simple obedience training (clicker) and "programs" and associates really quickly.

Also, she seems to have a very submissive personality (which I find odd in a JRT). She is TOTALLY submissive to the beagle and to everyone in the household. If you reprimand her, she immediately falls to the ground and rolls on her back. Pitiful really.

 

[Christine]

I forgot to add.............

This will be a hard habit to correct now. She has done this for a while so you will really need to consistently (not just when you have the "time") train and work on her issues.

Taking her out on a leash and supervising her potty "transaction" and giving profuse praise and love when she does her thing is what needs to be done. When she goes in the house (unless you actually catch her in the act and then a sharp "no" and taking her out immediately) you need to ignore and not punish. Right now she knows that she gets attention when she potties. Maybe not loving attention but attention all the same! If you yell (or whatever) you are actually reinforcing her bad habit.

JRT's really need to have a ton of exercise.........how many times a day do you take her for a walk or exercise her?

Well, here's the thing: I do walk her, often for long walks, and she NEVER goes on the walk--EVER. I think ONE TIME I actually saw her go. She is real focused when she walks and is like she is on some mission or something. While my beagle is constantly sniffing and stopping to smell the roses.

The other thing is, I never really "catch" her doing this stuff. I find it well after the fact. And I don't do any reprimands at that point.

 

[DMickey28]

Christine ~ I don't have a lot of advice just hugs!!

I have a two year old corgi going through the same issues. He has been having peeing and pooping issues in the hosue lately. Part of it I think is lack of attention and the other part... I have no idea. He is very smart and easily trainable... but housetraining has always been an issue.

I am working on it.. I am just so dang tired with this baby!! I know it will only get worse, but I envison lovely walks around the city with the stroller and the dog... HA!~

Good Luck... I notice that when I give Lobo longer walks and more general attention he is better so I think it's an attention issue with us.... we are looking into going back to training (for us and him!!) this fall before the baby comes!!

 

[puffkin]

I don't have any real advice....just sympathy. We are going through a similar problem now with our beagle, Murphy. He is fine in his cage during the day, but he has been doing his business in the house very frequently now (he NEVER went in the house before). We think a big issue is our 6 month old and that Murphy is jealous. He was fine in the beginning, but now I think he is starting to realize that the baby is a person and is taking away from Murphy-time.

The only solution we have come up to is to take him out every two hours when we are home and to try and confine him to whatever room one of us is in. We have been doing this since Monday and haven't had an "accident" since, so I think it is working.

I love my dog to death, but this gets so frustrating and it is easy to get resentful. Just remember that you aren't alone!

 

[horseshowmom]

Here's some more sympathy. I've had more dogs than I can count (we're the local "humane society"), and I've NEVER had a problem with housebreaking one (whether they were a puppy or whether they came as an adult stray).

My chihuahua was adopted when an elderly lady couldn't keep him anymore. He was a little less than two, and I've had him about a year and a half. He wasn't housebroken. In fact, the lady wasn't supposed to have a pet in her apartment complex, so she let him go in the house wherever he wanted.

I was hesitant, but I've always solved this problem before, right? Well, we're still wrestling with it. My beagle goes straight out, does her thing, and comes straight back in. The chihuahua will NOT poop unless he's left out for a long time. Even then, he doesn't always.

We have to keep the computer room door closed, because he likes to wet in there. For some reason, he really likes to poop in my DD's room (which makes her crazy! ). Sometimes he does better than others. Right now, he's doing better (I'm keeping my fingers crossed).

He definitely has issues, but I love him.

 

[hiwaygal]

Not all dogs will be 100% reliable ALL of the time...mine aren't and it's something I've come to accept as a part of dog ownership. Most of the "accidents" my dogs have are when it's raining. God forbid they get their feet wet!

I've also known many dogs who don't subscribe to the "they won't mess where they sleep" thought.

My first suggestion is to have your carpets professionally cleaned. Tell them you need to clean up pet urine. That will go a long way in eliminating the odors (even if you can't smell them, your dog can). Then keep some enzymatic cleaner on hand to clean up future accidents. Eliminating the odor will help control further accidents.

