New dog in the house...

[AmandaMarie]

I have just brought a rescue doxie, Bailey, into my family (with one already established doxie member, Darling).
Bailey's owner passed away and he then went to a family member, two foster homes, and then to us. His personality is wonderful! But during these first few days he has been peeing on the corner of my furniture (and in turn the carpet). He only does it when we leave the house, but it's usually in the same spot.

We gated him in the kitchen the other day and suprisingly came home to no mess! But I am still nervous about letting him "roam free".

I guess there could be a number of different reasons. I don't think it's bladder control because he gets through the night just fine. I'm not sure if he is marking his territory, if it's spite or if it may be a separation anxiety problem.

Do I keep him gated, try crating (I don't know his past with crating and he's 10 yrs old)??? Does anyone have any experience or suggestions.
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[deannalew]

Hi!
I have a friend who is experiencing something simular to your situation. She has a mini girl doxie who she can not let roam the house because she will leave a 'puddle' and so they gated her in the kitchen.

They have an older sheltie who has been able to roam the house but they now put the sheltie in the kitchen with the doxie to keep each other company.

It has worked out very well for them. Their sheltie is very flexable and laid back and the doxie is happy to have her playmate with her.

I only have a puppy right now, but I wonder if I will ever let him roam free when we are gone. I somehow like the idea of keeping him confined for his safety and for the safety of my home.

Right now we use the kennel, but I am hoping once he is fully potty trained that I can leave his kennel open and just put a gate up in the kitchen.

I don't think it is a bad thing at all to keep him in the kitchen as long as he has safe toys to play with while you are gone.

I am no expert, but that is just what I have heard that other doxie owners do.

[Mark]

Hi Amanda,

It sounds like Bailey is marking.

Here's my opinion(s):

Often when a dog is taken to a new home with new hooparents, they feel they are in unclaimed territory . . . so they set about the task of making it theirs by marking. It sounds like this was an only furkid for the previous owner (who passed away) and there have been a couple of temporary homes. This compounds the problem because there were no *other* dog smells for many years and no "pack order" to deal with until reaching the temp homes. And if not taught there . . . is still confused. If no hooman or dog makes it clear to him their *is* a pack order and the hooman Alpha's own this territory, then by instinct they lay claim (by marking) to whatever they want. If this is the case then this won't change until a *pack order* is clearly defined.

The other possibility is the confusion and apprehension of not being in or remembering a permanent home for some time. This could be a way for Bailey to scream, "what's going on"? The result is frustration and peeing indoors and as above, no boundaries have been set in place. This one takes time and returning to basics . . . Potty Training 101, by you.

I hope this helps,
Mark

[Snorodent]

We keep our Doxie pup now almost 6 months old, gated in our kitchen. At night she sleeps in a crate, and while we are home and not eating dinner, she has free roam. While we work in the day time, I would not leave her free to roam with my larger dog - she starts wrestling matches with him and I always try to supervise these, watching to make sure he doesnt step on the puppy. I think a kitchen gate is an invaluble asset to owning a Dachsie! I will probably use it until the dog is much older.. <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm32.gif" border=0> <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm29.gif" border=0> <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm30.gif" border=0> Stacy