thats the thing.. when I'm home he is very well behaved. up until a couple weeks ago the only time he pottied in the house was an accient. he is not allowed on the furniture.. he knows better then to jump on it while I'm around. He NEVER gets any type of people food. If he does something wrong i correct him so don't act like I walk around here with a blind fold on. I try my best to teach him right from wrong and since the trash issue i can leave it uncovered and he won't bother it at all so I know what my husbabd and I have been doing is actually working because he's more behaved then he was with his past owner..

it's just how do you stop a dog from going potty in his crate if thats where you're suppose to put him to train him not to go potty in the house? I take him outside more often now which has or seemed to stop his peeing inside stage he made it 5 days without peeing indoors so progress was being made. I made a vow that i would not let my dog get the way my parents let their dog so i try very hard to get him to be a very very well behaved dog.

he does know how to socialize with people. He loves people and he will see them and first sometimes he will fight me alittle but I will make him calm down and sit and if they people want to pet him I let them and with small children i'll hold his collar to keep him from getting over excited and maybe jumping up(he just loooooovvvesss kids). it's just recently he's gone onthis BAD trip that I can't imagine why he was taking to me having a job so well. Maybe it's because I got the mattresses and he didn't like having something new that didn't have his scent or my scent all over it. But then again he's never done anything to the couch. How do you train a dog to stay off of something that he ONLY gets on when I'm not home? I mean I know I can get the zone things which I'm just going to splurge for them and train him off the couch with them but from now on I am double checking my bedroom door and posting a reminder on my front door for me.

upindust, a couple other things:

-- If he's relieving himself because of separation anxiety, you can reduce his separation anxiety. You've said that you have tried leaving him for a minute, two minutes, etc., but if you're sure this is anxiety, you have more work to do.

-- I don't think a leash is a bad idea as long as you use a harness, not a collar.

-- Are you sure you have been consistent with his training generally? I ask because in many of your comments you've said that he freaks out, cries and cries, etc. If you haven't established basic discipline with him, he may have learned that to get his way, he just needs to persistently whine (like a child). Just a guess. In terms of training, you are only limited by your imagination. I'm sure you could figure out a way to train him not to ever get on the bed. You're already thinking Zone... maybe teach him that a cue, like a red flag, means he needs to stay away, and put one on your bed.


-- I hate the cold too, so I sympathize. Exercise cures a lot of behavior ills, though. Maybe you can find some type of exercise for him in the house - like, if you have a long hallway, play fetch with him there every morning.


It really does sound like you love Teddy, so I would urge you to be patient. However, if at some point you do give him away, please make sure that you know he goes to a good home. If you give him to a humane society, please make sure they don't euthanize their animals after a certain period of time.

Best of luck to you.

ahaha whats funny is i told my husband I wasn't much of a dog person and if I ever had one I would want it trained to a T. I love dogs and I only wanted a small one but my husband LOOOVVVEESS dogs.. Teddy is like super-trained-smart-dog when darrall is around. He is able to teach him tricks in a matter of minutes.. he's like the dog whisperer without the ability to know what they are thinking.

I love teddy and I wish i could afford the professional training but then again the dog he plays with has been to every training class there is so I can always ask her to come over and help me out and he sons has gone with her to the meetings so he knows all about it too.

But don't get me wrong I don't hate dogs.. i just wish we had a home where there wasa puppy door and a backyard for him to go out and play in whenever he wanted.

Is he neutered? I also believe you should deal with the cold and walk him daily. I walk the Yorkie I might adopt 2-3 times a day. We go to dog parks, pet stores, and regular stores. Today I took him on a 1 hr walk to the pet store, and another hour playing with the dogs in the pet store and walking around. I can't actually relate to the cold since it doesn't even get cold enough to snow where I live, but maybe you could consider a treadmill if it is really an issue? I would suggest also getting professional help.

