Hi there,
I have a 13 week old Boxer bitch. She is doing great and really quick to learn. BUT, she still pees in my house at least once day, yesterday it was 5 times! UGGGH! What am I doing wrong?
She has access to the garden at all times when we are home. My husband works from home and I am a very lucky, at home Momma, so Daisy Jones has got lots of attention and love at her disposal...
Yet she still toilets in the house. If we go out, she is left on her own and usually not able to go out, that's fine, I understand she may not be able to hold it, etc. I put the newspaper away a month ago, to let her know it's not alright to pee in the house. If we catch her, we scold, tap, and put her out of doors. If we don't we just clean it up, detox, then fabreeze the spot. So what next?
I read in the this forum a while back about 'anger toileting', and that it wasn't in a dogs nature to do so, but my girl does it if you go upstairs, shut a door, etc.
She seems...[Expletive Removed]...and I cannot stand it. An accident is one thing, but she is doing this for a reason. How can I help her?
Many thanks,
Megbel
*please do not tell me to crate, my husband will not have it!

Please watch your language. Children read this board

Positive reinforcement rather than negative I would think might help ..ie praising her when she does it outside rather than scolding her when she does it inside.

Also ..use biological soap powder to wash the area rather than anything else ..as I understand it a lot of deoderisers contain the same enzymes that pee does and will encourage her to go there again.

Access to the garden maybe isn't enough ...start taking her out and telling her to *go pee* or whatever ..then praise her when she does it.

Melody

Thanks Melodysk,

Yes, I take her out all the time, after feeds, sleep, play etc.
I'll try the soap powder next time. I was just wondering if anyone has an opinion re: anger, upset puppies and toileting...

Hi Megbel

You've had a bit of a setback with your toilet training. What you are in danger of doing now is making your pup afraid of you because you scold, tap her and put her outdoors when you catch her in the act. So she will be quick to do it behind your back to avoid confrontation. She won't understand that she is not allowed to pee indoors.
You can change this by going back to square one and starting again.
You are there all day which is great as you will be able to keep an eye on her and train her to go where you want her to.
Start by putting her outside and staying with her after she has had her meals. She should be on at least 3 per day. When she goes to the toilet then give her bags of praise and petting. As she is going you could give her a word like 'Go Potty' or 'Busy' or anything you choose so she associates the word with the act of toileting.
If you don't want her to potty in the house then I don't recommend you reintroduce the newspaper.
You could put her in a crate at night or when you have to go out as she will be less inclined to mess in her own space.
Baby gates or dog gates are ideal for restricting her access around the house so you can keep her with you and watch her behaviour. When you see the tell tale signs of her needing to go like sniffing around the ground or circling then give her a sharp 'AAAh' or 'No' and take her gently outside straight away and give her the word you chose with lots of praise when she gets it right. If you don't notice these signs then take her out every now and again anyway and stay with her - don't just bung her outside as she won't make the association and will just think you don't want to be with her. You need to praise her when she goes.
You are right not to correct her after the deed has been done. It's too late.
Hopefully, it won't take long to put right.

Hi there,

She is just a baby still..

Keep taking her to the same spot...and make sure you make a bit fuss..

She may be a bit confused still as if you used the paper in the first place she did it in the house..

I know it is hard but she will come..boxers are not dogs that play tricks I think. The are intelligent..

Don't lose heart and don't give her a wronw too much she is a baby..

My wee westie still very very occasionally forgets and he is 20 weeks...

I amy be wrong but I think wee expect more from bigger dogs as they seem older but she is a baby...

Best of luck..

I love boxers

Pam

Hi whilst on this topic has anyone got any ideas that i can use to make my ESS bark when he wants out? if the door is left open he will go into the garden but if the door is closed (and as we live in the Lake District it is often pouring down) he will stand at the door but if you are not in the same room to see him standing there he will wee - help!

Jackie

Jackie.

I would love to know how to do this also..Mu 2 just wait until they are outside to start barking.

Pam

Well I can only tell you what I did with Hudson , not whether or not it will work for anyone else.....

