YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - At a loss, don't know what to do, about to get rid of our dog!

GrayC25 · 11-06-2008, 08:13 AM

Thanks for the advice and well wishes everyone. My husband spoke with a trainer at PetSmart yesterday and the guy basically told us that our little one isn't marking, he's just being extremely stubborn and isn't making the connection between being inside and going outside. So we've rededicated ourselves to going back to the beginning and start retraining Samson. In one month, we'll re-evaluate and see where we are.

The trainer told us that using pee pads in the bathroom (where Samson is gated during the day when we're at work) confuses him. He says it's teaching him to go on something soft, so when he's on the carpet, he thinks it's okay to pee there because it feels like the pee pad.

I had done a ton of research online here and other websites before we got Samson and after we got him. I told my husband everything I found(consistency, watching him like a hawk when he's not crated/gated) but when the trainer from PetSmart told him pretty much the same stuff I did, I think that made it really sink in. The trainer asked him "Was he doing really well at one point?" My husband said "Yes! He was doing awesome." And the petsmart trainer said "Yeah, that means he was getting it and was just starting to understand. A lot of owners do that, though, where they think the dog has it, so they start slacking and the dog becomes confused and then goes back." He also told us that whenever we take Samson directly from his crate of the bathroom (where he's gated) pick him up and don't let his feet touch the floor. This way he'll learn that he has to go outside before he can do anything else. We had been opening the crate/gate and letting him jump on the bed first thing in the morning or run to the door across the carept.

We had a good night last night. My husband was bowling for the evening, so it was just me and the baby. I took him out as soon as I got home and then crated him for an hour or so, I had laundry to do and wanted to have a quick dinner. The Petsmart trainer told us to crate him if we can't watch him 100% so that's what I did. Then I took him out again and sat down on the couch with him to watch some TV. However, this time, I didn't let him roam free. I kept him on his leash so he couldn't wander off. An hour later or so later, I let him out again. Soon after that my husband came home and took him out again. Then my husband took Samson, some of his toys and went to lay down in bed with him. I went to bed an hour or so later and Samson was already in his crate.

This morning I woke up, let him out, fed him (bad habit we started, he loves to eat his breakfast in bed with us) and let him play on the bed with my sleeping husband while I showered. When I got out of the shower, I noticed there was some pee on the carpet right up against the wall. It was pretty much dry, so I know it wasn't this morning. However, it was still a tiny bit damp and smelly. My husband went into the bedroom with Samson last night while I stayed and watched tv. I heard him say "Samson, get up here" a few times, so I wonder now if Samson went off the bed and peed in the bedroom last night.

***VENTING**** I swear, I get so frustrated with my hubby. It's like he just doesn't watch him. I've told him repeatedly - and now the trainer guy has told him - that Samson needs to be watched while he's out of the crate. But I just don't think he does it or even tries to do it. I just don't understand and it makes me so angry. If he's not going to watch him, put him in his crate or keep him on his leash. It's not that hard!!! ***VENTING OVER***

So, that's what's going on right now. We have a huge uphill battle but hopefully we'll come down the other side soon.

11-06-2008, 08:13 AM	#12
GrayC25 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 57	Thanks for the advice and well wishes everyone. My husband spoke with a trainer at PetSmart yesterday and the guy basically told us that our little one isn't marking, he's just being extremely stubborn and isn't making the connection between being inside and going outside. So we've rededicated ourselves to going back to the beginning and start retraining Samson. In one month, we'll re-evaluate and see where we are. The trainer told us that using pee pads in the bathroom (where Samson is gated during the day when we're at work) confuses him. He says it's teaching him to go on something soft, so when he's on the carpet, he thinks it's okay to pee there because it feels like the pee pad. I had done a ton of research online here and other websites before we got Samson and after we got him. I told my husband everything I found(consistency, watching him like a hawk when he's not crated/gated) but when the trainer from PetSmart told him pretty much the same stuff I did, I think that made it really sink in. The trainer asked him "Was he doing really well at one point?" My husband said "Yes! He was doing awesome." And the petsmart trainer said "Yeah, that means he was getting it and was just starting to understand. A lot of owners do that, though, where they think the dog has it, so they start slacking and the dog becomes confused and then goes back." He also told us that whenever we take Samson directly from his crate of the bathroom (where he's gated) pick him up and don't let his feet touch the floor. This way he'll learn that he has to go outside before he can do anything else. We had been opening the crate/gate and letting him jump on the bed first thing in the morning or run to the door across the carept. We had a good night last night. My husband was bowling for the evening, so it was just me and the baby. I took him out as soon as I got home and then crated him for an hour or so, I had laundry to do and wanted to have a quick dinner. The Petsmart trainer told us to crate him if we can't watch him 100% so that's what I did. Then I took him out again and sat down on the couch with him to watch some TV. However, this time, I didn't let him roam free. I kept him on his leash so he couldn't wander off. An hour later or so later, I let him out again. Soon after that my husband came home and took him out again. Then my husband took Samson, some of his toys and went to lay down in bed with him. I went to bed an hour or so later and Samson was already in his crate. This morning I woke up, let him out, fed him (bad habit we started, he loves to eat his breakfast in bed with us) and let him play on the bed with my sleeping husband while I showered. When I got out of the shower, I noticed there was some pee on the carpet right up against the wall. It was pretty much dry, so I know it wasn't this morning. However, it was still a tiny bit damp and smelly. My husband went into the bedroom with Samson last night while I stayed and watched tv. I heard him say "Samson, get up here" a few times, so I wonder now if Samson went off the bed and peed in the bedroom last night. *VENTING I swear, I get so frustrated with my hubby. It's like he just doesn't watch him. I've told him repeatedly - and now the trainer guy has told him - that Samson needs to be watched while he's out of the crate. But I just don't think he does it or even tries to do it. I just don't understand and it makes me so angry. If he's not going to watch him, put him in his crate or keep him on his leash. It's not that hard!!! VENTING OVER** So, that's what's going on right now. We have a huge uphill battle but hopefully we'll come down the other side soon.