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Old March 2nd, 2014, 10:35 AM
Meenie's Avatar
Meenie Meenie is offline
Mom to 2 furbabies
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Lafayette, IN
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New here, I'm glad to have found you!

I have two dogs, both terrier mixes. One is Dixie and we've had her for over a year. She's 6 yrs old and weights 32 lbs. She's more low energy (which we looked for since we're an older couple and didn't want a dog who would drag us off our feet, lol) and a real sweetheart.

We just got a second dog (from the same no-kill shelter) who is also a terrier mix, but her mix is different from Dixie's - her body type/shape is different. She's a little more energetic but she's smaller - only 23 lbs. at 4 years old. I don't see any Jack Russel in her build, but she can leap like she has springs on her feet, lol. Her name is Zephra because she runs (and leaps) like the wind.

Both dogs understand the basic commands to sit, lay down, stay, shake, etc. When I let them out (we have a big fenced in back yard) I have them sit and stay while I open the door and then open the door on the sunporch. They both do this very well. (They both also sit and wait very well when I feed them)

I'm having a problem with Zephra peeing in the house though. I let them out every 2.5 - 3 hours (I'm retired, so usually home), but on occasion (maybe every 2 or 3 days) she will wet on the carpet somewhere.
She is a little anxious and will pace at times so it's hard to know when she needs to go out. She doesn't go to the door, or whine or scratch, or anything that gives me a good idea she wants to go out. They both sleep with us and both sleep through the night with no need to go out and no accidents.

I read on a vet's advice page to use a leash on an anxious dog so tried that and Zephra seems to actually like having the leash on. She will sit or lay down calmly while its on instead of pacing. But I can't have it on her all the time (like when I'm cooking or cleaning house)

We fostered her for two weeks before adopting (to make sure she and Dixie were happy together) and the vet at the shelter's vet clinic said she's healthy .

We'll take her to our own vet as soon as we get the papers from the shelter.

Any suggestions for getting her to let me know when she needs to go instead of pottying in the house? She never poops inside, only pee. Dixie doesn't pee inside so there's no "smell" spots.

Thanks
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Old March 2nd, 2014, 11:13 AM
Lynne&Co. Lynne&Co. is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Lindsay, Ontario
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Welcome Meenie!
I am new here as well and have experienced a similar issue with my 6lb Papillon.
The only success I have had is to be super vigilante with her. I would suggest you treat Zephra as if she is a puppy for the next 6 months and put her outside every couple of hours. When you leave her alone I would place her in her crate or bring her with you even if it is just to another room for 2 minutes. I know it is a bit challenging but it is worth it to stop the inappropriate toileting. My dog has never had an accident in front of me so I have never been able to address the problem other than to be "on the scene" at all times. Mine also sleeps through the night (8 hrs) without needing "to go" but the minute she is out of her crate and running around the house there would be an accident if I did not invite her to go outside. She will not ask to go out but will follow my other dog outside everytime he ask so to go out. Good luck with Zephra.
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Old March 2nd, 2014, 12:19 PM
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hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
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Welcome, Meenie! I think Lynne&Co.'s advice is great! We had to do similar training with one of ours when we adopted her--she'd been a kennel dog most of her life and had no concept of house-training. So we started as we would with a puppy, and when she couldn't be tethered to one of us, we used crating.

Oh, and on a totally unrelated note, I gotta warn you--we're gonna hound you for pics of your furbabies, so I hope you have a few on hand to share with us! (We're photo addicts! )
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Old March 2nd, 2014, 06:55 PM
Meenie's Avatar
Meenie Meenie is offline
Mom to 2 furbabies
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Lafayette, IN
Posts: 7
Thanks guys!!
We aren't crating her - the big issue she was having at the shelter was being crated. She hated it and went crazy in the crate. You would have thought she was a ferocious wolf if you'd seen her in it!! But the minute she was taken out, she became a different animal. She was having such an issue with it they were pleading with someone to just foster her for awhile because she was "crate crazy".
But I do either shut the door to whatever room I'm in with her in it with me, or put her on a leash to keep her near me. She never pees in front of me. So it's only random times when she's off the leash that it happens.
I think I'll try teaching her to ring a bell at the door. Think that'll work?
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Old March 2nd, 2014, 07:47 PM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
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I was going to suggest training her to ring a bell . I was thinking of getting a dog that was trained to ring a bell , my sister knew a woman that had a dogs trained to do that. There was only one big problem I am hard of hearing and would had needed a real big bell. And Hi.
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Old March 2nd, 2014, 08:08 PM
Meenie's Avatar
Meenie Meenie is offline
Mom to 2 furbabies
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Lafayette, IN
Posts: 7
It's great to meet all of you
Barkingdog - it would be a problem if you're hearing impaired!

Here's some pics of my two furry girls - Click here for Dixie and Zephra!
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