Dogs

» badmolly - Difficult potty training.

I have a 6 month old Toy Poodle who continues to pee in the house. She was crate trained, staying in her crate at night, and while I am at work. Now, I let her out at night, as I feel that she is in the crate too much. She is let out about 4 times a day. Once when I wake up, again before I leave for work, while I am at work (roommate walks her), and when I get home from work. She was doing very well for about a month, but recently has started going whenever, and wherever. On my bed, in the closet, and even in the shower. She is still walked at the same schedule every day, but does not always go when walked. She also does not let anyone know when she needs to go outside to potty. She doesn't go to the door, whine, scratch the door, or even come to stare at me as if she wants something. I have had dogs in the past, and they usually are house broken by 6 months, or working close towards it. Molly has back tracked completely. Please help me. I am now pregnant, and can't handle cleaning up the poo anymore.

-- posted by badmolly

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» aspenbloom - Difficult potty training.

In response to Difficult potty training. posted by badmolly:
Hi, I'm not sure I'd say Molly is bad at all... in fact I never believe it is the dog or in most cases not. I'm not saying it's you but how you're interacting more likely. I get the impression she's trying to tell you that she does not want to stay in that crate all day and I'm inclined to agree with her. Is there a reason she can't just stay outside of the crate? Does she do some destruction in your home while you're gone? Again that is about her unhappiness with you.

Have you sought out the advice of a trained dog behaviorist? Most will want to rule out any health issues first so having her checked out by your veterinarian would be a good thing I think.

Molly isn't purposely being bad or what we perceive as bad. Dogs don't deliberately try to be bad...in fact that is anthropormophizing when we say that. Dogs are just dogs and do what is natural to them.

Since I have no way of knowing what you've done to help her discern between going outside for a walk and going outside to go potty, I can't fully answer your question here. Again I'd suggest a vet check up and then a behaviorist specifically trained to help you understand Molly. I guarantee you she understands you. We humans are often the last to understand. I hope you're not thinking of giving up on her because dogs are for life...their life.

I am not trying to be judgemental here at all but to help you look at the situation from her perspective and then figure out what's going on with the guided help of an expert or two. A good dog behaviorist/trainer I know of is at http://www.master-dog-training.com and another is Colleen Paige at http://www.universitydog.com

I hope this helps some.

Have a tail waggin' day!

-- posted by aspenbloom

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