Torn Up About Possible Rehoming Need Advise Please
 

I haven't posted in a long time but really need some help here please! I have two yorkie girls, Abbie and Lucy. Lucy isn't an issue. It's Abbie. Abbie is 5 1/2 years old and the sweetest little girl but her lack of potty training has become such an issue that I'm beginning to consider rehoming her. I got her when she was 5 months old and she had been kept in a utility room, supposedly because she wasn't housebroken. I knew she was too young to consider that a permanent situation and devoted so much time to training her. It just never worked. I replaced the carpets because the couple that lived here before us had two dogs and I thought maybe she was smelling remnents of them but now, with new carpeting and padding she continues to go in the house. My husband is just about to go ballistic and frankly, so am I. We love her so much but now I babysit for my two grandchildren, 3 years and 7 months and I just don't have the time or energy to clean up after her all the time. And the smell near where she pees is awful!!! I've tried everything to get it out but no help. I don't want the baby to crawl anywhere near where she goes so that's even added to my stress.
Of course I could keep her gated and that's where she is right now but I have to keep Lucy in the gate too because if not, Abbie barks constantly and that's not really fair to Lucy. She's housebroken! And I hate for her to have to be isolated like this. On the other hand, even if I decided to rehome her, who would take and love an unpotty trained 5 1/2 year old?!?!? I would be so worried that they would give her away or worse, put her down and I just can't stand the idea of that. And how would she do after so much time with us just going to live with someone new? She's a very playful, sensitive girl, she's even a certified therapy dog so her needs are very important to me. I feel like she's my responsiblility and I committed to giving her a good home and loving her forever but I'm just at my wits end. I guess I'm looking for advice. I'm feeling overwhelmed by this and need some help. Thanks for listening. I know it was long.

I can understand your concern. I had a dog once that caused so much stress in the household. I'm sure you've tried everything. Have you considered a behaviorist or seeing if there is a health issue that hasn't been addressed yet?

There are lots of methods to potty training. Does Lucy go outdoors or on potty pads? Have you tried litter box training Abbie to see if that will eliminate at least some of your concern? Because we don't want her going on the carpet?

I've talked to the vet and she doesn't find any physical causes for the potty problem. Lucy goes outside to go potty and so does Abbie! It's just that Lucy will wait to go and Abbie just goes whenever she feels like it. I take them out at least every couple of hours, sometimes more often and they both always go outside. It's just that Abbie will go inside too. I thought maybe she just had a tiny bladder and for a week took her out every half hour and she would just lay down...obviously didn't have to go. When I have to leave them for any length of time (6-8 hours) , I leave a potty pad down and Lucy will use it if necessary but Abbie holds it and won't use the pad. Go figure! So it's not that she CAN'T hold it. BTW...I can tell the difference in their potty because Lucy squats and goes in one spot and Abbie kinda walks a bit and hers is always a squiggley line. Makes it easier to determine who's doing what.

First of all, if her urine smells, she may have a urinary tract infection. I would suggest having her checked out.

Give this site a look over..maybe it will have some suggestions that may help:

Free House Training for Puppies and Adult Dogs - No More Accidents Starting Today!

In the meantime, buy her some pretty panties! That way your carpet is protected! :)

A lot of people would take an unpotty trained adult. Wouldn't worry about that aspect of things.

Why not pull up the carpet and put a floor down that won't get damaged if she does have accidents? She can also wear diapers. My 10-yr-old can't be trusted. She does what she wants. So she wears diapers when I can't watch her. There are generally ways around a pee-filled carpet.

I would have to "third" the suggestion of diapers. It took a while potty train my Cricket. When I would go to visit my parents and take her, I would put her in diapers bc my parents were not uncomfortable w an unreliable pottier in their home.

Thank you for this website, it looks great!
New puppy in the house:) and I need to work out the rules again!

Thanks for your suggestions. I'll read the article you suggested but I have to say, I've read so many and they all say pretty much the same things and I've really, really tried them all except keeping her crated. I use a baby fence in the kitchen and that keeps her from going (as I said, she won't use the potty pad). I take her out right when I let her out of the fence but if she's given any free time whatsoever, I'll find a spot. And then there's the issue of having to keep Lucy in the fence too or I have to deal with the barking. If you know of any brand of panties that will stay on, I'll give that another try. I sew and I've made some myself after trying a couple of brands that kept sliding off her tiny little butt but mine slid off too. I know I must sound so negative. But I really have tried everything I can think of.

They have washable denim ones that have velcro straps to it. I used those on my 20yr old poodle for years. The velcro is adjustable and you can always secure it a bit tighter with a safety pin or tacking one side of it. They sell em at petsmart and petco.

Send a PM to 107Barney. She may be able to help you. She makes items to fit...if you follow her directions about measurements I am quite sure you will be happy! :)

I pulled out a pair that I had while I wait to hear from 107Barney and am trying again. Sure hope this works. I guess, based on what I'm hearing here, this can be a longterm solution so I'm going to give it all I've got. Thanks to everyone.

Good luck! If you ever decide you cannot keep her, feel free to send me a PM and I will do my best to help.

If you tried everything else with no success, why don't you try crate training? I'm not a fan of crates either, but in a situation such as yours, I would try it before giving up completely. I also have to ask, what do you do when you take her out? Do you both just stand there? Do you walk with her outside? (even if it's your backyard) Do you give her free roam, even though she is not trustworthy?

