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Originally Posted by secasias  I am so fed up as many of you are on here. I've browsed through so many threads trying to find my answer, but can't. Here's my problem...please help me!!
Dutchess is 1yr old. I got her as a puppy and started training her on potty pads. She did awesome and was confined to a small space in one room only. When she got good at it I decided to let her have free roam of one room. She started peeing on the rugs and the floor and she got confined again. Then she decided to start ripping up her potty pads and going on the floor because there was no more pad to use. I got a potty pad holder and that didn't work. She just stood on it and ripped it to shreds. So being resourceful I went to the hardware store and bought wire mesh, cut it to the size I needed and placed it over the pad so she couldn't get to it. It worked for a few months. She couldn't get to the pad and was going on it again. Yeah I thought. Well, there came a time when she figured out how to open the pad holder and then would take out the pad and rip it to shreds again. I was so mad and frustrated. She was going all over the floor again because there was no pad to use. So I was forced to switch to potty training outside.
She was about 8 months old when we switched. She's used to being crated and confined in a small area so she didn't cry or whine. At first the potty training wasn't so successful, but it got better. However, it's now been 4 months and she still can't come out into a room. She wakes me up at about 6 or 6:30am to go pee. So I let her out. Then throughout the day it's hit or miss. I take her out and she pees, but if she's been in there more than 2 hours she goes on the floor. I go to nursing school so this is a big problem. I can't sit at home. She's old enough her bladder should handle it. She holds it at night. I found she is now using her bed as a potty pad and I am washing it daily. I took that out so she has nothing to pee on like a pad but she pees and then lays in it because she's crated and can't get away from it. I tried leaving her out in one room but I come home to pee all over the place and poop everywhere!!! I have tried treats, clickers, dog whistles, praise, everything.
I am tired of her being crated almost day long. The only time she gets to come out is when I take her outside for playtime. I can't let her out anywhere in the house because I will have pee and poop all over and I'm not ok with living that way. I have shampooed the rugs and carpets and I am ready to give her away. I don't know what else to do. Someone please help me!!!!!!!!!!! |
You poor thing. I know how you feel. My Cali sounds like she's Dutchess's long lost twin. Except that Cali is only 4 1/2 months. So I know she has a hard time holding her pee and poop. She'll use it in the crate, with absolutely no extra thought. Won't complain, cry, scratch to get out.
I've been having a hard time with the potty issues, too. Since Cali was tearing up the pads anyway, and still using it everywhere (within her ex-pen), I decided to get rid of the pads. I have vinyl flooring in the kitchen, so it cleans up easily. And I'll tell you, something about coming home to tore up pads, pee pad holder, pee, poop, toys, bedding all in one pile can make you ready to scream. Not having the pads, it has been easier, believe it or not. She even seems to not potty so much. I am now training her to go outside only. Inside isn't good for me. I think that she can't decipher what she can and can't go on. And if you read alot of posts on YT, many dogs have that same issue. They'll pee and poop on rugs, or whatever is soft. I want her to think GRASS is the only place to go. So, that means no freedom. When I'm home, she's on a leash with me. Or I hold her. But I'm always watching her. It takes a lot out of you, especially with kids. You probably don't have kids, but your career takes a lot, I would assume. I've just re-adjusted my attitude (and that re-adjustment happens sometimes on a minute by minute basis), and pray for whiffs of patience. This is going to take a long time. I think Cali realized when I was frustrated and mad at her. Which would really make her mess up even more. So, when I catch her peeing and pooping, I try to be firm but not scream at her any more. She's coming around s-l-o-w-l-y. I mean reeeeaaaaalllllllll slow. But I see some progress. I guess my advice is to get your head right, and everything else will fall into place.