Re-Training our dog.......HELP

[SarahKate]

I'm sooooo very frustrated right now and I don't know what to do.

We have an almost 1-year old Shih Tzu, Skoshi. He is an awesome little dog, but has totally regressed with going potty.

For the most part, he is going indoors. We don't have a fenced in yard, and we're basically expecting for him to go inside for the most part. In nicer weather it's easier, but right now it's snowy and COLD.

When we got him back in March, he started out really well but has progressively gotten worse. He is now using our living room as his own personal potty and ever since we got our dining rooms set he will go pee AND #2 under there. Don't even get me started on the poop eating.......

For those of you who have gone through this, PLEASE tell me there is hope. I'm currently the main person trying to do this, and that's adding to the frustration because I feel like I'm all on my own.

I know so many have had great success with crate training. I've tried to do that and end up feeling so guilty because there have been days when he's pretty much in there all day long. I spent a good part of this weekend with him tethered to me. I just can't watch him all day long, and he won't go in my presence. What tips and tricks do you have?

Also, have any of you used the litter box type products that are out there, either with the dog litter or fake grass? Just wondering how that works for you.

I'm open to any and alllll suggestions!!!!

 

[mdsouth]

I'm sooooo very frustrated right now and I don't know what to do.

For those of you who have gone through this, PLEASE tell me there is hope. I'm currently the main person trying to do this, and that's adding to the frustration because I feel like I'm all on my own.

I know so many have had great success with crate training. I've tried to do that and end up feeling so guilty because there have been days when he's pretty much in there all day long. I spent a good part of this weekend with him tethered to me. I just can't watch him all day long, and he won't go in my presence. What tips and tricks do you have?

Also, have any of you used the litter box type products that are out there, either with the dog litter or fake grass? Just wondering how that works for you.

I'm open to any and alllll suggestions!!!!

I am in the same boat as you -- we adopted a Llapsa Also poodle mix from the Humane Society late in August. He still makes a mess in our home lots of days when we leave him. We tried the crate but he just peed and pooped in the crate. It was a huge mess. Currently, we confine him to our kitchen when we leave. Most days he just poops but sometimes he pees too when we are gone. He doesn't do it in our presence either. He can hold it for long periods of time too - so I don't think that is an issue. I think he might do it to get back at us for leaving him alone.

I have used the training pads and he will use them so you might try them.
Hopefully, others will post with great suggestions for us!

 

[videogal1]

I'm sooooo very frustrated right now and I don't know what to do.

We have an almost 1-year old Shih Tzu, Skoshi. He is an awesome little dog, but has totally regressed with going potty.

For the most part, he is going indoors. We don't have a fenced in yard, and we're basically expecting for him to go inside for the most part. In nicer weather it's easier, but right now it's snowy and COLD.

When we got him back in March, he started out really well but has progressively gotten worse. He is now using our living room as his own personal potty and ever since we got our dining rooms set he will go pee AND #2 under there. Don't even get me started on the poop eating.......

For those of you who have gone through this, PLEASE tell me there is hope. I'm currently the main person trying to do this, and that's adding to the frustration because I feel like I'm all on my own.

I know so many have had great success with crate training. I've tried to do that and end up feeling so guilty because there have been days when he's pretty much in there all day long. I spent a good part of this weekend with him tethered to me. I just can't watch him all day long, and he won't go in my presence. What tips and tricks do you have?

Also, have any of you used the litter box type products that are out there, either with the dog litter or fake grass? Just wondering how that works for you.

I'm open to any and alllll suggestions!!!!

Finally re-homed mine, at 1 year, for same problems...
Vet needs to eliminate (ha!) physical problems like bladder infections, etc, before you take drastic action, there are products that will make poop unpalatable, try that...I paid $300 for registered dog (Miss Minnie Bear) but she was, although a sweetie, an incorrigible pouter, did not take behavior modification well, retaliated by pooping everywhere, I finally decided she wasn't worth the problems and found her a happy home with a tiny yard and a kingdom all her own. Good luck.