Hudson would wander down to the patio doors and stand there ..then walk back and *look* at us ....then go back...I wanted him to scratch so that I *knew* what he wanted so I would walk down to the door with him and stand there...he would look at me and , eventually he would scratch at the door. Then followed heaps of praise and the door opening for him. Took him about 6 goes before he twigged

Melody

Try hanging a bell by the door and teaching them to "scratch" that rather than risk damaging the furnishings. Most of mine also stand and look at me - or stand right in front of the TV in the evening if I happen to ignore them

Christine

May have to try that when old Piranha goes. At present she takes charge of puppy house training by giving one of her 'voiceless barks' when pup needs out and then going with the pup and 'reminding' it what to do by performing her own business. Of course she gets something out of it herself. The nosy old bag likes visiting Ian's precious front garden where small pups go, but adults are not usually allowed. Still, it works like a dream .

Hi JK

First you need to teach your dog to speak on command. When he barks encourage him and give him the command 'speak'. Then reward him. You could frustrate him with a toy, keeping it just out of reach or hiding it in your hands out of reach until he barks - the tell him 'speak' and give him loads of praise and the toy (or a treat - whatever works!). I always use a toy. Start by rewarding him as soon as he barks and gradually make him bark a little longer before he gets his reward. When he's got the hang of the word 'speak' and will bark readily for reward you can move on.
Stick his toy or a treat just outside the door. Then go and fetch him. Stand him next to the closed door and tell him to 'speak'. When he begins barking open the door with loads of praise and he immediately gets his reward outside. Do this and the penny should drop that when he barks at the door then you will open it.
I also teach the word 'quiet'.
When he is barking readily at your command speak (in the sit in front of you). Put your hand up in front of his face and give him the word 'quiet'. You may have to close his mouth the first few times but make it fun and reward him straight away. You may be able to use a sharp 'Aaah' to stop him barking. When he understands that after you ask him to speak and then you say 'quiet' then he will stop barking for his reward. Alternate! Sometimes give him the reward for 'speak' and sometimes for 'quiet'. Make him 'speak' and 'quiet' and 'speak' and 'quiet' so you can 'turn him on and off' and he gets a random reward.
Keep praising him though. If you want to reward for the word 'quiet' - still remember to praise verbally for the command 'speak' at first although he will only be given his toy or a treat for the 'quiet'. This will keep him knowing that he is doing what you want.
It is a very rewarding exercise and has many uses... if you see someone dodgy walking towards you and say speak - they won't know that your dog is only barking for a reward. And if your dogs are barking unneccessarily in the garden etc... then you can shout 'quiet' and they will know EXACTLY what you mean.

Be careful what you wish for re training a dog to 'ask' to go out - I trained my ESS x BC to bark - and now whenever she wants something (to go out, to come in, supper etc.) she barks, and won't stop 'till she gets it

Thanks Lara and Pamela,

Yes, I agree and am doing all those things, my problem is when we close a stair gate, shut a door, etc. She will bark and then urinate, sometimes next to the open door. What's that about? Seperation anxiety? I understand that she may have accidents and if we leave her in the house with the garden door shut, that's what we expect. But what are we doing wrong when we are here? Is she spoiled? (I think I know that answer...)
She is a a baby, a real young one. She does well at her obdience/social class. I just can't suss that angry house urinating thingy.
Any ideas?
Megbel

Megbel ,

I was going to suggest what you have just said, that as she seems to do it when seperated from you in the house, that it may be seperation anxiety or fear that you are not close to her

Theresa

Hi Megbel

Yes, I think you are right that she will urinate sometimes out of anxiety. When you say the 'open door' I assume you mean the back door? It may be a little bit of both!
I think that she may have formed a strong bond with you if you are spoiling her and are with her all the time and doesn't know how to cope on her own when you leave her. When she barks and urinates next to the back door which is open then she may also be a little frustrated and not completely sure what's right to do. IMO.
I still think that cage training may be the way forward, so that you can safely train her to be used to being away from you for any period of time without her weeing all over the house. If you provide lots of interesting toys (stuffed with treats etc...) in there so she is not bored. Gradually increase the times you leave her - and spend some time ignoring her when she is around you so she gets used to not always calling the shots and being too demanding.
When you return to her don't rush in and make a fuss. If you put her in the kitchen for example then walk in calmly and put the kettle on etc... first and ignore her (no matter what noises she may be making) - and then let her out and see her calmly.
What you need to be aware of is this behaviour (separation anxiety) manifesting itself in other ways like excessive barking or destructiveness later on so you need to sort her out now.
Again - no scolding when she gets it wrong as this can just make the anxious dog worse and the behaviour won't improve.
If she is trying to go to one particular person in the family all the time then try to break this bond by getting someone else in the family to feed her, play with her etc.... so she loses this dependence. Favourite person spends more time ignoring her for a while. It may be hard but remember it's only temporary until the behaviour improves.
Good luck with her - I'm sure it'll be OK in the end.

