Puppy problem!

[lesroi]

We used to let the dog out, he would pee and come back into the house and pee again within 5 minutes! After TWO YEARS he finally was housebroken!! We really don't like this dog and I shutter to think we have like 8 more years of him since he is only 4 now!!

Wow. I will put my flame suit on, but wow. How touching. I am sure your dog is thrilled that you love him so much. How long will it be before your dog is in rescue because "Timmy is allergic" or "He barks too much" or "He needs more ROOM TO RUN" (my personal favorite.)


As far as the OP's post goes, IT TAKES TIME and PATIENCE (and usually crate training.) How long did your kids take to housebreak? A small dog could take quite some time as well. I always wonder why people are surprised and mad that dogs aren't housebroken after 2 weeks but they are perfectly OK with a 3 year-old in diapers! Too bad you can't crate-train kids!

I am also always surprised by Moms who get dogs for their kids and fail to realize THEY WILL BE TAKING CARE OF THE DOG. It is really a pretty easy concept. 8-10 year old kids can't be solely responsible for a dog. Yes, they can assist with care, but I don't care how angelic, responsible, or MENSA-eligible your kid is, they are not 100% ready to be 100% responsible for the care of a dog.

Be patient, persistent and consistent. The dog isn't doing it on purpose. It's not even 6 months old! Good luck to you. Have fun picking out your new carpet!

Flame suit: ON.

Tracy

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

We used to let the dog out, he would pee and come back into the house and pee again within 5 minutes! After TWO YEARS he finally was housebroken!! We really don't like this dog and I shutter to think we have like 8 more years of him since he is only 4 now!!

If you don't like him, maybe you'd (and he) be better off finding him a new home.

 

[mainewmn]

We used to let the dog out, he would pee and come back into the house and pee again within 5 minutes! After TWO YEARS he finally was housebroken!! We really don't like this dog and I shutter to think we have like 8 more years of him since he is only 4 now!!

How sad!

Maybe you can find him a new home? It doesn’t sound like either one of you is enjoying one another very much and a new owner may be a better alternative for both of you instead of “dreading” the 8 years. Truth be told I don’t understand why people would want to do that to themselves or the animal, I had my dog for 10 years and I dread what’s coming up. I could not imagine dreading the fact he may live for x amount of years.

 

[marydmjj]

Thanks for all of the advice and reminders. Lilo is crate trained and stays in there overnight and when I am not home. She doesn't have accidents in her crate at all.

You are all absolutely right though. I've been lazy about keeping her with me and she has had the run of the house. Thanks for the reminder. I have her on the leash right now.

I have to say that I don't expect the puppy to be trained in 2 weeks. She has been with us for 3 months and I thought we would be done by now. I've had more than this dog but this is the first time I've had trouble training. I knew full on that I would be taking the most care of this dog. But I don't think it is unreasonable to expect a 37 year old and a 10 year old to take on a little more responsibility with her, ie. take her outside until she goes.

She does get walks and has a Norwich Terrier buddy next door that she plays with in our yard almost every day.

I think the key for me is to keep her with me at all times. I know she will get it. I just want her to get it sooner than later.

 

[beckmrk04]

I have to say that I don't expect the puppy to be trained in 2 weeks. She has been with us for 3 months and I thought we would be done by now.

I've had Jules, my lab-mix for almost a year, and she still has an accident every once in a while. That's the way it goes. When I livedwith my parents and we got our rottie Sammy, she NEVER had accidents. But, each pup is a different story, much like kids.

And I think my dog has ADD- because it never fails, she's getting ready to poop, and then she smells something SOOOO interesting, she completely forgets she was going to poop and has to run off and play bloodhound.

But, that's all part of being a puppy. Mine is still crated overnight and when we're gone. I know she won't be trustworthy for quite some time yet. This summer we're going to try short outings without putting her in the crate, and see how she does..

Just stick with it- and tell your dh and 10 yo to stay out with her until she does her business! OR, clean up the messes!

 

[aprilgail2]

How sad!

Maybe you can find him a new home? It doesn’t sound like either one of you is enjoying one another very much and a new owner may be a better alternative for both of you instead of “dreading” the 8 years. Truth be told I don’t understand why people would want to do that to themselves or the animal, I had my dog for 10 years and I dread what’s coming up. I could not imagine dreading the fact he may live for x amount of years.

I wish I could get him another home but the truth is he has bitten (enough to have to take grams to the hospital for it!) and I would not want to lie and say he has not to anyone that might want him and no one will take him otherwise...so its either keep him or he will be put to sleep and I don't wnat to see that either......he is very unpredictable and you have to walk on eggshells around him..NEVER take any food up off the floor if you have dropped it near him because that is where he bites..we have had 3 trainers in for him in an attempt to make him part of the family like all our other dogs were but it just does not work...one trainer said she honestly was afraid of him! I have had dogs for 43 years and have NEVER felt this way about any other dog...this one though is a nightmare..the vet said he must have been inbreed so many times he is damaged! The vet recommends us pulling out his front teeth so he can't bite! So you can all say "how sad" or "you are so bad for feeling that way" but until you have a dog that you have to be afriad to be near...then you can talk!