 

[fakereadhed]

Not that it will do you any good now, but letting a dog go indoors can really cause confusion. I train mine to only go outdoors from the start by taking them frequently and 10 min or so after eating and drinking and about every 20 min to half hour. You don't need a fence but you go with them and tell them to do their business when they go. That way when you take them out on the cold the will know what you want and get right to it. Lots of hard work but worth it . Good luck!

 

[SarahKate]

Hi all,

Thanks so far for the advice.

I think some of the problem is the fact that with it being a lot colder outside, I'm not taking him outside as frequently and was basically planning for him to be pretty much inside during the winter months except for his morning pee (which is always HUGE, even for a little guy!). I've talked to DH this morning and we're going to try to set up a routine - even if we can just get the pee to happen outside, that would be a big deal. #2 is definitely annoying, but at least it's a lot easier to pick up after (for now, anyway).

We've used pee pads all along and he's gone back and forth with them. And then sometimes he misses. C'mon dog, the pad is 4x your size and you can't HIT the middle part???

Another part of it has just been me being resentful for being the only one who really takes care of him. DD7 (and DH) will take him out upon request but I have to ask, which is frustrating and makes me feel like why should I even bother......if I have to remember to ask them, I may as well do it myself! Ugh.

As for the poop eating, we've tried some different things and it doesn't work. This breed is just notorious for it and as long as we're not right there when it happens, I'm afraid it's just a fact of life. Every other Shih Tzu owner I've talked to has the very same problem.

Well, thanks again everyone and I'll keep you posted. Last nite I was thinking to myself the possibility that we might have to find a new home for him but this morning I'm thinking more rationally. He's such a sweet dog, and is REALLY good other than this problem.....I (WE) owe it to him to do a better job.

 

[TheRatPack]

Dachshunds are huge poop eaters too.....they don't care if it's dog or cat (tootsie rolls) they go after it. It's so gross.....blechhh. We have a Dachshund and a Yorkie and just recently added a Pomeranian. The Dachshund goes outside all the time.....she's 9 and I suppose she's been pretty much trained since 1 year? The Yorkie is hyper and so sometimes he forgets why he is outside....so he comes in and goes on the potty pad....for the most part he's good about going outside though, and he's 5. The Pom....well, I'm still dealing with sleep deprivation because he's not sleeping through the night, and his pottying is still sporadic. It does help that the older dogs go out and he follows them.....but still all day long I hear "Mom, pee!".....ugghhh.

It just takes time and a lot of persistence on your part. Even if you just note when he has accidents during the day (if you're there) and then sit down and figure out when he usually goes....then make a schedule for potty breaks. Also limit water and food intake after a certain time.....I know a lot of people leave food out all day for their doggies, but that means they can produce poop and pee all day long too LOL We feed our doggies twice a day (puppy gets fed 4 times right now since he's so little) and they go out within 10 minutes of eating. Water gets left out all day but we are here so we can take them out....we do cut water off after 8 or 9pm though so they aren't up all night wanting out.

Good luck!

 

[kacaju]

I think some of the problem is the fact that with it being a lot colder outside, I'm not taking him outside as frequently and was basically planning for him to be pretty much inside during the winter months except for his morning pee

We've used pee pads all along and he's gone back and forth with them. And then sometimes he misses. C'mon dog, the pad is 4x your size and you can't HIT the middle part???

Another part of it has just been me being resentful for being the only one who really takes care of him. DD7 (and DH) will take him out upon request but I have to ask, which is frustrating and makes me feel like why should I even bother......if I have to remember to ask them, I may as well do it myself! Ugh.

I (WE) owe it to him to do a better job.

I have nothing to offer as far as his eating the poop, other then if you walked him until he poops you can clean it up ASAP and he can't eat it.

Onto what I quoted you saying. I am not trying to be mean here but *his problems* are all problem you have created, there is nothing wrong with your dog, there is a lot wrong in how you are trying to train him.

