[Rosiethedoggo]

We got our 1.5 year old terrier mix Rosie in November 2020 after she was found abandoned in a cemetery and in rough shape by a family member. She appears to never have lived as a family dog so we knew house training would need to happen. At first she would go potty anywhere, anytime and had no concept of holding it, not even in the crate. We took her out every hour for weeks and kept her tethered to us at all times. After about 4 months it seemed she was housebroken. We bell trained her and she consistently rang the bell and would immediately go potty if brought outside. But then after a few weeks she started having accidents again. So we went back to square one by keeping her leashed at all times and very frequent potty breaks. Well this cycle has occurred several times now. She will be accident free a few weeks, then suddenly go repeatedly in the house, then go back to being trained. She will also not act potty trained in other people's homes and goes almost every night in her crate when previously she was holding it all night. She has been to vets, spayed, we take her regularly to the dog park for exercise, and someone is home with her all day 6 days per week. We are at our wits end and could really use some help.

 

[JoanneF]

When you say she has been to the vet, has she been recently, and specifically to check fir a UTI? That would normally be the first, or next, step.

Then, back to basics. I don't personally like bells, I'd rather be proactive and take her out. And wait with her, so that when she toilets you are right there to reward her. The reward has to be immediate to be clear that it's for toileting and not for anything else and it has to be generous to make it worth her while to hold her toilet until she is outside. I'd suggest a new reward,only used for outside toilets. Frankfurter sausage maybe.

She will also not act potty trained in other people's homes

Dogs don't generalise well. So house trained in your house doesn't mean house trained in every house.

It's also possible she has been scolded or punished for indoor accidents, That will just make her seek or create opportunities to toilet when people are not around, and of course makes your job all the harder.

 

[Rosiethedoggo]

When you say she has been to the vet, has she been recently, and specifically to check fir a UTI? That would normally be the first, or next, step.

Then, back to basics. I don't personally like bells, I'd rather be proactive and take her out. And wait with her, so that when she toilets you are right there to reward her. The reward has to be immediate to be clear that it's for toileting and not for anything else and it has to be generous to make it worth her while to hold her toilet until she is outside. I'd suggest a new reward,only used for outside toilets. Frankfurter sausage maybe.


Dogs don't generalise well. So house trained in your house doesn't mean house trained in every house.

It's also possible she has been scolded or punished for indoor accidents, That will just make her seek or create opportunities to toilet when people are not around, and of course makes your job all the harder.

She has been treated for a UTI within the last month even though her urinalysis was clear. We also take her out whether she rings the bells or not, just thought it would be helpful for her to have some way of letting us know when she needs to go. And we don't have a fenced yard so all potty breaks are on a leash. But special treats may be helpful! Thank you!