Housebreaking a two-year-old dog

[Olive600]

I'll spare you the details, but it turns out Scarlett isn't housebroken. I just spent what seemed like a long long time in the rain saying "do your poopy" in a very encouraging tone. Nothing. Nada. No poopy. But she has no trouble going in the house. Two poops yesterday, and tinkle today on my favorite carpet. Don't have to tell you that all the carpets are coming up. Actually, they're already up. Any advice? I'll be doing research, too. Thanks.

[OregonLuvr]

My only suggestion is she cannot have the run of the house. She needs to be in a confined area. Maybe a crate. Take her out every 2 hours, crate her at night. They almost never potty in their "house". Your house a different story LOL

karen

[BirdbyBird]

They can not be out of the crate unless someone is actively watching.....if you know that you are going to be busy or focused on something else (book/computor/housecleaning ) Scarlett needs to be confined. If not she will just wait and us any area that is near....

If she doesn't go when you have her outside she needs to return to her crate and try her 20-30 minutes later....etc. With freedom comes responsibilities. Does she go when she sees Olivia going outside? They do learn from each other.

Another method to us is to keep her on a short leash tied to your waist unless she is outside or in her crate. Keeping her on the leash increases your chances of noticing a change in her behavior and getting her outside so that you can "catch" her using the appropriate areas.

[monik7]

I don't have a lot of experience with 2-year-olds, but I trained my puppy 2 years ago. It was a long 2 months, but very successful because I was diligent. I think 2 months was quite fast even though it seemed long and I was exhausted in the beginning. I kept her on a leash all the time. I did this after finding she would run into the kitchen in front of the sink and piddle. When she was on the leash she didn't and I watched her all the time and could tell when she was looking for a place to go. I also took her to papers in the garage about every 20 minutes. You might be able to stretch that out with an older dog. Puppies go quite often. I always remembered when she did #1 and #2 so I eventually could pretty much tell when she would need to go again. I always used specific terms for what she had to do or was doing so she would learn what each meant. Also as she was doing her business I would continue to repeat the term referring to it. My daughter had my puppy's half sister at the same time. Mine was 3 weeks younger. Because my daughter was so busy there was no way she could be as diligent. It showed and her puppy wasn't trained for 6-7 months.

I know you and Scarlett can do it! Good Luck.
Sandi

[Bethers]

I had a dog that couldn't be crated. We used a leash also. Pain in the butt at night, cuz that leash was attached to my wrist. If she even moved, I woke up and ran her outside. A crate is much easier! And your diligence is a must.

[cnq50b]

Ditto on the crate idea. Sadie is pretty good - but not perfect. We think she is a little over a year old. I tend to keep her in whatever room I'm in but didn't want to 'traumatize' her with a kennel. Decided to try it one morning & guess what ---- she likes it! When I'm home i make her come with me everywhere - but that's her nature anyway.

She does has a problem understanding that when we go for a walk there is a specific purpose for it. She doesn't 'do' anything until we've been out for 20-30 minutes... Found out in San Diego as soon as she got on the beach, she'd pee, but we don't have a beach here. Am going to start giving her treats afterwards - as I saw Lyn doing with Casey in hopes of rewarding the behavior i want. Having a fenced yard has spoiled me - but on the road, I'd like to improve her understanding of what our walks are for.

Good luck...

[Bethers]

What kind of dog is Sadie? Some breeds are known for walking for quite a while before they normally poop. Peaches is one - as was Moxie. Even with a yard, they needed time to run/walk/exercise first - unless they held it too long. Peaches sometimes doesn't even pee till we're walking for a few blocks - and that's after 12 hours! Crazy girl.

[snowball]

What kind of dog is Sadie? Some breeds are known for walking for quite a while before they normally poop. Peaches is one - as was Moxie. Even with a yard, they needed time to run/walk/exercise first - unless they held it too long. Peaches sometimes doesn't even pee till we're walking for a few blocks - and that's after 12 hours! Crazy girl.