Honestly, you cannot train a dog to toilet both inside and outside. That is just to confusing for a dog. pick one or the other. I only have ever had big dogs so I would never, ever WANT my dog to go in the house EVER!!
I do understand those of you with little dogs may not think it is a big deal, kind of like a cat.
But, you cannot expect a dog to know when you want him to poop indoors and when you want him to go out. If it is too cold for you and your family to bother walking him, can you get a tie out, where you hook him on a cable and let him out while you stand inside and watch that he does both?
You will always have to be sure to clear a path for him if you get snow!!

I have never used pee pads, really though, I always have seen them as more of a floor covering in an ex pen instead of newspapers so the floor doesn't get poo or pee on it. I don't think they are supposed to be used like a litter box for a cat.
I do think this is where many people mess up, they expect a dog to use it like a little box.

As far as your family, who wanted the dog in the first place? I always warn my friends, unless you as the Mom is the one who wants the pet, don't get one because the care normally falls on Mom. If you are getting resentful then you have lost the joy in owning a dog. You need to sit down with your dh and son and talk to them. See how the whole family feels. If no one really wants the dog now that you have it then rehome him to a family that wants him. If you all feel you really do want to keep him then you owe it to him to, as you said, do a better job with him.

My daughter has a show dog, plus a show puppy she is training for our breeder. She is older then your son (13) even though her life is all about the dogs, I still have to remind her to let them out, to feed them. The difference is I don't give up and figure I might as well do it myself, I make her do it. On those mornings when she wakes up late and runs out the door to catch the bus, I just do it. I do not get resentful.
Good luck, puppies and young dogs are a lot like a toddler, you have to always be on your guard.

 

[soonerfan2008]

I'd consult a trainer because if you don't get this fixed, you likely will end up re-homing him- adding to the pet population problem because an older dog who has not been trained is not exactly desirable. The biggest thing to recognize is that it is not his fault, and he is NOT doing it to spite you or to get back at you. This is a training issue- not his issue.

Crate training can be an awesome tool (speaking as a dog trainer who's been out of the 'official' business for a few years). Tethering him to you is critical until he is potty-trained, otherwise accidents WILL happen, and your goal is to totally remove the opportunity until you trust him completely. It takes a lot of time and dedication.

My advice would be to avoid allowing him to use a potty area indoors- that just sets him up for failure since it is confusing. Even when it is cold and snowy, dog owners have to take their dogs out- it just comes with the territory. Dogs are a lot of work, but they make great companions when you put the time and energy into proper training. Good luck!

 

[mjkacmom]

My only dog was a min pin (puppy store - therefore puppymill dog - I was young and stupid), and was wee-wee pad trained. Started out well - only used the pads and the outside, but eventually started going everywhere. I have no advice, unfortunately - never fully trained, and was hit by a car when she was 8 (also kept digging her way out under our fence), but if and when I get another dog, it will be from a shelter/rescue, be fully trained, and I'll never do the wee wee pad route again!

 

[stacy6552]

I agree with the above poster that said only let your dog go to the bathroom outside. Our's learned fairly quickly, but there was definately a turning point. I read it in a puppy book. It basically said, keep a close eye on your dog. If you catch them start to go potty shout their name to grab their attention, which will make them stop. Then excitedly encourage them to come with you outside. Wait for them to go potty ouside and then praise them. It totally worked.

 

[SarahKate]

Hi all,

Thanks for the "tough love".....you're all being up front with me and that's totally fine.

I fully recognize that this is not his fault and that we owe it to him. DH is on board with starting to make things a routine and has asked that I remind him and DD for now, til it becomes habit for them.

Having him go #2 outside is definitely going to be a challenge these next few months because it does take him a while and since he's a little guy he can't really be outside in the cold too long. I'd love to put in a fence out back but it's just not in the cards right now because of the expense. I think a tie-out in the front yard is probably good for us, so then we don't have to stand out there the whole time w/ him. I'd also considered trying to make some sort of potty place on the patio (w/ some sort of gate so he can't escape) but he may have some issues with that.

