Housetraining Help!

[Sandra K.]

I need major help!

I got my Dachshund, Jack, about a week ago. He was given to us by someone who did not have time for him and was going to take him to the SPCA! We couldn't let that happen! He is 10 months old. He doesn't seem to be housetrained much at all. I thought he was when we got him, but I don't really know what all the old owner did in regards to training him so I don't even know where to start. Is it too late?
This is our routine during the day: When my husband and I get up he takes him out immediately to go to the bathroom (which sometimes he goes and sometimes he doesn't). Then after I get out of the shower, I take him for a nice morning walk at which time he normally goes again. He stays in his crate while we are at work, but my mom usually comes over and stays with him for a few hours each day. She takes him outside and he normally pees but it just depends. When my husband and I get home from work, we immediately take him out and most of the time he goes. Almost every day though, he has peed in his crate! It is a rather large crate because I didn't want him to feel too caged...thought about putting newspaper in it, but that won't work because he would just tear it up. We then take him out 2 more times in the evening. Once for a long walk and then again before bedtime to go to the bathroom. The main thing is that the dog only goes when he wants to. I thought that dogs got on a schedule and usually went at the same time each day and could go on command. The main problem is at night...he almost always pees in the middle of the night. We let him sleep with us which he just LOVES- I hate the idea of putting him in a crate to sleep because he is in there all day. Also, I don't think that will even help because he will just go in his crate! Is all lost since he is already 10 months?!?! I am getting so frustrated because we just moved into a brand new house and have very light carpets...Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated......

One more thing which is kind of off topic- I have seen alot of people recommend obdience classes(which I know Jack and I need because he will not listen to me at all) but don't that have to be somewhat calm to even participate. Jack can not see a stranger or another dog without going nuts so I don't even know if they would let him participate in the class...

Thanks everyone!!!!

[Patt]

Hi Sandra

Congrats on adopting an unwanted pup.

Will leave this for the members that are house training puppies. My experience is with the seniors although most of the same rules apply. Patience and love are the keys.

Just want you to know that it is NEVER to late to house train. Jack is only 10 months old and looks like is original owner didn't take any time at all with him.

Jack also needs to be socialized and obedience training would be a must. You will all be happier.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Patt

[graci67]

. It is NEVER too late to house train a dog in my opinion. Persistance, persistance and Jack will get it eventually. My doxie is 5 months old, and she still isnt trained all the way. we are working very hard to train her, and she has made a great improvement since I brought her home.

It sounds like your on the right track with a routine and stuff. You have only had him for a short time, so Hes still getting used to a schedule. As with the crate, he will probably stop peeing in it after he gets used to being in it. We crate our doxie, and for the first few weeks she would mess in it, too. but afterwards she got used to it and she stopped. We only keep her in there during the night, when no one is home, and if we cant watch her completly.

Also, Jack may be peeing in because its too big, which allows him to mess in it. if you have a large crate just divide it so he cant do so.


keep trying, and he'll get it soon! persistance, persistance!

by the way, THANKS for rescuing him from the SPCA. you did a wonderful thing! there are many members here that would agree.


GOOD LUCK!

[willsana]

Willow has been a "challenge" to say the least! But 10 months is definately not too old to learn. Praise is very important. And treats can help a lot too. Over time he will learn that good things come from going potty in the right place at the right time.

[Jennie]

Please know it will take time! My boys are 8 and 8 1/2 months. I've had each since he was 9 weeks old. In the very beginning, I didn't think they'd ever get it, and I thought I'd have a dozen spots a day to clean up. We're down to a few a week. It still hasn't clicked for them, but we're getting closer each day! As others have said, patience and persistence. Oh, and lots of treats when he does what you want!

[FOREVER A DAXIE]

WELCOME!!

Sandra,

My Charlie will be 6 months this week. The Lightbulb moment hasn't come on and someone has always been with him including during the day!

Keep taking Jack out. Give him a treat EACH time with the exception of the Morning one (They ALWAYS have to go for sure in the morning so I skip the treat then - entirely up to you). I give Charlie small little liver treats which he loves.

Charlie has just started going to the door but only once in a while......Patience, Persistance!!

[Heide]

can be trained at what ever age.
It will just take alot of patience and repitition. I know it gets frustrating. If my 1 year old blind DDapple can be trained to go outside and through 2 doggie doors no less to potty I think any dog can learn.
Can you possibly gate him off where there is no carpet?
Use pads while you are not home.
Crates should only be big enough for them to turn around in. It may take a while, but eventually it will come.
Try feeding in the morning and then early evening. No water after 6 pm.
The only other thing is to PRAISE PRAISE when he goes out and does his business. They love to please and then by praising they know they are pleasing their loved ones.
I cannot thank you and your family enough for adopting him.
Try obedience classes, they will help.
Please keep us updated.