Shadow is the same way and here I am at my daughters and been so busy it's been walk out to the back yard and back in really need a long walk as I'm sure he does!!!
I have a hard time understanding that walking forever before he does is business....here it is dark and I'm not wanting to be outside and he is just walking around sniffing but when I start for the 5th wheel guess he thinks "ooops we are headed home better do what she says"
I really lucked out as he hasn't had any accidents did up chucked once in a couple of spots but that has been the most I've had to clean up other than his fur
sheila

[Olive600]

I'd forgotten that a new dog, whatever age, is a full time job. Scarlett is just two, so in my book still mostly puppy. Add to that the chihuahua temperament and you've got quite the bundle of energy. So, the next few months are all Scarlett all the time. In the house, she'll never be out of my sight. Right now, she's asleep in her bed, so I have some computer time. I can see her if she moves. Both dogs are asleep after 1.5 hours of play in the yard this morning.

She crated last night with only a minute or two of fuss. Feeding and potty times will be the same everyday. Breakfast at 7:00 and dinner at 4:00. Out for an hour after every meal. Out many times during the day. She has separation anxiety, so no crating her and then leaving her alone. Lots of praise and treats for good behavior. Olive needs lots of love, too. She's very confused but being a good sport about it all. All the videos and my dog-loving friends say the same things all of you did: constant attention and consistency, praise and very light criticism, use the same words for her business every time. I need to find rewards that aren't cookies. A friend uses fish flakes and dried peas. Any other suggestions? I'd like to stay away from commercial training treats unless they're healthy with almost no calories.

It seems to be working to have her in her bed downstairs, which is really just one room, I have a tiny house, and her crate upstairs at night. She can see me in bed from where she is. I can't buy another crate right now and I'm not going to haul it up and down stairs every day. At least not until I know there's no other way. Luckily she's tiny and can be carried just about everywhere. Like I said, all Scarlett, all the time. Fixing up Betsy, the RV, is on the back burner which is fine because gas is too expensive to go far and it's too hot to camp in South Texas. Good timing all around.

Thanks for everyone's help. I'll keep you posted. Don't worry, Scarlett and Olive have a forever home. No matter how this works out, they're both mine for as long as I'm able.

Nikki

[retiredhappy]

One question: Do you walk Olive and Scarlett together? My Baxter figured it out pretty quick watching Sophie.

[Olive600]

Olive is used to doing her business in the backyard. Remember how long it took for her to do her business when we walked the dogs at Black Rock? Also, Scarlett doesn't really do leash yet. She's scared of it and digs in her heels. Olive did too when I first got her. One day at a time and one thing at a time, I'm exhausted just thinking about this. Plus, I don't sleep well because I'm listening for Scarlett. I have new mom syndrome.

[Redetotry]

I try to remember to not take them back inside as soon as they do their business especially when training. If they learn that as soon as they go potti, the outside adventure is over, they will hold it as long as possible and on a dark and rainy night that seems like forever!! I use cereal shaped like Cheerios but it has only 4 grams of sugar for treats. Also for really special, there is a treat called Full Moon all my dogs love, it is made in the US and ingredients are claimed to be human grade. Different varieties but mine like the turkey sausage. I only give them a tiny bite, like the size of a little fingernail. If you are also using papers take a piece of the soiled paper and put it outside where you want her to go.
For her leash, have you tried putting it on and letting her drag it around for a few moments without you touching ? And are you using a harness or collar, it was suggested in the obedience class I went to this time to train the little dogs using a harness as they can injure their throats by pulling on a collar.
Good luck to all

[WickedLady]

My dogs love carrots as treats.

[Olive600]

Shhhh....they're both asleep. Thanks for all the suggestions for treats. This has been a very very long day, but no accidents in the house. At least none that I've seen and I've watched her like a hawk. She's a good girl, just confused and very clingy. That does make it easier to watch her. She just woke up. She sleeps curled in a ball the way puppies do. Her head pops up, she lifts those huge ears, looks around. and then goes back to sleep. I guess the coast is clear. There's nothing like falling in love with a puppy.

[cnq50b]

Aw... We'll be quiet.
Sadie is a Belgian Malinois mix. Guess that walking for a while is not so uncommon then. She sounds like Peaches - even if it has been a really long time, she needs to walk quite a ways before she goes. It's almost like she doesn't know how to start it on her own - that her body just has to 'do it' when it's good & ready. Wouldn't trade her for the world though - she's definitely a keeper - slow pee/poop & all.