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03-08-2010, 05:27 PM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Atlanta
Posts: 2
| Potty Training Older Dog Hello, Gosh, I'm certainly not posting alone with this common problem. Hoping someone might be able to suggest some ideas for us with our dog Harley... Admittedly, we did not properly train our dog from the start with potty training habits when we got him a couple years ago. The biggest problem is that we live on the 3rd floor of our condo and both my wife and I work so we cannot keep an eye on him during the day time. We tried pads at first, but he would only move them out of the way and then eliminate on the carpet. After we got sick of constantly smelling urine when we walked in the door, we replaced the carpets (and padding) and hoped for a fresh start. Harley was constantly either in his kennel, or blocked off in the living room where we could see him. We kept up this schedule for a month or so, and things were going great. We decided to give him a little more freedom by letting him stay in the bedroom with my wife while she was falling asleep, but only after we took him outside to go potty. I would come in later and put him in his crate for the night. This morning I was walking to the bathroom and realized that there were four pee spots on the room where he used to go prior to the carpets being replaced. The only possible time he could've done this was during that hour or so at night. How could he possibly be needing to go there after having just been outside? We have tried every chemical we can find to clean the area of odor, but to no avail. Some things I'm considering trying: - Nature's Miracle No-Mark I hear has a high success rate - I know he won't eliminate near his food or bedding, so placing the kennel in the offended area during the day to discourage him from going there. Can anyone suggest other options? We don't want to have to give up our little guy, but we're running out of ideas and can't afford to replace our carpets every year . I know he's capable of holding it as long as we keep up the schedule we've had...he just seems to not understand that the condo is off-limits for pottying. Unless we've blocked him off from his favorite spots inside, he won't tell us he needs to go. |
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03-08-2010, 06:58 PM | #2 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| I'm sorry you are having problems with Harley. Please don't give up! Suggestions for success: Do your absolute best to keep a regular schedule of outings for Harley. When he does his business correctly outside, praise him profusely -- never stop giving praise no matter how old he gets. Maybe include a small treat for awhile. Some people say their Yorkies only need 4 trips out per day, but I believe these little ones (mine are 8 and 6 pounds) need to go often. In fact, I believe all dogs need to go at least as often as we do. If I understood correctly, you said the accidents are probably happening during the night. How many hours between the last night potty and the first morning potty? I would try to make sure it isn't more than 6 hours. Make sure your dog is good and tired when you go to bed. Maybe have a play session, some trick training, and make sure he has enough time outdoors for his potty run. You are doing the right thing limiting Harley's freedom of movement in your home. This is probably a good idea not only for potty training, but also for comfort -- he doesn't need to "guard" your entire condo while you are at work. Of course, don't keep him in a crate while you are at work. That is too limiting and will cause other problems. Consider trying the piddle pads again. When was the last time you tried them? When my oldest boy was a puppy, he would shred them when I was gone. Now he is perfectly pad trained. I just added an 8 month old who was outdoor trained and I switched him to the pads. To pad train, take Harley to the pad when you think he needs to go and use keywords like "go potty." When he does it correctly, praise profusely and give a treat. Throw a party! Do it over and over. You might have to start with a huge square of 4 pads, and make sure they are proper piddle pads scented to attract dogs. You might also consider picking up a remnant of vinyl flooring to put under the pad and to create a larger buffer zone between pad and carpeting. To clean your carpet, it would be worth your while to invest in a good steam cleaner (I bought mine for under $200 at WalMart). Spray the enzyme cleaner on the spots and let it sit, then use the steam cleaner. Much cheaper than replacing carpeting. Good luck and best wishes. Be sure to post updates on progress! |
03-08-2010, 07:14 PM | #3 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Atlanta
Posts: 2
| Thank you for your reply, and your great suggestions. I hadn't thought about switching him back to the pads...it's probably been at least a year and a half since we tried that. Will it confuse him if we take a hybrid approach, or should it be always "outside" or "on pads"? He is generally only left alone for at most 6 hours a day. We bought him a larger kennel so he's got room to move around in, and a big pillow to sleep on. He loves to go in there, so I think we at least got the kennel introduction correct. It's probably just enough room that he doesn't want to mess in there, but still can move around and be comfortable. More than anything, I think it's the promixity of eliminations that concerns me. The spots that are on the carpets were created within an hour or so of having been outside and urinating plentifully, and they are relatively small spots. This makes me think that he feels he has to re-mark those areas. Near the front door (prior to the carpet change), and near the bathroom are the only places he ever goes when he's inside. Previously, we tried blanketing those areas with a half dozen pads and he would pull them aside and go on the carpet (really frustrating!!) I've generally only placed him in the kennel though when he's done both 1 and 2 outside, and he'll be fine until the Mrs. gets home. If he hasn't gone, then I'll give him more space in the bathroom or kitchen where it's okay if he messes. I've read a number of places that the best way to train him is to catch him in the act, but he does it so quickly that he can be gone and back within a minute, and if you didn't notice him leave, you'd never find the spot. And worse, he won't tell you he needs to go...he'll just go to the spot and do his business. We took him for training a long time ago when we first got him, and the instructor told us to only use a disappointed voice when we see that he's messed inside, which we do...and he definitely looks ashamed when we bring him near where he's gone. It's like he knows what he's doing is wrong, but he does it anyway! I will certainly try your suggestions for the next month or so and hopefully we'll see some progress. Thank you! |
03-08-2010, 07:38 PM | #4 | ||||
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
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I really hope some of the suggestions do work for you and your wife, and Harley. Hang in there! | ||||
03-08-2010, 07:46 PM | #5 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| Want to add: my steam cleaner is the Hoover Dual V steam cleaner. It's a little labor intensive changing the tanks, but it works beautifully. It sucks up the water so that the carpet and padding don't take long to dry completely. I used it on mud on a couple of area rugs and I could see on the backing that it really cleaned. I use Woolite Pet Safe Oxi cleaning fluid, or Tide with Downy. Some other people here said they like their Rug Doctors from Kohl's. |
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