HELP! What is wrong with my doxie?

[TinaMarie]

<FONT face="Georgia"> I have a 5 month old doxie pup and she was doing pretty good about peeing on the pad and papers for a while. Now she pees on rugs, her blankies, her bed, our bed, just ANYWHERE except where she's supposed to!!! It's really driving us crazy!
I was wondering what we should do to punish her and let her know that she is NOT supposed to do that! I think she actually already knows because you can see the look of guilt on her face after she does it.
What I'm doing now is when I notice she's done it, I yell "NO, BAD GIRL" and stick her nose where she can see what I'm screaming about, continue telling her "NO, BAD BAD BAD" and put her up in her crate.
Is this wrong? What else would you suggest?
Please help me, I'm losing my mind here!
Thank you in advance! </FONT f>

[Carol A. Smith]

Hi TinaAMarie:

Yes, you are wrong to punish her for the accidents. Rather, you need to lavish praise on her for doing the right thing, and ignore the wrong thing. Take her out, and wait for her to go, When she does, praise praise praise. When she is inside, never let her out of your sight... you may have to go so far as to fasten her to you with a leash so she can't sneak off. Make sure you take her out regularly, and never ever let her loose in the house outside of your watchful eye, for now. If you find an accident, clean it up out of her sight, and don't say a word about it. She doesn't have any idea why you are screaming at her, she just knows you aren't happy, and therefore, she reacts. But, don't think it is because she is aware of why.
She is just a puppy. They aren't really reliable for a long time. Dachsies take a long time and lots of hard work to housebreak. You must be diligent, and observant. Don't scold her, and surely don't crate her as punishment. You don't want the crate to be seen as a negative thing. Crate or confine her when you aren't home, or can't watch her.

Good luck
Carol<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm1.gif" border=0>

[TinaMarie]

<FONT face="Georgia">Thank you for the advise! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif This is my first doxie and they are so different from any other breed I've ever had!
I do praise her like crazy when she goes potty where she needs to, I even give her treats, she just doesn't do it often enough to get the connection I guess. :\
I am actually not training her to go outside because I can't be home during the day time (work) so I train her with newspaper over an accident pad. That worked SOOO wonderful for the first couple of months. I don't understand why it doesn't anymore.
If I ignore her peeing all over the house then wont she just think it's okay and continue doing it? </FONT f>

[Carol A. Smith]

You have to remove the smell from ALL of her spots. Use Simple Solution, or one of the enzymes. And, white vinegar. And, then PREVENT HER from going all over the house. She should eventually be able to hold it while you are gone to work, but until she can, training her to use a pad is OK, but just makes your ultimate job harder. Get the pads that are used for humans' beds. They are bigger and cheaper than what you are buying. And eliminate the newspaper all together. Just use the pad. Put one in a specific spot and start training her to go there, and no where else (like near to the door, if you can). DONT let her roam free at all. As I said, you may have to tie her to your waist so that you don't miss a spot. You MUST first clean up all the spots that she has used so far. Rent a carpet cleaner and go at it. When you are gone, confine her in an X-Pen, with the pad, on a non carpeted surface, that you can easily clean up and leave no odor behind. That way, she will begin to learn to use the pad, and not go elsewhere.
Carol

[TinaMarie]

<FONT face="Georgia">WOW! You are so helpful!!! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif Thank you!
I was contemplating using only the pads also already. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/wink.gif
I was wondering about the bigger, cheaper human pads you were referring to. Are they with the baby stuff in the stores?
Thanks again SOOOOO much!!! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif</FONT f>

[Carol A. Smith]

You will find the pads with the Depends. They are used for people's beds, like in the hospital. Large, and about half the price of puppy pads, but the same thing... check out WalMart or KMart.