Hi Megbel
I am really lucky with Ruby. The last day or so she has wet on the carpet in the kitchen when I went out but I think its more to do with the fact that she was desperate than seperation anxiety. I was slightly worried about that when we got her as Boxers can be terribly destructive when left,
but I made a point of leaving her from the day she came even if it was only 10 minutes or so 4 or 5 times a day. Now she is completely blase about me coming and coming (shes even left for 4 hours on a weds morning when I work) so much so that when I come home she can't even be bothered to get out of bed. (bit offended by that :p ) I also didnt make a fuss of her when i either went out or came home (maybe thats why she ignores me when i get in :D ). So far I have had no probs but then again she is only 14 weeks old :D
Ali

Guess what? a dry night - no wees or poos the first time in his 5 months Yahooooo! though i'm still freezing cold during the day with the door open. I guess I will just have to start barking myself every time I walk through the door! (my husband says i'm already barking though I refute that of course!)

Jackie

LOL @Jackie
Youcould teach her how to bark etc
I would pay good money to see you scratching at the door, barking and pointing at you bottom :D
Maybe get hubby to camcorder it, I am sure Lisa R would love to see it :D

It would not make pretty viewing I can tell you! (my sons would also disown me - again!):D

Jackie

Hi Lara,
Thanks for your advice. After a lot of soul searching and discussing with my Husband (who was TOTALLY against this!) we are thinking of crating the puppy...
She's 14 weeks and I wonder how she'll take to it. I don't want to get this wrong if we do it.
She's really very good and happy and I want to make sure it is not traumatic, etc
How long does one crate for? Years? Forever?
Well, I think it's a tough one, I've never done it ever.
(I'd love to crate my 3 yr. old daughter!)
Best,
Megbel

Hi Megbel

How long you need to use a crate for depends on the individual dog. It's not an easy question to answer. Personally, I have a large one and find it a godsend. I wouldn't be without one! My dogs use it for a bed and whichever retires first always bags it!! I leave the door open as my dogs don't need to be confined in it - but it's useful to use as my older GSD can be quite aggressive so I pop him in the cage out of the way if someone he doesn't know comes in. It's usually got somebody sleeping in it!!

OK. Get one large enough for an adult boxer to fit in comfortably! She should be able to turn round and lie down with enough room. This may seem a little large for a puppy but you could always partition a bit off if you wanted to. This will save you having to get different ones as she outgrows them.
Don't stick it out of the way. Put is somewhere where you spend a bit of time. Mine is in the kitchen, but some people put them in their lounge. She'll probably hate it at first because she's not used to it so expect a few tantrums and some noise .
You could start her off getting used to it by feeding her inside it or throwing little treats in so she can run in and eat them. Give her loads of encouragement and praise for being a good girl.
Put in a favourite or interesting toy and leave her shut in there for a few minutes. Don't give in and let her out if she starts howling. Maybe allot yourself a time like five or ten minutes and stick to it. She should get used to it. Remember to make it fun going in.
Once you've sat with her a few times with the door closed then get used to leaving the room for short periods, but leave a toy with her. Keep changing them to keep her interested.
I have vet bed in my crate which I would recommend because it's tough and so easy to wash and dry. Leave her some water in there as well. You can get little bowls with hook things that can attach to the crate so she won't be prone to tipping it up.
Most dogs don't like soiling thier own place but you can probably expect some accidents. It's not on the carpets! Take her out as normal as you have been doing but if she doesn't go then pop her in the crate for a while and try later.
It's important that she feels (eventually) comfortable and safe in her crate so don't let anyone tease her while she is in there.
Some dogs can never be trusted alone with the run of the house and some can - so it just depends on your dog and whether you can trust her later on whether you stop crating her.
Good Luck

Hello Lara,

Many thanks for all your advice and suggestions. Daisy's create is due to arrive today.
I'll keep you updated!
Megbelxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<< Daisy's create is due to arrive today.>>

Not half :D :D