Edit: sorry didn't realize you couldn't afford a trainer. Maybe you should call and see if they can give you advice that way? Or those free consultations?

i only use a harness.. He whines a lot because he knows when the two dogs he plays with are outside.. and he knows when my upstairs neighbor takes her dog out(he plays with her dog too) he knows when my neighbors come home and he loves them all and wants to be taken outside to greet them and play with them.

i started ignoring him but then thats when the peeing started. So I have been watching his water in take more and his playing(he can play by himself easily he grabs his toy and flings it across the room and runs after it) and since then he's been doing SOOO much better.

but yeah if he whines too much I make him lay down in his bed and stay there for 3-5 minutes

yeah i've thought about it and trying to find a way to pay for it. Since my husband went up to E-4 we'll have 100 dollars extra coming in eventually it'll take a couple months before it kicks in and he tested in the top 8%

he is fixed he was fixed when he was old enough and until now the only other time he EVER peed on prupose I swear it was out of revenge. I believe dogs can do things out of revenge I'm sorry I do. My husband had did something to him today and I went to the bathroom and he was outside the door, darrall comes into the hallway and goes "what are you doing" to him and teddy lifts up his leg(ONLY time he's ever lifted his leg) and begins to pee on the wall then proceeded to hop down the wall peeing on it. other then that the only times have been out of excitement or fear.

Which i've told my husband he needs to be less intimidating with teddy since sometimes teddy pees out of a mixture of fear and excitment.. excitement from playing and fear because he thinks he's goign to get in trouble. lol he doesn't do it with me at all.. he doesn't even pee out of excitement that I'm home(I ignore him when i get home) but with my husband as soon as he sees darrall.. he pees! so I have to take him outside to greet darrall.. he doesn't even have to look at teddy or talk to teddy and he'll pee.. we've tried the suggestions of tell him to sit or paw and he still just pees out of excitment lol.

I can't seem to stop posting to this thread.

One other thing to consider -- Teddy has already been through one re-home. I don't want to guilt-trip you, but he could have some abandonment issues if he gets moved again.

Dogs don't pee out of revenge. Okay, sometimes they do, but please try hard not to project your human understanding of the situation onto Teddy. Obviously, Teddy would not have peed on your mattress if he knew he might lose his home over it.

it's not enough. I have four dogs...they constantly play and wrestle and all that...they still need a walk. Since it has helped Teddy in the past, if you loved him you would do it. You'd do anything to make it work out. Please. He needs you.

I know I've seen people ask if he's neutered?? I asked the same thing? If not, this is probably just going to get worse..if he's not neutered, i would suggest to do it immediately, it would probably really change things for the better

What is wrong with him being on the couch? Just curious.

Exactly...that's why my leather sectional is ruined, but, oh well, that can be replaced..my new baby is laying on the couch now with daddy..:) That would be like me telling my human kids to stay off my couch..isn't Teddy a part of the "family"?

FYI, indust has already posted that Teddy is fixed.

I think it's fine to keep him off the furniture. It's okay to treat a dog like a dog, and it can help them know their place. Presumably your kids get a seat at the table when you eat, which a dog does not -- and most of us are probably not saving up to send our dogs to college. :)

Well, I do know a few people whos dogs do sit at the table and eat with them..

I don't suppose there is anything really wrong with making your dogs stay off the furniture. But since she has posted her age, and stated she just bought a bed, I was wondering how nice the couch could be that a Yorkie who sheds VERY LITTLE could not be allowed on the sofa.

I am just going to go with the "some people should have cats" comment. It was 29 degrees outside this morning, and we still walked the pups for a lap around the neighborhood, me sniffling all the way. Oh well, it makes them happy, and I know their bladders and bowels are EMPTY when we get back! Dogs take a great deal of time, sacrifice, and patience. I'm sure there is a perfect home for Teddy, maybe this isn't a great match.

As i am typing this, 2 pups are sleeping on the back of the sofa, and Cooper is curled on the cushion beside me. :)

Wait... what?
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...n/image001.jpg

I'm disabling my email notifications so I'm not tempted anymore. lol

I really think it's rude for anyone to advise someone to not have kids. I had to raise my little sisters from the age of 6 up until the day my mom died. I know how much work kids are and I know how much patience they take and I find it SEVERELY offensive when someone tells me not to have kids. I also babysit my friends two year old when her husband gets a 24 hour watch. I'm not this easily frustrated with kids as I am with my dog. With kids i have this instinct in knowing what they are about to get into. With kids you know what they can and cannot get into.. there are no surprises really if you think ahead of time. i had no clue my dog could jump the way he can because he NEVER does it when i'm home or if he tries he acts like he can't do it..

my friend was amazed at how well i did with her son. he didn't ask for junk food once instead I had him eating healthy the entire night, and he ate grapes which apparantly he hates according to his mom.yet he laid on the floor with me and munched on them. Kids are completely different then pets. my dog acts like a mindless two year old at times but trust me a real two year old is different then a dog acting to similarities.

and if I had a two year oldI would of had a mattress protector on the bed but since it was just going to be ME on the bed and I knew I wasn't going to drink on the bed or pee on it I didn't have to worry about it and I was going to get one with this paycheck but pushed it back alittle. Plus a little kid could not climb up on this bed at all. I'm still amazed teddy could jump on it! I have no clue how he does it I tested him the first day I got it to see if he could jump up on it and it appeared that he couldn't.

