Naughty when we are gone, good when we are home - YorkieTalk.com Forums

ambocken · 02-10-2009, 05:06 PM

OK everyone, I ask the great Yorkie pals out there to help me out! I am over and above frustrated at this point.

We adopted Gracie 5 months ago and have her potty trained for when we are home. However, when we are gone she pees and poos all over her room! We have cleaned it with everything possible and nothing seems to work. We have gotten to the point where the floor is covered from one side to the next with pee pads and she still finds ways to move them and pee on the floor!

We have tried putting her in the crate but she still pees in there and then it is an even bigger mess to clean up! I am having the carpets professionally cleaned tomorrow and then we are putting plastic flooring down in her room so it at least will not go on the carpet when she pees.

Help! I don't know what else to do!!

Karrie · 02-10-2009, 06:22 PM

We keep Bailey in an ex-pen when we're gone. Its better than a crate and small enough that she will not soil it. We kept her in a 4x4 ex pen her first year and then doubled it into an 8x8 - for more room.

It sits on a piece of vinyl with small throw rugs. When we expanded it to an 8x8 - we put in an area rug. Of course, there's water and a few toys, a crate, dog bed and two big throw pillows.

Good luck!

QuickSilver · 02-10-2009, 10:04 PM

Hey there, ambocken. Does that mean that Gracie will stay in the crate now? She's a rescue, right? I seem to remember you posted about separation anxiety. Has that gotten any better? It is possible this is a sign of her anxiety?

I remember an 'It's Me or the Dog' episode where two greyhounds were kept in the kitchen and they went EVERYWHERE. The family was still preparing food in there too. It was disgusting. Anyway, look on the bright side, at least she's not eating it!

How long do you leave her alone for? When you leave, does she immediately go, or does she hold it for a couple hours? If it's the first, I would practice leaving and coming back immediately, especially since you say she doesn't do this while you're home. If she's expecting you to come back any moment, maybe she'll hold it.

If it's the second, maybe you can have a dog walker come by?

ambocken · 02-11-2009, 06:31 AM

Yes, we have finally gotten her to go into her room without any troubles. She is alone for a varied time every day, however it is never longer than 6 hours. If I work a full day at work then I always come home on my break and let her out, but she usually has gone pee already and then doesn't have to go-- I just get to clean up a mess on my break! I think she waits for awhile until she goes because it is often still wet when I get home.

We have thought about getting someone to come in and let her out... but she has an aggression issue that we are also dealing with and worry it would end up with someone getting a bite. (two weeks ago she nipped at the neighbor's hand while she was petting her and we have had similar incidents since we adopted her 5 months ago)

I remember that episode! I can't remember what they did to stop it though. I know they had to clean up the room really good because it was EVERYWHERE. That was a gross episode!

Today the carpets get professionally cleaned and then we are placing plastic flooring down over the carpet in her room so it won't get gross again.

QuickSilver · 02-11-2009, 10:42 AM

Well, it sounds like you are making progress in a challenging situation, so good for you. I still love your avatar. It is the perfect snapshot of doggy joy.

If she is "just" a nipper, you might be able to find an experienced dog walker who can take her on. She might need to be the only dog on her walk and handled carefully, but it can be done! That might help with her aggression issues, actually. Just a thought.

Also, does she use the pee pad in front of you, or do you always take her outside? Maybe she's just not trained to use the pad?

ambocken · 02-11-2009, 10:58 AM

Thanks for your help in this... after paying 400 dollars to get the carpets cleaned I don't want to delay in this issue anymore!

she is usually just nipping at people and never has drawn blood or really gotten anyone but it is an issue. I may have to look more into it more and see what I could find.

My MIL is out of work right now and I have considered setting up something with her so that Gracie can be with her for a couple days a week. (she lives about 25 minutes away so it is really only do-able for a couple days a week with our schedules/gas)

When we first got her we tried to train the pee pad but she was already so used to going outside that it created more confusion and frustration for all of us

She will go on them while we are gone about 50 percent of the time.

ambocken · 02-11-2009, 10:59 AM

The picture is the one we fell in love with!! We saw that image online and knew that we HAD to have Gracie! No other bundle of joy would do

ambocken · 02-13-2009, 09:40 PM

And the issues continue......... Last night we rolled out a sheet of vinyl flooring over our carpet so that if she does pee while we are gone we don't have to worry about it as much-- at least until she is trained--

She did great all day today, no accidents, a great day! Then we went out to dinner after we had gotten home from work and this is what we came home to!!! I was SOOOO mad!!!!

Not only had she torn up the vinyl-- she had also PEED ON THE CARPET!!! Let's just say there was not a happy person in the house after dinner.

ambocken · 02-13-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

Hey there, ambocken. Does that mean that Gracie will stay in the crate now? She's a rescue, right? I seem to remember you posted about separation anxiety. Has that gotten any better? It is possible this is a sign of her anxiety?

I was thinking the peeing was linked to a schedule change that happened a little over a month ago... now I am SURE it is actually separation anxiety getting worse. She was in her crate the day after the carpets were cleaned because of the wet floors and she peed both in the am and the afternoon.

We have time this weekend for lots of training and this is our main focus. It is just very frustrating.

QuickSilver · 02-13-2009, 09:54 PM

She sounds like a handful!

Well, Thor used the pee pad yesterday and got a huge helping of his favorite treat. Tonight I literally left him for a few minutes and he peed on the rug again. The kicker is that I didn't notice except that when I went to pick him up, he ran into his crate. So he's smart enough to know I don't like pee on the rug but not smart enough to pee three feet to the left. Sigh.

