At wits end (Potty training)

sirhc109

I have recently moved to a new house (about 5 weeks ago) with my three dogs, two chihuahuas and one terrier mix. The oldest chihuhua, Lewis, who is about five years old, is doing amazing. No accidents at all. However the other two are a different story. I will let the dogs outside to do their business, all will go to the bathroom outside. However when I let them back in, the youngest Chihuahua (eight months), Jack, and my terrier (four years), Josie, will go to the bathroom in the house. Im at wits end! When they are outside, they are out fifteen-twenty minutes long so they have plenty of time to use the bathroom, and I let them out every 1.5-2 hours but Jack and Josie still use the bathroom inside. They are basically living in their cages right now and I feel awful about it but I cant have them using the bathroom in the house. The frustrating part is, I know they are going outside because I see them, but as soon as they get inside they go again. Ive had dogs all my life and have never struggled so much with this and dont know what else to do. Any help would be greatly valued!

RedyreRotties

Are they urinating in front of you, or are you finding spots after the fact?

Start food rewarding and making a big deal about all outdoor elimination.

If you aren't doing it, start using baby gates, closing doors, etc, to keep them in the room with you so you can observe them.

In this situation I might verbally mark indoor mistakes. "AH AH!!"

If you have not been doing so, I would set up a cue word for going out. I always ask my dogs, "Do you want to go outside?" If you say this each time you open the door to let them out, they will learn what this means, and if they make a mistake indoors you can tell them NO, OUTSIDE!

These are small dogs, and if necessary I would get a belly band and a set of britches for her. This tends to really put a damper (no pun intended...haha) on the indoor pottying.

Good luck!

sirhc109

They are finding spots after the fact. And right now, when they are out inside, they are confined to the kitchen. There is tile floor there, wood floor throughout the house so I cant chance them peeing anywhere else but the kitchen.

When its time to go outside I ask them "Do you want to go outside?" and they do get excited so Im sure they understand what that means. I will definitely start rewarding them for going outside and am planning on investing in a belly belt for Jack and "diaper" for Josie. Thanks for your suggestions!

kmes

Good advice RedyreRotties!

I would also like to add a few things.
1) Be sure to clean the areas your dogs have gone potty with some kind of enzyme cleaner. There are several brands out there, but nature's miracle is the one that comes to mind. This is because dogs can still smell their urine even if we can't. An enzyme cleaner will chemically break down trace urine and remove the odor. This is important as the smell of urine will tell many dogs that that is where they should potty.

2) Could your dogs be marking??? You are in a new house with lots of new smells. We just bought a house as well, and we still have boxes stacked in several rooms. I have watched LeRoy like a hawk to be sure he doesn't mark anything. I know he would if given the chance!
If there is even a chance of it being because of the dogs are marking new things or smells in the house you should really try to start training a cue word so that eventually they will potty on command (great for traveling!!!)
Also take them for walks and allow them to mark while on their walk. Remember, males are not going to empty their bladder all at once so allow them to mark multiple places. It will help to remove the urge to mark in the house as well as to empty their little bladders.

sirhc109

Thanks for the suggestions and advice!! Im assuming they arent marking because the urinating is random and/or never up against something.

RedyreRotties

If you are finding spots after the fact, there is no one to blame but you. You absolutely MUST manage them so that they are never out of your view.

Management is critical in overcoming this type of problem.

Prevent any opportunities for a mistake in the house. Ignore them if they happen. Put the dog in a crate or otherwise out of your sight when you clean up.

Highly praise and food reward all outdoor elimination.

Put elimination on a verbal command by naming it each time it happens in the right place.

Good luck!

Maura

Females squat, so they could be marking over another dog's scent. If you've been diligent about cleaning, this may not be the problem. I would keep them out of the room they are eliminating in. I understand your reluctance since you have carpeting, but you keep putting them into the room they understand to be the bathroom. You could have a tryout by putting down a tarp of some sort in a different area to make clean up easy if they relieve themselves.

In addition, I would feed them right over the spots they've been going in. I would also put them on leash after their potty breaks outside and take them for a fifteen or twenty minute walk. The walk is good for them physically and mentally.

Mikey

The others have offered wonderful advice-I won't add more-it's been covered. With three dogs and a new house I'm sure you've got your hands full-please let us know how things go

Ravenwoodranch

i agree totally with red

Paws4Fun

Hi. I'm new here and I wanted to add one small thought, and that is, when your dog does his business outside, praise him but do it in language that you will not use in the house. For example of what NOT to do, if you say "GOOD BOY!" the dog, of course, doesn't know what the words mean but will associate your happiness with the deed and the sound of "GOOD BOY!". Then when you are in the house and you command him to sit, and he sits, and you say "GOOD BOY!" he may say to himself "oh yeah! That means I should pee!"

So to avoid that confusion, when my dog pees outside, I use that same happy voice of praise but I say "pottsy puppy!!" And that is the only place and only time I use those words.

I don't know that this will help you, but you will know best.

Good luck.