 

[aprilgail2]

Wow. I will put my flame suit on, but wow. How touching. I am sure your dog is thrilled that you love him so much. How long will it be before your dog is in rescue because "Timmy is allergic" or "He barks too much" or "He needs more ROOM TO RUN" (my personal favorite.)



Tracy

Well lets see....he has been here for FOUR years...he bites, he barks ALL the time...my brother who is here all the time IS allergic to dogs yet we are still keeping him!! We have been trying for years now with this dog....so we are NOT people that give up and send dogs to "rescues" for no reason and we have no plans to send him to one now...we took him, we have him till the end....end of story.

 

[Shugardrawers]

Beagal puppy dug a hole in my carpet! Got rid of him!! Now I'm looking at hardwood flooring!

Now, this bothered me. Puppies dig, puppies chew, puppies pee and poop. Sounds like you didn't have much commitment to the dog when you got him. I suppose he's better off with that attitude.

I admire Aprilgail's commitment to a decent life for her dog. Not all dogs are a great match for family. If there isn't another home who can handle him she's doing the best she can for the dog. Better than in a shelter for sure.

ETA hang in there. It took Petey a full year to really get it and almost 2 to stop having accidents in the house at all. Be sure to really soak all her messes down with enzyme cleaner. Dogs will return where they have already been. That's one reason they sniff outside. Looking for the last place they went.

 

[Taylor]

Ihe is very unpredictable and you have to walk on eggshells around him..NEVER take any food up off the floor if you have dropped it near him because that is where he bites..

aprilgail2 - Maybe I missed it, what breed is your dog?

 

[disneynutt1225]

Beagal puppy dug a hole in my carpet! Got rid of him!! Now I'm looking at hardwood flooring!

Unfortunately, Beagles dig. It's part of their breed. My backyard currently has three rather large holes in it, and my old apartment had several holes in the carpet when we left.

Anyway, I kind of knew that going in, so it's not that big of a deal for me. (The barking, on the other hand! ) Hardly a reason to get rid of a dog, though, IMO.

 

[Aimeedyan]

If your dog digs, it's your fault.

If your dog pees on the floor, it's your fault.

If the dog eats your sofa, it's your fault.

If the dog eats chicken off the counter, it's your fault.

If the dog poops in the hallway, it's your fault.

The owner is responsible for training the dog. All those items listed above are training issues, pure and simple. It's not the dog's fault that it was left unattended to rip up the carpet. Or eat the couch. Or pull food off the counter. Or pee on the floor. It doesn't know any better until it's trained to know better.

A dog HAS to earn freedom - otherwise, you're setting it up to fail and the only person to blame is the owner. It completely appalls me that people will fail at their job of owning a dog and punish the dog by getting rid of it. For anyone who can treat a living being as disposable because of their own mistakes... well, I have my own theory on those people

OP, I swore by the umbillical method with my stubborn Shih Tzu. Took him 15 months to potty train - no lie. We did it all right, he was a slow learner I was tired of cleaning up the mess so he became tied to me anytime he was not outside playing or in the crate. Period. He is sneaky and could quickly run to the hall and pee, well, can't be sneaky when you're on a 4 ft leash tied around my beltloop! Saved my carpets AND helped him potty train faster.

There IS light at the end of the tunnel - my pound puppy was trained within 2 months; he's a smart cookie. But we worked on the other for a looooooooong time.

Crate train, reward, potty often, and tie that cute puppy to you at all times =) Good luc!

 

[minkydog]

All hail crate training!!!

The ONLY way to go!!

Absolutely right! We kept Minky in his crate whenever we could not physically have our hands on him. I kept him on a leash at my feet a lot too. You cannot expect a puppy to get house training if he has free run of an entire room, let alone a house. I would not even let Minky go upstairs until I was well housebroken. The crate provided him a safe place to stay and it wasn't so big as to invite him to relieve himself. Good Luck!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Absolutely right! We kept Minky in his crate whenever we could not physically have our hands on him. I kept him on a leash at my feet a lot too. You cannot expect a puppy to get house training if he has free run of an entire room, let alone a house. I would not even let Minky go upstairs until I was well housebroken. The crate provided him a safe place to stay and it wasn't so big as to invite him to relieve himself. Good Luck!

LOL, my two think they've won the lottery when they are allowed upstairs - only when we go up there are they allowed and since we don't "live" up there, it's not often! I don't trust them that much yet!

 

[aprilgail2]

aprilgail2 - Maybe I missed it, what breed is your dog?

He is a cocker spaniel.

 

[Marseeya]

OP, I swore by the umbillical method with my stubborn Shih Tzu. Took him 15 months to potty train - no lie. We did it all right, he was a slow learner I was tired of cleaning up the mess so he became tied to me anytime he was not outside playing or in the crate. Period. He is sneaky and could quickly run to the hall and pee, well, can't be sneaky when you're on a 4 ft leash tied around my beltloop! Saved my carpets AND helped him potty train faster.

I didn't know there was a name for it, but we had to do that with our lab mix! It was so frustrating with her, but I had her tied to me for the longest time. Sometimes I'd tie her to the couch, but she couldn't leave my side.