I'm sorry I care about wher emy dogs go potty and I've learned how to get pee out of anything. I take VERY VERY VERY good care of my things. I care about my dogs mistakes and I work to fix them. I would never want my carpet smelling like urine. which is why I semi obsessed ove rmy hallway because it smelled like it and I managed to get it out in a day. I'll do the same with stains when I get kids.. only I'll expect stains. With kids you expect certain things to happen. You know what is going to happen for sure. Thats why they are making more no mess toys out there and making paint that is easily washable (aka crayons). I'm just lucky enough to be the master of stains. I've managed to get dried blue koolaid out of creme colored carpet. My husband is a klutz so having him around is kind of like having the mess of a two year old.

I know with a kid you wouldn't let them draw all over the walls and be like hmm my fault and then clean it off and go on with your day. You'd tell them it was wrong and have them help you clean it off... Now teddy can't help me clean up his messes but I can show what he did and tell him bad to it which ironically enough he KNOWS when he does someting bad because I'll come home and he'll show me, put his head down and lay down. I don't mind if he finds paper and chews on it but it looks like I may have to go back to rewarding him for peeing outside so he understands thats the place to go again.

But don't insult my ability to be a parent again.

Okay, I have been reading this thread for a while, and I finally decided to post. I was trying to figure out how he could eat Crown molding,( in Canada that is the fancy trim around the ceiling):)

First of all this is my opinion and only my opinion, you say he does whatever your husband wants right? Perhaps, he does not see you as an Alpha, he needs to see you as a pack leader. You need to be assertive with him, these guys are like kids, if he thinks he can get away with it he's going to do it. When your admonish him, make sure that it is firm, kind but firm.
When, he potties in his crate, have you cleaned it out thoroughly, using a disinfectant or a pet deodorizer, to eliminate all scent. These little guys have a strong sense of smell. That could be one reason for him going potty in his crate. Also as people have said make the crate a warm cozy place somewhere that he wants to be.
When I crate trained my girls, I put them in it during the day for small periods of time to get them used to it ,I was still in the room. I started with 15 min on up they now will stay in there when I need to go out. I also tell them I am leaving and will be back in a little while. This seems to work for me.

As to peeing on your bed, accidents happen I understand why you are upset.
Vinegar is good but I wouldn't want to smell vinegar when I went to bed.

I don't know in the States if you have OUT! but I highly recommend their products. I use OUT! pet odor and stain remover it smells like baby powder and it takes all kinds of stains out, even things like tea. Yes, I am a Klutz. I buy it at Walmart, make sure it says Odor and Stain.

Any how hang in there, the puppy stage can be trying, but it really is well worth the effort.

Tammy

reason for not being on the furniture:

their nails can RUIN the fabric. This has happened with my parents couches which is why they didn't get a new couch until they had to put their dog to sleep due to severe seizers and the erratic behavior(aka attacking me any chance he got).

plus some ppl who let their dogs on couches.. you'll come over and sit down and the dog will jump up and in your lap and be in your face and nothing is worse then that and my dog is not a tiny lap dog.. he's 14lbs. I don't want him on the furniture, plain and simple.. plus if he gets over excited he pees and my husband has the ability to get him over excited or to accidentally intimidate him to where he'll accidentally pee.

The floor is soft, i should know I went months without a couch. you guys act like i'm awful because I don't over spoil my dog. he has a blanket he can lay on and his own bed in the living room.. he has plenty of comfort. I promise you he's not neglected

oh boy. Looks like it's starting again in this thread! I agree with upindust... No one should tell her not to have kids just b/c she is frustrated with her dog. What is happening with this forum? We should only offer her encouragement, suggestions and support. Isn't that what this forum is for??

thank you for your nice post.
I call it crown molding.. it's the molding along the bottom and in our kitchen there's only one real spot for him to chew on(a corner) and so I sprayed the apple bitter spray on it and he hasn't chew on it since plus i told him no and put him in his time out spot, which he didn't like.

With the vinegar after it dries you use baking soda to get rid of the smell. plus I used this oxi stuff to help and frabreeze.. there's no vinegar smell at all now. I've been sniffing the mattresses to make sure they don't smell of dog urine.

