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Old July 25th, 2012, 01:54 PM
phuzzyday phuzzyday is offline
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Yet another elimination challenge - Weiner Dog!

Here is our dog, Annie, saying hello...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNSi9hi0Lnw

She is almost 5 years old, and we still have trouble with elimination problems.
Wow, where to start?

Here is the first thread I started on her.. http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=64647

I really want to apply the 'Proper Parenting' principles here, this is why I am asking the experts again..

Seems like we have all agreed that her 'place to go' is in our walk through closet off of our bedroom. The pads are still the target, but, due to a lack of success, I have lined the whole closet with plastic screwed to the floor through the carpet. (Balcony works during the summer, and she does use it, but at -30, we aren't so thrilled with that idea.)

My wife saw a 'tray' in Wal-Mart which was the perfect size for a pad, and after I explained how we needed to show her the way, it seemed like things were going ok for a while. What she did was, when we first got home and un-crated her, we would take her to the pad, and give her the ol' PEE command, and she would do it right on target! Then we lay on the praise, and give her a freeze dried liver treat. She's mental for those. They are like crack for her. We have been trying to maintain that training for weeks on end. She KNOWS what the command means, and lots of time she does it. Sometimes, we place her there, tell her to do it, and she just heads straight for the crate! This may be connected to the fact that at times, when she DOES misbehave, we deprive her of our company for a while by crating her as punishment. Still, she seems to love the crate, so we haven't ruined it I guess.. (When we are getting dressed to leave, she hops right in there before we even ask.) Anyway, the tray hasn't turned out to be a significant change overall, other then the fact we spend less on pads.

What happens though, is after we let her out, when we get home, any time we aren't paying attention, she sneaks into the room, and pees outside of the closet right on the bedroom rug. Over and over. (Thank goodness for wet vacs) Seemed like as soon as I put the plastic down, she started going further away from the closet. Still, I don't think she is uncomfortable with the plastic, since sometimes she'll pee right on it, no pad at all. My wife gradually moves the pad as the dog trains her (?) closer to where the pee usually ends up. And SOMETIMES, maybe 50%? She does the RIGHT thing!! Perfect!

I would love to get some insight into how her mind is working. She's not dumb by any means. But there is a REASON why she is doing this. She knows the pads are her target, and before the plastic and tray were there, things overall were no different.

She is comfortable being crated whenever we are away. I don't think it would be too hard to crate her at night, but the worst times are during the day anyhow. I Think..

I know getting angry it technically not the answer. But I do. We live in a farming area, and the usual routine seems to give the hound a lickin' when they misbehave, and they learn quick. We have tried getting angry and swatting her with newspapers and such, she just cowers and runs away (to the den) as soon as she can, and it doesn't change anything.

Sorry I am rambling on so much, this has been building for a while....

I set up a motion detector with a laptop and webcam, and my wife ran in on her red handed while she was peeing. Gave her the dickens. She did it again as soon as she had the chance.

Help?? PLEASE??? I am going a bit crazy here, and I don't want to lose my temper on her!! (Repeatedly..)

Phil
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Old July 27th, 2012, 01:23 PM
Niall Niall is offline
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What does your dog do for fun and exercise?

As you are following all the standard suggestions quite well my probing would be in the area of your dog's daily activities. How many walks does she get per day, for how long and where?
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Old July 27th, 2012, 04:10 PM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phuzzyday View Post
Here is our dog, Annie, saying hello...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNSi9hi0Lnw

She is almost 5 years old, and we still have trouble with elimination problems.
Wow, where to start?

Here is the first thread I started on her.. http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=64647

I really want to apply the 'Proper Parenting' principles here, this is why I am asking the experts again..

Seems like we have all agreed that her 'place to go' is in our walk through closet off of our bedroom. The pads are still the target, but, due to a lack of success, I have lined the whole closet with plastic screwed to the floor through the carpet. (Balcony works during the summer, and she does use it, but at -30, we aren't so thrilled with that idea.)

My wife saw a 'tray' in Wal-Mart which was the perfect size for a pad, and after I explained how we needed to show her the way, it seemed like things were going ok for a while. What she did was, when we first got home and un-crated her, we would take her to the pad, and give her the ol' PEE command, and she would do it right on target! Then we lay on the praise, and give her a freeze dried liver treat. She's mental for those. They are like crack for her. We have been trying to maintain that training for weeks on end. She KNOWS what the command means, and lots of time she does it. Sometimes, we place her there, tell her to do it, and she just heads straight for the crate! This may be connected to the fact that at times, when she DOES misbehave, we deprive her of our company for a while by crating her as punishment. Still, she seems to love the crate, so we haven't ruined it I guess.. (When we are getting dressed to leave, she hops right in there before we even ask.) Anyway, the tray hasn't turned out to be a significant change overall, other then the fact we spend less on pads.