Carol

[TinaMarie]

Thanks again so much!
I'm excited about this now that I know the CORRECT things to do to help her!
I have been told the other way works wonders... I found that out the hard way that it does not! :p
Thanks again!!!! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Twinkerbean]

I started training Dante to use one of those Purina doggie litter boxes. I had it in the kitchen when he was younger. He did really well, but I would find little puddles and piles just outside the box. I assumed he was too long for the box, and got a bigger size, and moved the box to the garage, which he has access to through a doggie door. He no longer uses the box at all. However he does go only in the garage. I don't mind that so much.

When we were first training him to do this, I had to keep him in his crate when I couldn't watch him, or he would use a spot he found in my daughters' room, or anywhere for that matter.

Now, he goes exclusively in the garage, and only makes mistakes when someone locks him in a room.

[TinaMarie]

Yeah, I wouldn't mind the garage either! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/wink.gif
I have another problem...
My pup's not going ANYWHERE but IN her crate now! :\ Well except for if her blankie is on the floor. :p
That's KIND of nice that she goes in one spot but I wish it would be where WE'D like it to be. Plus she's not in the crate much and what if she holds it too long?
ARGH!!!! <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm12.gif" border=0>

[Mom of Freddie and FG]

TinaMarie,

I just now came across your post and can certainly sympathize with you! My 7 year old girl likes to pee on the carpet.http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/frown.gif In her former home (I've had her 7 months) they didn't have carpet, plus she was kenneled outside a lot too.

May I ask where you got her? Reason I'm asking is, it sounds to me that it is either (a) medical problem or (b) not properly whelped and/or taken away from Mom and littermates too soon. The fact that she pees IN her crate and on HER bedding is not normal.

I DO use those human pads because they are cheaper and larger. You can find them in Walmart, Kmart, drug stores, and even some grocery stores. They're with DEPENDS, not baby diapers. I live in an apartment (upstairs) and I have a fully enlosed balcony. I have sectioned off a "potty area" with those wee wee pads, and it works well for my 2 dachsies. Oh, they also use a doggie-door (I put in the sliding door) 24/7. I don't worry about safety where I'm at, so the doggie-door is there all the time.

If you haven't done so already, you may want to have her examined by her Vet to rule out anything. Good luck! Oh, BTW, she is a normal dachsie...stubborn as a mule!http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif Dachshunds can be difficult to housetrain.http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/frown.gif

Susan

[TinaMarie]

<FONT face="Georgia">Susan,
Thanks so much! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif
She still pees on her bedding and also somehow sneaks in the guest bathroom and pees on the rug! She also (when she can't get to that rug) just pees on the floor or on the floor rugs.
I thought it had gotten better but it's definitely not! I would never think she would want to pee on her blankies either but she ALWAYS does if I don't hurry and grab them from the floor before she does it! I'm beginning to wonder if she'll EVER go potty right! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/frown.gif
I'm going to go today HOPEFULLY to get those adult pads, oh how I hope they work!!!
I got her from a neighbor's house. She was taken away from her mom, dad, and siblings when she was 8 weeks old. Is that too early?
What do you think could be medically wrong with her as to why she's peeing on her blankies?
The other day I picked her up and put her on the bed with me for a minute and she peed on it almost immediately!!!! She's never done that before! :\
I love that little booger to death but she's driving me crazy! <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm32.gif" border=0>
</FONT f>

[gloria]

<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm30.gif" border=0> Hi TinaMarie! I could have written your letter 2 years ago! Cleo is my fourth dog, and I thought she'd drive me CRAZY trying to get her to pee only outside. She went whenever she felt like it, wherever she happened to be, despite being taken out on a regular basis. I got so discouraged, the only thing that kept me trying was that she was too cute and sweet to give up on.I found a book on dogs in Chapters one day called "I Love My Dog, But..." by Joy Tiz. I started reading it in the store and was so intrigued , I bought it. Among her suggestions that worked was to "shrink" the crate so Cleo had no room to pee off to one end. (I used strong wire mesh). Also, she said that EVERY time Cleo peed in the house, we were back to square one. Training had to start all over as though we had never attempted it. Cleo is now dry indoors. Outdoors, she doesn't always go just where I want her to, but at least, its OUTDOORS. Hang in there Focus on the positive . She'll get it eventually. Gloria