I have a fenced in back yard but I always stay with them outside. They're so little, 5 pounds each and I worry about hawks or owls getting to them. They can run, play, whatever but usually just lay down in the sun after going potty. Sometimes, 2-3 times a day, I bring out the ball to play with them. There's nothing Abbie would rather do than chase a ball! The fence I use takes the place of the crate. As I said, Abbie won't potty in there, won't use the potty pad. I don't see how that's any different from the crate except bigger with room for both of them and their food and water and a potty pad. I used to use a crate at night for sleeping...now they usually sleep with us and she stays on the bed...doesn't get down and pee during the night. This is a daytime and evening problem. Hope this gives you a little more information. I do really appreciate everyone's suggestions.

Idk how many times diapers have been suggested, but diapers for sure!! How big is she? I find that size 0 diapers fits pretty good and you just have to cut a hole for her tail. OR you can buy cloth/reusable pet diapers and just stick a pad in it :D Seriously it will help so much and you will be able to keep her! She is 5.5 and a little older to start understanding pottying outside, so diapers would be great.
You could try pee pads since they stay inside.

I understand. Like I said, I'm not a fan of the crate AT ALL. But, if everything else hasn't given you results, why not give crate training a try? What harm will it do to try something else, even if it's only slightly different? This is just an idea, and how I would do it. No piddle pads in the house at all, crate train Abbie as if she was a puppy. Leash her when you take her out, which might be different and will start to show her you're not out in the yard for play, or sunbathing. Walk her the perimeter of your yard and tell her, "Abbie, go pee pee." If she sniffs, tell her, "good girl Abbie, go pee pee." When she does eliminate, PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE! It might take a while at first since it might be new and foreign to her, but yorkies are smart and she will get it.

You can do diapers, but I find that to be more of a band aid than an actual solution. Is she incontinent? If Abbie is, then no amount of training will help, and diapers are an awesome solution.

I guess I should have been clearer in the beginning. Abbie isn't incontinent, no medical issues and will go potty on command each time she'd brought outside. She knows why she's out there and pottys each time. The problem is, she will also go in the house whenever she feels like it and won't give me any indication she has to go. I started actually using a timer this morning so I wouldn't go longer than 1 1/2 hours between times she goes out AND the fence AND a diaper and so far so good. I'll keep this up for a week or so or as long as I can and see if it works. I don't have my grandchildren today but get them back tomorrow so hopefully I can manage it all. Wish me luck!

We have used babies "Onesies" with a little hole cut for the tail over diapers for girls in season so they would work for pee problems. :rolleyes: Of course a short haircut will be manditory I think. Good luck!!

I have an 11 year old Longcoat Chihuahua that gives me a similar problem. We have 7 dogs and all of them will use a puppy pad but her. She was the first dog we had and we didn't start her on potty pads in the beginning and when we started getting more we introduced the pads. She will NOT use a potty pad. That seems odd to me since you would think she would WANT to pee where the others do, right? She is a marking queen outside but refuses to go on the pad to mark in the house. She also refuses to use the doggy door. She is timid about many things and even though we have a perfectly good doggy door where she could go out....SHE WON'T.
I really don't think she is the sharpest tool in the shed.;)
She only wants to use the bathroom outside or hidden down our hall. We realize that most of the problem is us because she does try to tell us but in her own quiet way. If we are sidetracked or she doesn't get our attention when it's time she just sneaks into the hall and piddles. We finally removed the carpeting and replaced that area with linoleum but it still irritates me! I have tried most things with her but to be truthful since we have such a housefull I tend to run out of steam and before I know it I am not so vigilant.
If nothing else....I feel your pain.:)

Thank you! I just smiled for the first time today!

Thank you! She's been confined today but so far has kept her diaper on. If she starts losing it once (if ever) allowed to roam again, this would be a great idea!

I agree with the cute panties for her! There are some really really cute ones too! :) I would do whatever it takes to keep my baby with me. I hope you are able to work it out. And if something does happen that you must rehome, take Ladyjane up on her offer. She will help you if she can!

I was wondering if she is spayed?

Your story makes me miss my hardwood floors SO BAD.

A little accident? Wipe it up - so easy. Put some cheapo throw rugs down and throw them away every few months.

Sigh. Now I have cream colored carpet, a Westie who digs and gets dirt EVERYWHERE; and little Miss Potty - Lucy.

She is exactly like your dog - will go on command outside - but if you turn your back or if it's raining - she will pee on the rug. I think that I could probably re-train her (as if she were a puppy) and she would be more successful. ESPECIALLY bringing treats back into the picture always helps.

Truth is - I just don't know if I have the time with the new job; not home as much; teen-age son and activities and 90 y/o father. It's just one of those little problems I try not to think about!

But I do think the diapers are a good idea as well as starting from square 1 - with crate training.

Best of Luck.

Yes, she is spayed.

Thank you! Good luck to you too. It's tough when so many other things require your attention. When we got the girls I had time to really enjoy them. I would dress them up, take them to visit patients in nursing homes, all kinds of things. Now I can hardly find time to keep them combed out!!!

An update on my potty problem.
Both of my girls have runny poop right now so I don't feel terribly guilty about keeping them confined. As usual, Abbie holds her urine until I take her out, she has been using the potty pad for pooing but not to pee. The real test will come when they are over this and she's runny free again. I'm using the panty in the evening when we let them out to sit with us but I'm VERY aware of taking her out every 90 minutes. So far so good. Thanks to everyone who suggested the panty. That might be the answer.

Glad the routine and use of the panties is working for you! :)

Yay! :)