Well, thanks again everyone.....I'll post back when we have a little progress.

 

[rt2dz]

I haven't read all the replies, so excuse any repeat answers...

If this is a "regression", then you need to visit the vet. 95% of regressions are due to illness--bladder infections and the like.

If this is more an incomplete training (which it sounds like to me), then you need to FINISH training the dog. It's not the dog's fault, it's yours. YOU have to consistent, cold or not. Take the dog outside everytime. When the dog goes in the house, clean it properly (with a special dog pee cleaner--their sense of smell is much better than ours). Don't punish the dog when he/she goes in the house--that will only teach the dog to not get caught. Make sure your dog is groomed properly--there should be no pee or poop on its coat. Watch your dog *constantly*

Check out the following books: How To Housebreak Your Dog in 7 Days, My Smart Puppy (LOVE this author when it comes to dog training!!), Housebreaking and Training Your New Puppy, or Potty Train Your Dog More EffectivelyIf you cannot train your dog, talk to a trainer. Re-homing is irresponsible in most cases. Especially for training (non-aggressive) issues. Think of a dog like a child; you take on the good, the bad, and the ugly for its lifetime.

 

[peemagg]

I have also been told by several trainers that any size dog should not have free run of the house when you can not watch them until after the age of 2.5.

This makes it harder for them to make the accidents.
Crate training is not that hard on them as we make it. They see it as a den and it is comforting to them. The only thing is that you need to be sure that it is the right size for them. People tend to get a huge crate for a small dog and then find that they do their business in the crate. It needs to be just big enough for them to have a little bit of room to be comfortable, but not big enough for them to go in a corner and do their business and then be able to go and lay down without being in it. They want their bed to be clean too.

Remember a dog is accostomed to sleeping many hours a day. I bet if you think about it they are asleep most of the day, so don't feel bad if they are in the crate while you are at work, as long as they are not in the over 6-8 hours. If they are then maybe you need to find a way for someone to come and let them out.

 

[pixiewings71]

I suggest finding a trainer, a good trainer will be the best help you can get. We have 2 dogs, they do not go inside the house at all, they are trained from day 1 to go potty outside. That's non negotiable, there's just no way I'm going to let a dog (or cat) use my home as a bathroom.....yuck!!! And yes, I live in CA but it gets cold here too, maybe not as cold as where you are OP but it was 36 when I left for work today and I had to scrape the ice off my car before I could leave. We have a mutt and a mini doxie, both try to eat pooh, but not each others just other dogs. It's gross and when we notice them trying we stop them quickly! Otherwise I don't know what to do...your pup is eating his own poo? That might be something a trainer can help with as well.

I do agree that you need to have a schedule for going out and a certain place to "go" in. When we brought our dogs home we took them out every 30 min. to potty, we waited until they did potty and then they got a special treat and lots of praise. You need to go out with him, (your DH and DS definitely need to help train the dog) and you need to wait until he does his business before coming back in. I know, it's cold and it sucks but it will work. Good luck!!!

 

[SarahKate]

Having a pretty good day so far. We've taken him out multiple times today. He did go once inside, but right ON the pee pad. And luckily we've been home today so he's been with us pretty much all the time.

We have a playpen for him which is his little relaxing area and where he stays during the day if we're not home. It's basically a baby playpen and he really does love it in there.....many times he'll go in there himself (it's behind the couch so he'll jump in there). And then in our bedroom he has a small crate where he only sleeps at nite, we don't use it during the day. We are VERY fortunate that he never, ever goes pee or #2 in the playpen or crate so we have that on our side.....he will hold it for as long as necessary (which is usually no longer than 4-5 hours during the day).

All in all, I feel much better today than this time yesterday. Thanks again everyone!

 

[soonerfan2008]

Having a pretty good day so far. We've taken him out multiple times today. He did go once inside, but right ON the pee pad. And luckily we've been home today so he's been with us pretty much all the time.

