House training question...

WeirdoMagnet

Like harryharp says, your first thing is to ask your vet to check him.

Has he always 'gone' inside, or was he OK and has now reverted back? When was he castrated? How have you trained him previously? Have there been any changes to your household?

Whilst you're getting the problem (either medical or behavioural) diagnosed and sorted, maybe you could try to manage the problem. Keep you dog near you (in the same room) so if he does start to sniff and lift his leg, you can interrupt him and whisk him outside. Please do not tell him off for going inside - he either can't control the urge to go, or has not learnt that going inside is not allowed! If you do tell him off, it is likely that he will avoid going in front of you at all, giving you less chance to praise him for doing the right thing! Like you say, go back to basics and be consistent. Go outside with him, every half hour (more if necessary), close the door behind you (to create a physical barrier between inside and outside), and if/when he does go, praise like mad, and give him a special treat like cheese to reinforce the praise.

If he does go inside, clear it up with no fuss/emotion and wash the area down with biological washing powder - same for his bed too, wash in bio!

If it is decided that it is behavioural rather than medical, you could possibly claim on your insurance (if you have any) for a behaviourist. Even so, it may be worth asking a behaviourist for help anyway - try theAssociation of Pet Dog Trainers

Hope this helps and let us know how you get on.

Georgie

mrsr

Thankyou for replying ,I have wondered if it is behaviourist ,I work nights 4on4off after I have taken them out (I have a little girl as well)when I get home in morning I take them to bed with me I get up midday let them out and them go back to bed he has never had a wee in my room so I think that suggests he can hold on ,he'll go in the room when OH has him he takes them with him at night when Im working (under protest).I have gone back to taking him out and making a big fuss when he goes I think the neighbours think Im bonkers.on the odd time I have cault him lifting his leg I have clapped my hands to distract him then took him out I would never smack him for any reason or rub his nose in it as some friend suggested .He has always been like this my other poodle is a old lady now but she was trained really quickly.I use urine off to clean up fantastic stuff .When I go out in the day shoping etc I put paper down in kitchen I would love to let him have run of house.The vet didnt come up with any reason just gave training advise which is what I have tierd already .Although him being like this is a real pain I would not part with him for the world he's a real sweety

HopeElizzy

Not sure anyone has mentioned it to you but what are you cleaning up with? I know it sounds odd but most cleaning products have amonia in them which is a smell animals recognise. If you've done alot of cleaning the scent of the amonia can encourage the dog or cat to go back and wee again because they think another animal has been in their house. Try cleaning with non-bio washing powder as this is one of the only things that doesn't contain amonia.

HTH in some small way.

mrsr

Thanks,I use Urine off which distroys the urine its expensive but brilliant,he was nauty and wet on sofa today I can spray this on and it penatrates right down The bedding is washed in bio.He has been in bed with me all day today and has been as good as gold infact he never wets when hes sleeping with me day or night ,on the nights I'm working OH takes him to bed he quite often lifts his leg with him goodnes knows why he dosnt do anything differant than me ,After I got up I left him downstairs just for a couple of mins when I came back he had wet.I usualy try and make sure I have him with me so I can keep my eye on him ,I know he must sound awfull ,hes not hes the sweetest little thing, he hasnt got a nasty bone in his body just wish i could solve this problem.

gemmaj

If he is doing it to leave his mark in the house then you could use a belly band on him? Not if it could be a medical problem though.

mrsr

gemmaj wrote: »

If he is doing it to leave his mark in the house then you could use a belly band on him? Not if it could be a medical problem though.

Whats a Belly Band not heard of this
Thanks

lindsaygalaxy

I have a friend whose dog kept weeing everywhere. She took him to a dog behaviour expert(!) and she said it was because he felt he was more important then she was or any of the other adults in the house. This was caused by things like her letting him sleep in her bed etc.

They said the only was to stop this was to make him see that she was more important and to stop things like him sleeping or going in her room, making him have one feeding place and to stop treating him so much as a person but as a dog.

WeirdoMagnet

gemmaj wrote: »

If he is doing it to leave his mark in the house then you could use a belly band on him? Not if it could be a medical problem though.

Belly bands will not train the dog not to go inside, but they will give him a medical problem by him having urine close to his skin for prolonged periods! Much to take him outside at regular intervals, and praise him for going.

WeirdoMagnet

lindsaygalaxy wrote: »

I have a friend whose dog kept weeing everywhere. She took him to a dog behaviour expert(!) and she said it was because he felt he was more important then she was or any of the other adults in the house. This was caused by things like her letting him sleep in her bed etc.

They said the only was to stop this was to make him see that she was more important and to stop things like him sleeping or going in her room, making him have one feeding place and to stop treating him so much as a person but as a dog.

The Dominance Theory (you being Pack Leader/your dog being bottom of the family pack) has been pretty much discredited (there's some good information about that here). It is much better to be consistent with your rules and training and use positive methods to train your dog to adhere to the rules you put in place.

The trouble is that at the moment anyone can call themselves an 'expert' or a 'dog behaviourist' without any experience or qualifications, and as such aren't necessarily up-to-date with their ideas and training theories.

mrsr

Thankyou all .I am going to carry on with going outside with him praising him cant see that theres any other choice at the moment.Of course being a male hes not so clever as my female :rotfl: but hes not daft ,he does ask to go out and he never dirtys in the house ,so its a bit of a mistery ,there must be something going on in that head of his .