Carpets... Help

[deonk1]

Well Harley and I are getting settled into our new place very well; however, I'm noticing he's getting worse and worse at hitting his tray (he's grid trained).

I'm getting frustrated cause I bought a carpet cleaner, and I'm using it WAY too much IMO.

At first he was just pooing off the tray, which I was letting slide a little cause he'd start to poo on the tray and then walk off. Now he's peeing on my carpet too.

He's 3, so I'm really not used to supervising him anymore, so any advice for the quickest possible way to fix this would be greatly appreciated. I'm in law school so time is at a premium. I know I need to find a way to confine him more, so what is a reasonable schedule for confining vs freedom. He really doesn't go outside for the bathroom often, when we go for walks he usually holds it until we get in to the tray. So taking him out to potty isn't an option.

I also have a tiny apartment, so I'm not sure how I'm going to confine him, but I'll figure it out. I have a small pop-up x-pen, so I'm thinking of using that, and putting his tray in there and a blanket.

Thoughts?

[gracielove]

How big is he? If he is tiny a small X pen might work but he may be able to climb out at age 3. They do sell metal X pens that are taller and larger. You would need a floor that is not carpeted for underneath unless you actually buy him a cage. Do you have an uncarpeted room like a bathroom or kitchen you can gate him in?
The other thing is you need to have him where you are going to keep his potty. Moving the potty around can only cause confusion.
It is possible that the person who occupied your apartment before you had a dog that went on the carpet and that is why your dog is doing it now. Even a steam cleaned carpet can still retain odors that a dog can smell.

[deonk1]

Originally Posted by gracielove

How big is he? If he is tiny a small X pen might work but he may be able to climb out at age 3. They do sell metal X pens that are taller and larger. You would need a floor that is not carpeted for underneath unless you actually buy him a cage. Do you have an uncarpeted room like a bathroom or kitchen you can gate him in?
The other thing is you need to have him where you are going to keep his potty. Moving the potty around can only cause confusion.
It is possible that the person who occupied your apartment before you had a dog that went on the carpet and that is why your dog is doing it now. Even a steam cleaned carpet can still retain odors that a dog can smell.

The xpen is one of the fabric ones, it pops up and has a floor and ceiling; however, I wouldn't be able to put the potty where it is going with that system, because the potty is under a coffee table (space in this res apartment is at a premium). The carpets are only a year old, and from what I've heard, there wasn't a dog here, so I think he's just missing the mark, not marking on top of something else.

I was wondering if maybe his potty is too small. I bought two potty patch trays and converted them, and put one in the bedroom and one in the living room. But I'd have to go buy the stuff to make another tray in order to test that theory. Unfortunately, my bathroom is just too small there is no space for a potty in there, and he's currently not allowed in the kitchen, because the only gate I have doesn't fit where it would need to go (to block the main door, which is often open). Plus my kitchen barely has room for a garbage can, let alone a dog toilet.

This down-sizing sucks. Also, what do I do at night? He sleeps with me now. I'm going to work on strategizing a confinement set up, but I still don't know how to schedule this. I know it's going to be a rough week or two cause this is the start of my first year in law school. So unfortunately until I get a routine my schedule is all out of wack. I'd hate to confine him and then have a day where I just can't get him outside to play. I've been doing good so far, and I think a few friends want to take him for walks, so that'll help. I think he's having a hard time with all the changes that happened. The past 3 weeks have been crazy.

[BLowry]

I have 3...2 of them are poop walkers! they do go to the pad and some of the time they get it on it but then there are other times they walk off while pooping/peeing and get it on the floor...I HAD carpets!! once I got the pups I had to get rid of the carpets...I think they thought they were pretty pee pads!

[CouversMom]

I would confine him in the kitchen or bathroom where there isn't carpet. Then if he misses the tray, it's not a pain to clean up.

[Ladym]

I have the same problem with my 7 year old. Nothing has changed but there are times when he just misses the pee pad. My solution... dollar store shower curtain liners. I cut them in half and then fold the half in half. Put the pad in the center and when he misses, it's on the plastic and I put newspaper on it to wick it up and the clean it with a cleaning solution. I have carpets and use my machine once a week just to be sure the area is clean.

[Teresa Ford]

Originally Posted by Ladym

Nothing has changed but there are times when he just misses the pee pad. My solution... dollar store shower curtain liners

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by deonk1

The xpen is one of the fabric ones, it pops up and has a floor and ceiling; however, I wouldn't be able to put the potty where it is going with that system, because the potty is under a coffee table (space in this res apartment is at a premium). The carpets are only a year old, and from what I've heard, there wasn't a dog here, so I think he's just missing the mark, not marking on top of something else.

I was wondering if maybe his potty is too small. I bought two potty patch trays and converted them, and put one in the bedroom and one in the living room. But I'd have to go buy the stuff to make another tray in order to test that theory. Unfortunately, my bathroom is just too small there is no space for a potty in there, and he's currently not allowed in the kitchen, because the only gate I have doesn't fit where it would need to go (to block the main door, which is often open). Plus my kitchen barely has room for a garbage can, let alone a dog toilet.

This down-sizing sucks. Also, what do I do at night? He sleeps with me now. I'm going to work on strategizing a confinement set up, but I still don't know how to schedule this. I know it's going to be a rough week or two cause this is the start of my first year in law school. So unfortunately until I get a routine my schedule is all out of wack. I'd hate to confine him and then have a day where I just can't get him outside to play. I've been doing good so far, and I think a few friends want to take him for walks, so that'll help. I think he's having a hard time with all the changes that happened. The past 3 weeks have been crazy.