I hope to never own a dog that difficult again. She's okay now, but there was a long period of time when we didn't like her so much.

 

[Marseeya]

Wow. I will put my flame suit on, but wow. How touching. I am sure your dog is thrilled that you love him so much. How long will it be before your dog is in rescue because "Timmy is allergic" or "He barks too much" or "He needs more ROOM TO RUN" (my personal favorite.)

Oh please.

I don't like my son too much at times, but I'm not putting HIM in rescue. I don't like my dog all the time either, but she's certainly not suffering.

It's funny, but you're condemning her for an action she hasn't done, then on down the thread someone else is urging her to find a new home for the dog. Danged if you do and danged if you don't.

 

[lovedvc]

I have an 8 month old. He was a little tough to train in the beginning. I hung a bell from my back door and showed it to him. He learned that when he had to go out he would ring the bell. It worked great. No more accidents. He actually lasted 17 hours one night in his crate at the age of 5 months.

 

[lesroi]

Oh please.

I don't like my son too much at times, but I'm not putting HIM in rescue. I don't like my dog all the time either, but she's certainly not suffering.

It's funny, but you're condemning her for an action she hasn't done, then on down the thread someone else is urging her to find a new home for the dog. Danged if you do and danged if you don't.

Marseeya,

Come work a few years at a shelter or in rescue then "oh please" me all you like. Come assist with putting down a stray and then "oh please" me some more. Come spend the night with a dog who is scared wondering why his owners left and then never came back then "oh please" me a final time. I actually didn't ask how you feel about your son. He didn't get to choose his parents anymore than a dog gets to choose theirs.

Since Aprilgail did not elaborate on her original story, I would have had no way to know about his biting issue. I certainly do credit her for not just dropping him off at a shelter or lying to get him into a rescue. After you've spent a few years in rescue you can come back here and let me know if comments like the ones here today make you angry.

Tracy

 

[aprilgail2]

Marseeya,

.

Since Aprilgail did not elaborate on her original story, I would have had no way to know about his biting issue. I certainly do credit her for not just dropping him off at a shelter or lying to get him into a rescue.
Tracy

You have no idea how tempted I was TO lie to get a rescue to take him but I would feel terrible if he bite someone bad knowing that he has it in him! We actually have him on some OCD medicine right now to see if it helps any! We are trying anything we can to make this dog a normal dog and have yet to find anything that works....at time he is the nicest dog, he will sit on your lap on the couch...he loves swimming outside in the pool, he has his own kiddie pool he swims in but it is VERY hard to feel much love for a dog that will take a bite out of your arm and not think twice about it....when he was younger we almost sent him to Bid A wee to be adopted (this was BEFORE he even bit!) but we could not do it....we picked him now he is ours....I have a 6 year old and have to watch every second she is near him...her friends come over he is moved into another area of the house away form the kids so there is no way he could bite even if he wanted to....my neighbors come right in and he is fine with them but when kids start running around he gets all freaked out so he has to stay away when kids come over.

 

[corie161]

If your dog digs, it's your fault.

If your dog pees on the floor, it's your fault.

If the dog eats your sofa, it's your fault.

If the dog eats chicken off the counter, it's your fault.

If the dog poops in the hallway, it's your fault.

The owner is responsible for training the dog. All those items listed above are training issues, pure and simple. It's not the dog's fault that it was left unattended to rip up the carpet. Or eat the couch. Or pull food off the counter. Or pee on the floor. It doesn't know any better until it's trained to know better.

A dog HAS to earn freedom - otherwise, you're setting it up to fail and the only person to blame is the owner. It completely appalls me that people will fail at their job of owning a dog and punish the dog by getting rid of it. For anyone who can treat a living being as disposable because of their own mistakes... well, I have my own theory on those people

OP, I swore by the umbillical method with my stubborn Shih Tzu. Took him 15 months to potty train - no lie. We did it all right, he was a slow learner I was tired of cleaning up the mess so he became tied to me anytime he was not outside playing or in the crate. Period. He is sneaky and could quickly run to the hall and pee, well, can't be sneaky when you're on a 4 ft leash tied around my beltloop! Saved my carpets AND helped him potty train faster.

There IS light at the end of the tunnel - my pound puppy was trained within 2 months; he's a smart cookie. But we worked on the other for a looooooooong time.

Crate train, reward, potty often, and tie that cute puppy to you at all times =) Good luc!

Not to hi-jack the thread or anything, but what would you suggest to do to stop a dog from jumping up at the table and trying to steal your food from under your nose. We have an 8 month old puppy that will continue to try this no matter how many times he is told no. He tends to listen to me, but if my DS or DD is sitting at the table he has no problem trying to get food from them. They definately are not allowing him to do this, but can't get him to understand no either.

We've thought about crating him everytime we eat, but what does that teach him? I would rather he learn 'manners' if you call it that, but I don't know how else to go about it.

We have had him in puppy and obedience classes, where he listened really well, but seems to have a more stubborn streak at home.

One again, sorry for the hi-jack, but reading this thread has made me really curious.