We have a playpen for him which is his little relaxing area and where he stays during the day if we're not home. It's basically a baby playpen and he really does love it in there.....many times he'll go in there himself (it's behind the couch so he'll jump in there). And then in our bedroom he has a small crate where he only sleeps at nite, we don't use it during the day. We are VERY fortunate that he never, ever goes pee or #2 in the playpen or crate so we have that on our side.....he will hold it for as long as necessary (which is usually no longer than 4-5 hours during the day).

All in all, I feel much better today than this time yesterday. Thanks again everyone!

That's because dogs are den animals and do not want to soil their sleeping space- that's why crate training works. Pick up the pads and stop using those! They confuse the dog. Good job on a good day- keep on top of it, and the days will turn into weeks.

 

[kacaju]

how are things going today?

 

[deva]

We've struggled with our whippet for years. I'd definitely recommend crating whenever you are not watching him. Take directly outside when let out of crate and say your special "pee word" when he is going. We say "hurry up" and "park" to tell our dogs to #1 and #2. IMMEDIATELY give him a treat and say "good hurry up" (when he is just finished). This will train him so you can open the door and say "hurry up" (or whatever you decide) and he'll know what you want him to do.

Clean any soiled areas with an enzyme cleaner. We use Nature's Miracle. It might not smell to you, but his inside spot has become his own little inside toilet and he thinks it is OK to go there. I'd also get rid of the pee pads. Teach him to go outside. I think you are confusing him with doing both.

Watch him like a hawk inside. Whenever our dog has an accident I can look back and see that we did something wrong (e.g. did not go straight outside in the am or straight outside after coming out from crate, did not have her out every 2-3 hours if we are home). Lots of times it's situations - like I'll let her out just after I tuck the kids into bed, but by then it is too late.

I think some dogs need to go more often than others, so if you watch him and make sure to let him out and keep him crated if you are not around you should see improvement.

I feel your pain because cleaning up properly is so time consuming. I'm sure you love your dog, but the constant messes get old. Our dog now does fairly well, but I still regularly check in the corner of the dining room (her favorite spot) for any signs of spots

 

[JUJU814]

I also firmly believe in crate training. Also, try feeding the dog in his crate for a while. Dogs will not soil where they eat or sleep.

STOP letting him go in the house. Crate train him like a puppy till he gets it. Crate. When he comes out of the crate, IMMEDIATELY outside to do his business. Reward. Play time. Feed in the crate. Out within 15 minutes. If no business, back to the crate and wait another 10 minutes. Keep doing this till he does his thing..he'll quickly learn no play time till he's done his business.

Be consistent. I totally agree with PP that letting him go on the pads indoors is too confusing.

It's a pain in the rear having to take them out in the bitter cold, but well, it's part of being a pet owner. Get a warm coat, suck it up and do it.

Julie from bitter cold New Hampshire...

ps. we have a new 11 week old chocolate lab...so next time you're outside shivering to death, think of me, I'll be with ya rooting you on! LOL

 

[nilseks]

Yep, JUJU is exactly right. Crating is going to be essential to the process, and you need to do it just as described. When doggie is good and goes potty outside, doggie gets the run of the house for a while (under your watchful eye). When doggie goes outside and doesn't go potty...into the crate until next time.

I have been in dog rescue for many years and have trained MANY puppy mill dogs and older dogs (as old as 9) who have never even lived inside. So imagine my chagrin when we adopted a small breed puppy this fall and I could NOT, for the life of me, get him housetrained! I was taking him outside every half hour--yes, in the cold Wisconsin weather--to get the job done. He FINALLY got the hang of it after MONTHS of that process, and he is now having an accident maybe once every week or so. Obviously I'm still not happy with that, but it's about 100x better than it was.

I think some of it can have to do with breed, size of the dog (smaller dog=smaller bladder)--it's not always about the owner. But in this case I think you now know what you need to do, and you just need to stick with it. Good luck!