I wonder if Thor will ever be trained because he spent his formative years going wherever he felt like with no repercussions. I wonder if this story has an ending.

dwood · 02-18-2009, 08:08 PM

I think it is separation anxiety. Leo doesn't go to the bathroom when we leave him but he can be very distructive. He has pulled up the carpet and chewed through the window seal. Not to mention shreading anything he can possibly tear up. We don't even have to be gone for very long.

I wish I had some good advice on how to fix the problem.

02-10-2009, 05:06 PM	#1
ambocken Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 237	Naughty when we are gone, good when we are home OK everyone, I ask the great Yorkie pals out there to help me out! I am over and above frustrated at this point. We adopted Gracie 5 months ago and have her potty trained for when we are home. However, when we are gone she pees and poos all over her room! We have cleaned it with everything possible and nothing seems to work. We have gotten to the point where the floor is covered from one side to the next with pee pads and she still finds ways to move them and pee on the floor! We have tried putting her in the crate but she still pees in there and then it is an even bigger mess to clean up! I am having the carpets professionally cleaned tomorrow and then we are putting plastic flooring down in her room so it at least will not go on the carpet when she pees. Help! I don't know what else to do!!

02-10-2009, 06:22 PM	#2
Karrie Donating YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 676	We keep Bailey in an ex-pen when we're gone. Its better than a crate and small enough that she will not soil it. We kept her in a 4x4 ex pen her first year and then doubled it into an 8x8 - for more room. It sits on a piece of vinyl with small throw rugs. When we expanded it to an 8x8 - we put in an area rug. Of course, there's water and a few toys, a crate, dog bed and two big throw pillows. Good luck! __________________ This is Bailey's world and we just live in it!

02-11-2009, 10:59 AM	#7
ambocken Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 237	avetar The picture is the one we fell in love with!! We saw that image online and knew that we HAD to have Gracie! No other bundle of joy would do

02-10-2009, 10:04 PM	#3
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 2,980 Blog Entries: 21	Hey there, ambocken. Does that mean that Gracie will stay in the crate now? She's a rescue, right? I seem to remember you posted about separation anxiety. Has that gotten any better? It is possible this is a sign of her anxiety? I remember an 'It's Me or the Dog' episode where two greyhounds were kept in the kitchen and they went EVERYWHERE. The family was still preparing food in there too. It was disgusting. Anyway, look on the bright side, at least she's not eating it! How long do you leave her alone for? When you leave, does she immediately go, or does she hold it for a couple hours? If it's the first, I would practice leaving and coming back immediately, especially since you say she doesn't do this while you're home. If she's expecting you to come back any moment, maybe she'll hold it. If it's the second, maybe you can have a dog walker come by?

02-11-2009, 06:31 AM	#4
ambocken Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 237	Yes, we have finally gotten her to go into her room without any troubles. She is alone for a varied time every day, however it is never longer than 6 hours. If I work a full day at work then I always come home on my break and let her out, but she usually has gone pee already and then doesn't have to go-- I just get to clean up a mess on my break! I think she waits for awhile until she goes because it is often still wet when I get home. We have thought about getting someone to come in and let her out... but she has an aggression issue that we are also dealing with and worry it would end up with someone getting a bite. (two weeks ago she nipped at the neighbor's hand while she was petting her and we have had similar incidents since we adopted her 5 months ago) I remember that episode! I can't remember what they did to stop it though. I know they had to clean up the room really good because it was EVERYWHERE. That was a gross episode! Today the carpets get professionally cleaned and then we are placing plastic flooring down over the carpet in her room so it won't get gross again.

02-11-2009, 10:42 AM	#5
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 2,980 Blog Entries: 21	Well, it sounds like you are making progress in a challenging situation, so good for you. I still love your avatar. It is the perfect snapshot of doggy joy. If she is "just" a nipper, you might be able to find an experienced dog walker who can take her on. She might need to be the only dog on her walk and handled carefully, but it can be done! That might help with her aggression issues, actually. Just a thought. Also, does she use the pee pad in front of you, or do you always take her outside? Maybe she's just not trained to use the pad?

02-11-2009, 10:58 AM	#6
ambocken Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 237	Thanks for your help in this... after paying 400 dollars to get the carpets cleaned I don't want to delay in this issue anymore! she is usually just nipping at people and never has drawn blood or really gotten anyone but it is an issue. I may have to look more into it more and see what I could find. My MIL is out of work right now and I have considered setting up something with her so that Gracie can be with her for a couple days a week. (she lives about 25 minutes away so it is really only do-able for a couple days a week with our schedules/gas) When we first got her we tried to train the pee pad but she was already so used to going outside that it created more confusion and frustration for all of us She will go on them while we are gone about 50 percent of the time.

02-13-2009, 09:54 PM	#10
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 2,980 Blog Entries: 21	She sounds like a handful! Well, Thor used the pee pad yesterday and got a huge helping of his favorite treat. Tonight I literally left him for a few minutes and he peed on the rug again. The kicker is that I didn't notice except that when I went to pick him up, he ran into his crate. So he's smart enough to know I don't like pee on the rug but not smart enough to pee three feet to the left. Sigh. I wonder if Thor will ever be trained because he spent his formative years going wherever he felt like with no repercussions. I wonder if this story has an ending.

02-18-2009, 08:08 PM	#11
dwood Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: charlotte, NC Posts: 104	I think it is separation anxiety. Leo doesn't go to the bathroom when we leave him but he can be very distructive. He has pulled up the carpet and chewed through the window seal. Not to mention shreading anything he can possibly tear up. We don't even have to be gone for very long. I wish I had some good advice on how to fix the problem.