Belly Bands are in!
 

A few questions...

Do I still need to restrict his movement?

Will he start to pull it off as soon as he needs to go? Will he be successful if he does?

Is not peeing on himself going to be an incentive for him to hold it?

Also, I've started to work on him with his HORRIBLE barking problem. Sometimes we can't hold conversations, watch movies, or talk on the phone.... Here is what I'm trying. Most of the time I don't have a problem with him barking and I want him to act like a dog. When my girlfriend or I don't want him to bark because we need silence for whatever reason I react to the first bark with a stern NO! The second time he barks I say nothing, pick him up and put him in his crate for 15 minutes then let him out. I just started it last week and today he seemed to bark less the next time I was on the phone and told him NO! when he barked... He's usually barking for attention, mostly to attempt to get us to play with him.

I think only time will tell how he deals with the Belly Bands. I used them for a while when Ben was little and he just pee'd in them, but he was a puppy. I used a pad inside so it would soak up small accidents. I couldn't leave one on him for long, but to prevent an accident when visiting or when I had just steam cleaned the carpets, they served a purpose. He did try to get his off, but the velcro was strong and he was not successful. He finally let them alone, but we did not use them long as he housetrained within a couple of months.

I have ordered more as he has now started marking. I am not sure if it is short termed because of puppies in the house or a new SOP since he is now a "proven" male. But .... I am hoping he will not go in them and if he does the wetness will be a deterrant for next time.

Barking -- when doing it other than to alert you to something, try shaking a water bottle filled with pennies. I got this idea here a couple of years ago. Most dogs do not like the noise and will eventually get the idea. I am like you, I don't want to discourage all barking. I get a sense of security knowing anyone nearing our house will be "announced."

Yeah... I want him to bark sometimes. My girlfriend is 25, small, and very pretty... With me gone a ton he's the only line of defense.

All my boys wear Belly Bands...

First crisis averted! We think he messed it when my girlfriend told him it was bath time and he got scared (he hates bath time). My next question is... If he can only be bathed 1 time a week, what is the best way to get the pee off him?

Thanks for the recommendation, NONE of it got on the carpet!

Sometimes when Pasquale wears a bellyband when we go over someone's house....and he tinkles in it. I wipe his private area with baby wipes -unscented and alcohol-free. Theres no smell of pee on him then.

To keep his belly clean, you can use baby wipes as suggested, also if you keep his belly shaved it will help with the odor. I shave my male dogs around their tummies up to the rib cage and have had no problem with urine smells. Make sure you change the pads in the bands often to prevent rashes.....

We're gonna wash the band and throw away the pad every time he has a major accident. A dribble or two here or there isn't a big deal, but a puddle needs to be changed immediately.

We've had a rough night... He messed the belly band and then pooped on the floor all less than an hour after I took him out. I noticed him acting weird and he was ashamed of pooping on the floor. At least he knows what he should do and the pee will no longer be on the carpet!