I may not be using a cleaner strong enough to rid him of the "it's ok to potty in here smell" I'm beginning to think I should dilute some of the bleach we have and scrub it clean with it and try it out again,.

thank you and exactly. Before when i would post for help i got help and now I'm starting to get more condesending answers.

also I've been working on becoming the alpha in his life. lol this will soudn crazy but teddy has talked back to me before. I'll tell him no to going outside(he'll want to go outside to greet my neighbors who are bringing in groceries) and he'll start making noises at me. He does it to my husband whenever he would come home from work, as soon as he comes home teddy would run and grab a toy and start talking away begging him to play,

Darralls been gone since sept 4th. I think now teddy is starting to realize what i say goes.. i was the alpha until darrall came back from his detachment and then he took over REALY fast especially the moment teddy tried to lay between us in bed.

yes i started out letting my dog on the furniture.. until the day he accidentally peed on our dry clean only bed sheets.. which is why i now have machine washable bed sheets.. and turns out my comforter did just fine in a regular washing machine(i tested it out)

What to hear something funny, my one little girl seems to like the bitter apple, what a little nut:rolleyes: It is in, an itch relief spray that the vet recommended when she got a spider bite to stop her from nipping at it. Unfortunately she likes it. Good thing it works for you. I didn't know baking soda got rid of a vinegar smell. Good to know.

Glad you cleared up the crown molding thing, I was trying to figure out how he could reach so high.:rolleyes:

Tammy

I wasn't sure if crown molding was just the top and if it is then what do they call the bottom so I just called it crown molding anyway.. well I'll use it on his scratches next time lol. I hate the taste of it it's like stale hairspray everytime I use it it ALWAYS ends up in my mouth too. Ironically enough my inhaler tastes like stale hairspray too only it's not as.. strong of a taste as this stuff.

Well it must work since once i put it on and rubbed it in on the bed the smell started to go away(put it on and rub then leave it and vaccum it) plus I used the frabreeze just in case. I also did the same on a pee spot he did last week in the hallway that stunk it drove me crazy a friend also let me borrow her woolite for pets and offered to let me use her carpet cleaner if it didn't work.

I haven't read all the responses on this thread, it's really long, but I just wanted to say, Lucie has peed on my new mattress god only knows how many times now...We haven't flipped it to its other side because I know she is bound to pee on it again. You can get a plastic cover to put on it though..one pee accident isn't going to be the end of it.
It sounds like maybe you should try getting a trainer to come to your home and help you out.

Maybe he needs more attention when you are home, or more time outside if he has energy that he's not burning off during the day.
I know my two start acting up when I have a busy week where I am not home as much.. I'm sure there are options for you if you really don't want to give him up.

No, it doesn't sound crazy that he talks back, my little ones, love to talk sometimes it is really cute.

Tammy

Try Spot shot for the stain. it works wonders

well there are mattress protectors that are not plastic that soak I was going to buy one from the place I got the mattresses it's 79 dollars and I was going to wait since I thought I would be the only person who ever was on the bed. forgetting my dog can obviously jump like a track star.

my mattress can't be flipped.. it's not flipable i DIDN'T know that until it arrived at my house but it's really really really nice a posturepedic double foamed and even has it on the sides so you don't feel like you're gong to fall off.. it's the nicest thing I've bought in my life and well this past year has been my first real time really on my own away from my parents so having it meant a lot to me and it was the last thing our apartment needed to be considered fully furnished so it's a really big deal to me. and just the idea of me forgetting to close the door or not closing it all the way drives me insane.

I think he needs more outside time.. whenever I would take himout he did well.. he just like to be outside in general. I use to take himover by the leasing office and sit under a tree and play my ds while he laid beside me chewing on a stick and he LOVED IT.

i just hate the cold it messes with my asthma and I'm a very tiny person I get cold so easy. it wouldn't be so bad if darrall was here I'd have him help me walk him and I would just use him as a heater. I'll force myself to walk him in the cold. I need to buy some long johns.

I have read here and there through this thread. I'm sorry your little one is upsetting you. :(

When Maximus was little and he'd get upset with me, he would pee on anything that was mine and one TIME...on my side of the bed. I know how upsetting that can be. I hope things work out. :)

I can certainly understand how the OP feels. She slept on the floor on an air mattress all that time and then save and spend a good bit for a mattress with this economy the way it is. People are losing their jobs left and right and it is a very stressful time. I think when things cool down you may be able to find a better way to deal with this little fellow and I must say you have been getting some very good advise. Good Luck to you all.