The next thing I would do is set a schedule for your dog. When does he eat? When does he drink? And when does he sleep/exercise/potty?

If you control the time they eat, and when they have something to drink (they don't need food and water available 24/7), and when they have play time and sleep time, you should know (roughly) when they need to go potty. Knowing this will make your re-training much more successful. Then just use the regular housetraining methods (crate training, etc.)

You might want to take a training class as a refresher course, but I would encourage reinforcement of that training for a few minutes every day.

One last thing to remember, a tired dog is a good dog! JRT's are very high energy. It takes a lot to wear them out...I'm guessing at least 2 -45 minutes walks a day.

Good luck to you! I know this is frustrating...and I hope you find a solution that works for you!

 

[horseshowmom]

hiwaygal, I agree completely about the rain! Chachi (the chihuahua) has a major issue with rain. Our beagle used to be that way, but the last few years she's gotten over it. Before that, she would go beside the bush at the corner of the carport just under the overhead. Now, she just runs out and gets done quickly. I've tried to get Chachi to try the bush option, but he just looks at me and say, "It ain't gonna happen, woman!"

 

[Christine]

Not all dogs will be 100% reliable ALL of the time...mine aren't and it's something I've come to accept as a part of dog ownership. Most of the "accidents" my dogs have are when it's raining. God forbid they get their feet wet!

I've also known many dogs who don't subscribe to the "they won't mess where they sleep" thought.

My first suggestion is to have your carpets professionally cleaned. Tell them you need to clean up pet urine. That will go a long way in eliminating the odors (even if you can't smell them, your dog can). Then keep some enzymatic cleaner on hand to clean up future accidents. Eliminating the odor will help control further accidents.

The next thing I would do is set a schedule for your dog. When does he eat? When does he drink? And when does he sleep/exercise/potty?

If you control the time they eat, and when they have something to drink (they don't need food and water available 24/7), and when they have play time and sleep time, you should know (roughly) when they need to go potty. Knowing this will make your re-training much more successful. Then just use the regular housetraining methods (crate training, etc.)

You might want to take a training class as a refresher course, but I would encourage reinforcement of that training for a few minutes every day.

One last thing to remember, a tired dog is a good dog! JRT's are very high energy. It takes a lot to wear them out...I'm guessing at least 2 -45 minutes walks a day.

Good luck to you! I know this is frustrating...and I hope you find a solution that works for you!

Well, my dog eats at 3:30 p.m. each day (when we get home). Water is available throughout the evening. Nothing is given in the morning (except a small biscuit). No water, no food.

Now, in all honesty, I'm not mad at the dog for not being able to hold it all day. She is a small dog and we are gone for upwards of 9 hours. I can almost late the "crate crapping" go, but the peeing in the house is and then on the bed is just too much. It really is almost a behavior/psychological issue than her needing to have to go.

 

[disneyfanforever]

Just wanted to say I feel your pain. Our Yorkie, Sydney, is a year and half and still doesn't have the potty thing down. We make her go outside with our Yorkie (who is 11) and sometimes she goes sometimes she doesn't. She sneaks off and goes and does her business in our DSs rooms upstairs. Their rooms really have an odor and we are constantly cleaning the carpets. We have tried and tried with her. She just rolls over and looks pathetic when you tell her no. Our older Yorkie, Chandler, is so smart it is creepy but I look into Sydney's eyes and sometimes I don't think there is anything there. She is the sweetest dog ever but not the sharpest tool in the shed. We love her anyway.

 

[Christine]

Chandler, is so smart it is creepy but I look into Sydney's eyes and sometimes I don't think there is anything there. She is the sweetest dog ever but not the sharpest tool in the shed. We love her anyway.

My husband says the same thing: You just look into Lola's eyes and there's nothing there.

 

[hiwaygal]

Well, my dog eats at 3:30 p.m. each day (when we get home). Water is available throughout the evening. Nothing is given in the morning (except a small biscuit). No water, no food.

Now, in all honesty, I'm not mad at the dog for not being able to hold it all day. She is a small dog and we are gone for upwards of 9 hours. I can almost late the "crate crapping" go, but the peeing in the house is and then on the bed is just too much. It really is almost a behavior/psychological issue than her needing to have to go.