These little animals are creatures of habit. I had problems just taking away one pee pad that I had kept in the bedroom. When I moved it she went pee where it used to be even though there was one in another room. I had t slowly move it a couple of inches at a time over a couple of weeks just to get it over to where the other pad and frame was.

Moving to a whole new home has got to be confusing for him. If you can take him for walks in the morning, afternoon, and night it may help the situation. Many dogs get the scent when they are outside and the movement makes the bladder and bowels move. If you can keep him pretty well emptied out he may have less accidents inside.

Since confining him is going to be difficult you could try tethering him to you when you are home so he is with you all the time for a while. You should see when he has to go and make sure he does it in the right place

[deonk1]

Thanks everyone, I need to try and get to the dollar store and get a shower curtain (don't have a car). I feel bad for the poor guy, cause he's had so much going on, but I'm starting to lose my patience with him. I brought up the xpen, as I'm also trying to counter the barking issue that's arose, I'm hoping that I can fix one issue, then the other. I just can't deal with both problems at once.

I've discovered today I'm not alone though, it seems like everyone is so overwhelmed from school they just don't want to do trivial little things, like cook dinner or deal with broken things that need to be returned, etc. So I guess everyone is going through a mind-numbing phase.

I've also started watching closely for when he does go potty, I've planted treats near his two potties, so that if he goes I can praise him immediately. I'm going to talk to the few friends who wanna walk him, and see if we can hammer out a walking schedule for him so I know when others wanna play with him. luckily when my best friend here comes over she plays soccer with him, which helps reduce his energy level, and the new guy I'm dating loves him, so he plays tug too with him. I feel bad pawning off my dog on others, lol. But at least there are people who find it relaxing to walk him, when I'm exhausted and find it a chore. I did however just enjoy the hour I spent outside with him, so it will all eventually settle down.

Oh my, that was giant mind-dump. I need a nap, lol.

[KazzyK810]

I bought extra-large rubber-back washable pads and put them under where I put the disposable pads. They are plenty big enough that if she accidently goes too near the edge they catch it. I don't have carpet, but I have newly finished hardwood floors that I'm trying to protect.

[Schooby]

I have the boys' pens set up in our bedroom with their puppy pads in them. They do miss sometimes, front feet on, back feet off. At first we had a big piece of carpet (from Home Depot) under where Chase's pen goes. There was alot of scrubbing at first lol. Then we got a piece of plywood, and put some vinal flooring on it, and it has worked great! The boys each have one, and we just have their pens shaped to fit the plywood. It has SAVED the carpet

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by deonk1

Thanks everyone, I need to try and get to the dollar store and get a shower curtain (don't have a car). I feel bad for the poor guy, cause he's had so much going on, but I'm starting to lose my patience with him. I brought up the xpen, as I'm also trying to counter the barking issue that's arose, I'm hoping that I can fix one issue, then the other. I just can't deal with both problems at once.

I've discovered today I'm not alone though, it seems like everyone is so overwhelmed from school they just don't want to do trivial little things, like cook dinner or deal with broken things that need to be returned, etc. So I guess everyone is going through a mind-numbing phase.

I've also started watching closely for when he does go potty, I've planted treats near his two potties, so that if he goes I can praise him immediately. I'm going to talk to the few friends who wanna walk him, and see if we can hammer out a walking schedule for him so I know when others wanna play with him. luckily when my best friend here comes over she plays soccer with him, which helps reduce his energy level, and the new guy I'm dating loves him, so he plays tug too with him. I feel bad pawning off my dog on others, lol. But at least there are people who find it relaxing to walk him, when I'm exhausted and find it a chore. I did however just enjoy the hour I spent outside with him, so it will all eventually settle down.

Oh my, that was giant mind-dump. I need a nap, lol.

When my kids were in grade school I went through a divorce and went back to college. That was challenging enough. Dealing with kids and their homework and trying to do mine as well was well beyond my limit but it had to be done. During my last semester the kids found someone with a littler of Shih Tzu puppies. Of course they wanted one. Divorced mom's like me seem to live with guilt so I got them a puppy. Like I didn't have enough to deal with! It was difficult and of course the kids forgot their promises to take care of him within a week or two. I almost decided to re home him when he was about 9 months old. I was frustrated that the kids were not helping and the puppy was not getting trained as he should. I finally decided that it would be irresponsible to get rid of him and made him my dog in my own mind. It took a few more months to get him trained but once we settled in a new home and regular work schedule he turned out to be a great pet. It is madness to try to take on too many tasks while going to school. I imagine law school is going to be even more stressful. I hope you can get your little guy adjusted to the new home. Besides the new area he is going to be spending a lot of hours alone. That is very difficult for an active healthy dog.

[Schooby]

Originally Posted by Schooby

I have the boys' pens set up in our bedroom with their puppy pads in them. They do miss sometimes, front feet on, back feet off. At first we had a big piece of carpet (from Home Depot) under where Chase's pen goes. There was alot of scrubbing at first lol. Then we got a piece of plywood, and put some vinal flooring on it, and it has worked great! The boys each have one, and we just have their pens shaped to fit the plywood. It has SAVED the carpet

Here is a pic