Urgent - 3yr old Dog & housetraining

[Shellsoo]

Any help greatly appreciated!
We have a 3year old Pekinese/Jack cross that we rescued from the Berger Blanc almost a year ago now. In this time we have tried everything, EVERYTHING to housetrain him.
We live in an apartment and work, but he is walked regularly 3 times a day.
He is not overfed, we have tried on leash and off in the house, we have tried treats and extra attention. We have tried the crate.
In August he was taken to Training and we have applied all that was suggested at that time.
We love him dearly but I'm beginning to dread the mess of the coming winter.... any suggestions??

[Frenchy]

Did you have him checked by a vet? Sounds to me like it's not a behavioral problem. Maybe he needs to go outside more often ?

[mafiaprincess]

Small dogs can have small bladders. Other than going back to square one after making sure it isn't a medical problem there's not many options.. Can't watch him crate him.. If you can watch him need to limit freedom to catch him in the act.

[Shellsoo]

Thankyou both for the suggestions. I will get him checked out by the vet to rule out any bowel/bladder problems.
Meanwhile however, if we do keep his movement limited and catch him in the act, how are we to proceed from there?
Without a garden to immediately take him to, by the time we get organised and outside he has fogotten the connection already.
Do we simply stick his nose in it and put him in the crate? This hasn't worked so far....

[mafiaprincess]

Never stick your dog's nose in it. It won't teach them not to do it.. It'll teach them to hide from you as they pee or to fear you in general.

Crates aren't meant for punishment.

Someone else is goign to have to answer how to potty train a dog in an apt.. Since when I lived in one we taught ours to use an over sized litterbox due to trying to get a puppy down 6 flights of stairs in winter..

[Prin]

I'd say with a little dog, you're going to have to start with either a litter box or pee pads. IMO, if he's not associating outside and peeing together, they might be too far apart for his mind or his little bladder to comprehend.

Whenever he is outside, praise him like madness. And same if you decide to use pee pads or litter too.

[coppperbelle]

Do you carry him outside when you sense he has to go? Taking time to put his leash on him and walking him to the door may be too long for him. When you get home pick him up without saying a word and bring him outside immediately. When he goes praise him a lot.
You will have to make a decision whether you want him to always go outside or will allow him to use a puppy pad/paper when you are not home. I wouldn't try to train both. I had a friend who owned a Pekinese. The dog was terrified to go outside so they set up an area in the kitchen where he could go. They used one of those boot mats made out of rubber with a slight lip on them. They put paper on it and when the dog needed to go he went there.

[OntarioGreys]

3 outings only a day is tough for many big dogs never mind a toy breed with a tiny bladder, in dogs just like people a brain chemical is releases when sleeping that allows for longer periods without the need to urinate, periods of excitement or after meals increases the need to go, dry air from heating increases fluid intake so more need to go .

To reduce the accidents, you will likely have to dog to bed an hour to 1 1/2 earlier and rise 1 1/2 earlier your day will have to go more like this, as soon as you wake up get him outside where he can take a quick pee, the back inside get him feed then get yourself partly ready for work so about an hour after he had eaten he will now go for a half hour to 45 minute brisk walk you want him to be tired so he will want ot go back to sleep, just before you leave wput him in a crate/smaller area with a frozen stuffed kong the chewing and trying to get it out will keep him busy and calm till he is ready to drift off to sleep and may be close till the time you get home if great than 8 hours best to have a midday walker. as soon as you get home take him immediately for a walk 15 to 20 minutes next walk a bit after supper will be a 1/2 hour to 3/4 of an hour and shortly before going to bed another 15 minute walk, weekend when you are home he will need 1 or 2 extra short walks in the day time when you normally work because he will be awake more and more active so therefore will have to pee more frequently.

If you are not willing not able to commit to more outside outings then you will have consider an indoor potty area.

You will also have to clean all rugs with an enzymatic pet odor remover as well, any lingering odors will attract him to continue using the areas where he has went before, using a black light will help you see what areas need cleaning