I agree that it's most likely a behavior/psychological issue.

I didn't know about your schedule, I just know that it's usually easier to make sure they go out at certain times based on how long ago they ate or drank. It's one of the ways to be sure the "training" is successful!

There was a woman recently who posted to a dogs board I co-host who had been bitten by her dog. She was understandably upset and wanted advice. Turns out, she had been VERY stressed and kinda sick lately and her dog was picking up on that and acting out a bit. That, combined with a sort of lax training regimen helped things get out of control. Maybe that's kinda what's happening here too...have you been stressed more lately? Is it possible your dog is acting out because of that?

 

[Tiggeroo]

if she is crated while you are at work can't you restrict her area when you are home to near you. Don't let her in the basement. Get baby gates and keep her to one room until you have it resolved.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well, my dog eats at 3:30 p.m. each day (when we get home). Water is available throughout the evening. Nothing is given in the morning (except a small biscuit). No water, no food.

Start with the food...

First, I would change the eating time. Change it to after the walk, after you eat dinner.
I would not give the dog a biscuit in the morning. See what happens after 2 weeks.

Also what are you feeding the dog? What is the Protein %age???
Higher the protein the more they have to go.
Right now we feed our dogs at 23% Protein, Natural Balance. They go 2x's usually a day.
I was doing a higher %age but they were going 5 times a day!

Eventually I am going to put them on BRAVO, I think. It is a Raw Food (premade thing).

Is it possible to hire someone to take him out for a walk and potty while you are gone? That is another alternative.

Since this sounds territorial as well, I would umbilical the dog. No free roam. He has to earn it back.

I have a dog that like to pee on carpet. Our downstairs is tile/hardwood....and we are trying to break her of that so I feel your pain...

 

[Christine]

I agree that it's most likely a behavior/psychological issue.

I didn't know about your schedule, I just know that it's usually easier to make sure they go out at certain times based on how long ago they ate or drank. It's one of the ways to be sure the "training" is successful!

There was a woman recently who posted to a dogs board I co-host who had been bitten by her dog. She was understandably upset and wanted advice. Turns out, she had been VERY stressed and kinda sick lately and her dog was picking up on that and acting out a bit. That, combined with a sort of lax training regimen helped things get out of control. Maybe that's kinda what's happening here too...have you been stressed more lately? Is it possible your dog is acting out because of that?

Well, there has been a change. The kids were home all day in the summer and she was not crated. Lord knows, they probably ignored the dog and she peed in the basement. Now the kids are back in school. She has been crated for 2 weeks with no problems. Now, on the third week she's started the crate accidents. The dog probably is stressed out.

 

[airhead]

In addition to making sure the crate is not too big,do not put anything in the crate(bed,blankets,towels etc. NOTHING!)

 

[Maryr1]

Could you do doggie day care? It's cheaper than new carpet and the dog will come home tired and well socialized. When the dog is with you in the evening-keep it on a lead at all times-yes, with you. That way you will know if this is an accident or on purpose issue. Is this a spayed female? One of my dogs (after being fixed) had an issue with true incotinence. She would urinate in her sleep, at rest, when walking along she would occasionally dribble. The key to it being accidental is she never squated. We tried a number of different things and ended up using antihistamine therapy. She did very well with that. Good luck!

 

[Christine]

Could you do doggie day care? It's cheaper than new carpet and the dog will come home tired and well socialized. When the dog is with you in the evening-keep it on a lead at all times-yes, with you. That way you will know if this is an accident or on purpose issue. Is this a spayed female? One of my dogs (after being fixed) had an issue with true incotinence. She would urinate in her sleep, at rest, when walking along she would occasionally dribble. The key to it being accidental is she never squated. We tried a number of different things and ended up using antihistamine therapy. She did very well with that. Good luck!

No, I definitely can't afford that. There is one in my area but very $$$ (it's where we did training).

She is spayed but I'm not thinking it's incontinence.

I wonder about this--we got her from a pet store (not your typical mall stuff). Her breeder was marked on the papers and was local so I don't think she came from a mill. But she is kind of a "runt" and she was at that store for approximately 4 months before we got her. I wonder if that just ruined her?