[josie]

With some of my difficult cases, I took a very proactive role. It works well if there is a safe yard for the doxie. I just begain asking the doxie if she wanted to go potty outdoors every 1/2 hour and I put her out whether or not she "said yes" or not. I especially did it right after a meal, 30 minutes after a meal, 30 minutes later, an hour before bed time and first thing in the morning. The rest of the day, when I'm at work, she was kennled in the garage in a hurricane fence kennel with a crate (no door on the crate)where she can go if she needs to and I can scoop and hose it out if need be. Only accidents in the house anymore happen when there is an illness. Hope some of these ideas help. This is the way I deal with all six of my doxies now. They get used to the routine and expect the intervals now.

[josie]

Coment on the crate...my doxies view their crates as safe havens. It is kind of funny on the very rere occasion that I yell in my house (always directed at Dave...my human companion) doxies emerge from their blankets and go flying into their crates.

[Mom of Freddie and FG]

That's an idea on the crate that Josie brought up, by putting her in a crate that is just big enough to stand up in and turn around. Big enough for her to sleep comfortably in (not cramped) BUT not too big for her to potty in. I doubt she would enjoy laying in her mess.<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm43.gif" border=0> Is she crate-trained? Crates should be a "safe haven-den" and a positive thing.

I think 8 weeks is fine. That's about the norm, although they say that 12 weeks is even better. I think the 6-9 week period is the most crucial where they learn the most. 8 weeks is the earlist by law in most States too. My Freddie was 8 weeks (actually 2 days shy of 9). I was thinking your pup was 5 or 6 weeks old. So, since 8 weeks is ok, I would definately take her in to the Vet. Bladder infections/stones aren't uncommon. I keep thinking that's the problem with her, but you never know. Let us know the outcome, ok? I'm curious. I hate to ask this but, were the living conditions clean at the neighbors house? If so, it probably is a medical thing, because clean potty habits are learned. Good luck!http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

Susan

[sheri'smom]

Hi, all the suggestions that you have gotten are great. I just wanted to give you a few other ideas that have really worked for me. Our doxie Sheridan is 7 months now and is completely house broken. We got him at 12 weeks and followed the breeders instructions. She told us to let him out every 1/2 hour or so and if/when he used the bathroom to praise him like crazy and give a treat. This has worked wonderfully (the only drawback might be that my neighbors probably think I'm a loon for getting so excited about Sheridan going potty <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm1.gif" border=0> ) It took approximately 3 months before he really got it, alos I had to experiment with what type of treat really motivated Sheridan. He seems to like cubbed cheese the best. For awhile he was wanting to go outside all the time thinking every time he went out he got cheese, but it was amazing how quickly he learned that the cheese was a special treat. He now even goes to the sliding door and whines when he needs to potty, and I no longer have to go outside with him. However the first place he runs to when he gets back inside is the fridgerator so he can have his treat. Hope this helps and good luck to you both.<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm5.gif" border=0>

[doxiegirl4]

Looks like there are alot of great suggestions posted. I have in the past used preemie baby diapers on my little snitzels so they can still roam around the house and I don't have to clean pee off my carpet if an accident happens. It especially works great with older doxies who have to make more frequent trips to the outdoors. I put regular velcro on the diaper so I can use it more than once if no accidents have happened in it. <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm12.gif" border=0>

[ryley and scratches]

great suggestions from everyone . mygirls are going on 7 months and are 95% housebroken. I am a stay at home mom and I think it really helped to keep a strict routine with them. I also learned recently that I feed them in the morning there cup of food and if they havent eaten it all with 20 minutes I pick it up and take it away. That way they eat on a schedule and eat it all. And then go potty a half hour later . throught the day unless the weather is nice I take them "out " on a schedule too. Do you have a neighbor who could help at luch time ? I like the cheese cube idea,thanks (although mine dont usually get people food , i think its a nice treat!)