Quote:
Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly  Once he's been vetted, treated if needed and that's behind you, you will need to just retrain him to the pad. Somehow he's gotten it in his head going on the pad is not the thing to do now. Dogs don't reason or try to get even or anything - they change habits out of necessity or because they have a good reason in their minds. Something browned him off using the pad and got him onto other areas. Just retrain him over time that the pad is the place to go again. Be extremely patient with him during the retrain. Stay positive, upbeat, loving, patient as your baby relearns it all.
First of all I would change the area where you place his pads down and don't let him get to the old area where he's been peeing on the floor. He's got to forget that area as a possible potty spot for a long while as he's retrained.
When you can't watch him, reconfine him to an area with just pads covering the area, watch him like a hawk when he's out of the confined area and when he gives the signal it's time to "go", take him gently to his pad and wait for him to use it, praising him with warm words and hugs, even occasionally a treat for using it properly. Be very proud of him and show it. It's a big step. If he doesn't go then, bring him back to where you are but keep watching him constantly until he's given the signal again or goes or you confine him to his crate/pen covered in pads. Eventually, you can put two crates together or buy a larger one so that you can use pads in only one end to test if he's relearned the message to only use his pads and not nonpad space. But don't keep him in the crate for prolonged periods when you are home - just when you can't watch him directly.
You'll have to use the urine odor/stain special stain remover that takes out the protein, bacteria and re-use it a few times on the areas he's been using and keep his access to those areas or that room completely restricted until he is totally & permanently retrained - could take months and months of restriction - at least until his memory of using those areas is quite dim and his new habits are established. |
Hmmm... this makes plenty of sense... I don't have any crates as I've never crate trained him... I doubt I have space for two crates as I just moved to a one bedroom apartment, however I can try confining him to the bathroom while I'm at work as it's tiny and he won't have much space without the pad. I'll set a cushiony area for him to sleep in while in there and when I'm home I'll praise him like crazy when he goes on the pad when I'm home.
He sleeps in my bed but I think I'll buy him a bed for the bathroom.
I hope this works... I've had him since he was 12 weeks and this is the first time I've found myself not knowing what else to do or how to fix this.