What happens though, is after we let her out, when we get home, any time we aren't paying attention, she sneaks into the room, and pees outside of the closet right on the bedroom rug. Over and over. (Thank goodness for wet vacs) Seemed like as soon as I put the plastic down, she started going further away from the closet. Still, I don't think she is uncomfortable with the plastic, since sometimes she'll pee right on it, no pad at all. My wife gradually moves the pad as the dog trains her (?) closer to where the pee usually ends up. And SOMETIMES, maybe 50%? She does the RIGHT thing!! Perfect!

I would love to get some insight into how her mind is working. She's not dumb by any means. But there is a REASON why she is doing this. She knows the pads are her target, and before the plastic and tray were there, things overall were no different.

She is comfortable being crated whenever we are away. I don't think it would be too hard to crate her at night, but the worst times are during the day anyhow. I Think..

I know getting angry it technically not the answer. But I do. We live in a farming area, and the usual routine seems to give the hound a lickin' when they misbehave, and they learn quick. We have tried getting angry and swatting her with newspapers and such, she just cowers and runs away (to the den) as soon as she can, and it doesn't change anything.

Sorry I am rambling on so much, this has been building for a while....

I set up a motion detector with a laptop and webcam, and my wife ran in on her red handed while she was peeing. Gave her the dickens. She did it again as soon as she had the chance.

Help?? PLEASE??? I am going a bit crazy here, and I don't want to lose my temper on her!! (Repeatedly..)

Phil
I feel hitting your dog is not going to stop her for peeing on the floor. She maybe becoming scarce and nervous from all that hitting and yelling and this will cause her to more accidents in the house. I bet your poor dog is a
nervous wreak. My dog Marty had accidents in the house when I first got him and I would just take him outside and let him know that is where he
pee. It only took a few times for Marty to understand this and I did not hit him or yell at him. He is a rescued dog and I needed to made him feel safe with me not frighten of me. I think you should try to put yourself in your dog's place and think how would it feel to have a person bigger than you hitting you and yelling at you. You may pee on the floor too.
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Old July 27th, 2012, 04:54 PM
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LavenderRott LavenderRott is offline
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Here are my thoughts on the subject - you can take them or leave them.

Sounds like you have "trained" your dog to go outside AND inside. The reason most people train their dogs to go outside is because that way there is no confusion as far as where the dog should go.

Giving her "the dickens" for having an accident isn't doing anything so far as teaching goes. A puppy that is caught having an accident in the house is stopped and immediately taken to the place one would like the puppy to potty. Hollering and spanking is effectively teaching her to go potty in private (read being sneaky) so that she can eliminate without getting yelled at or smacked.

So. When you get up or get home, she should be taken to the proper place to do her business and praised when she goes where you want her to. When she is done- attach her to you (or your wife) with a leash so that she can't sneak off and if she should start to eliminate, you can catch her, scoop her up and take her to where you would like her to finish. If you are doing something that makes leashing her to you difficult - crate her. You have to make it IMPOSSIBLE for her to have an accident.
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Old July 27th, 2012, 09:40 PM
phuzzyday phuzzyday is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Alberta
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Thank you for the suggestions everyone!

She is far from being a wreck, that's or sure! (Or at least I hope she is!) I know well that the 'hitting' method doesn't fix things.Often times I just show her the accident, and try to talk to her, saying 'bad!' and putting her in the right place.

I like the leash idea a lot. I think we'll try that.

I'll keep checking in here. Thanks everyone.

PD
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  #6  
Old July 27th, 2012, 10:36 PM
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tenderfoot tenderfoot is offline
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LavendarRott offers good advice.
Taking the pup to the spot to have a talk isn't going to change anything either. In order to make your message clear you have to catch them in the act or there is no association to the deed. You can be firm yet gentle in your correction in order to claim your territory, but try not to scare her just impress her that the house is your territory and not hers to soil, but outside gets all the good stuff (as you are already doing). I do agree you are teaching her to go inside and out so the message isn't clear.
If she is acting like a puppy then you must teach and continue to manage her like a puppy. She gets the freedom and your trust as she earns it.
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