[lotsadox]

Heide's right! Jack can be housetrained. I had one little girl I got at 10 months and was able to housetrain her and Miller was 18 mos when I got him and I housetrained him. Have you ruled out a UTI? Miller did much better on his housetraining after we discovered that he had a UTI and got it cleared up.

[juliette]

We got Hinjinx at almost 2 years old and she wasn't reliably housetrained at that point. She's now 99% of the way there. We have to odd tile floor accident, but not too often (I'm probably "jinxing" myself for typing this!).

Best of luck - it will take patience!! Our little ones are notorious for being slow with this skill (can't understand why - normally anything that gets them fed they pick up so quickly!).

[DoxieLuv4U]

Wow, you are really putting a lot of effort forth with the housetraining! Good for you :) Dachshunds can be hard to housebreak, but as long as you keep doing the majority of what you're doing (and are consistent), Jack should be housebroken in no time! DEFINITELY put him in a smaller crate. If he can use the bathroom in one section and sit in the other section he will. Don't make it that easy for him. Also, if he is still going in his crate after that, try taking any bedding or towels out of it. As long as there are towels in there they will soak up or cover the mess and he won't mind at all. If you take them out and he is in a small crate he will be forced to deal with his mess and he will soon want no part of it and stop. It may take him a few days to figure it out though, so don't be discouraged if it doesn't happen overnight. Dachshunds are smart dogs...he'll get it. When he does mess in his crate, be sure to clean it very well (a mixture of apple cider vinegar and baking soda hides the smell well as well, as the products you can buy at PetsMart). The hardest dogs to housebreak are the ones who are used to living in their messes (like the rescues that come from puppy mills). I used to get sooo discouraged when trying to housebreak rescue dogs, but after doing enough of them you learn the best route to go...and I haven't seen one yet that has not been able to be trained. There is absolutely no age that a dog cannot be housebroken. 10 months in my opinion is a great age for it because they are just about over their puppyhood...and can hold their business longer...and can figure things out faster. Crate training Jack is a great first step and will definitely make life easier for you.

As far as Jack going on your new carpet...just be thankful you have a 10 month old Dachshund and not a 10 month old Labrador ;) If you're worried about pet stains/odor on your carpet I recommend using one of the stain/odor removers that PetsMart carries...they work great as far as getting the smell out and most stains come out as well. If the stain does not come out with that cleaner...Oxyclean powder gets absolutely EVERYTHING out :)

Obedience class is always a good idea. I have a friend who brought her 4 month old puppy to puppy kindergarten (at PetsMart) and within 8 weeks that dog could sit, stay and lay down better then my own dogs!! Obedience class is not a magic solution though. It only works well if you put the time and effort forth several times a day to work with him. I recommend calling a few places and talking about your concerns with some of the trainers before hand. They'll be happy to give you a direction to go in

You are soooo great for taking Jack in. With a bit of patience and repetition in the beginning you will have a fantastic, devoted, loyal, carefree goofball of a friend for years to come. As anyone here will tell you, you won't regret it!!

[lotsadox]

I missed the part in the original post about obedience class. Obedience class teaches you how to make them calm down and focus. One of the things that we worked a lot on was name recognition, when you call his name he looks at you and pays attention. It will help Jack. I was in class with an 8 months old labrador who just wanted to play all the time. By the end of the 6 weeks, he would sit, stay, come and pay attention to his owner. It was wonderful. I highly recommend it. I'm getting ready to start Cash in Basic Obedience tomorrow night.

[Wienergal]

Welcome, Sandy! :) And blessings on you for giving Jack a home! :angel:

You're already ahead of the game because you understand the importance of a routine! Dogs LOVE routines--they feel secure and at ease when they know what to expect, and the consistent reinforcement will produce results. Believe that!

One thing that is missing from your housebreaking efforts is The Command! When you or hubby take Jack out, you need to make it clear to him that going outside means it is time to Do His Job! :D It isn't time to play and sniff and check out the world. That will come later.

How do you do this? First, he should go out on a leash and be walked, not just let out into the yard. When you first get outside, walk him purposefully along without talking to him. This is BUSINESS--that's the message you want to get across. When Jack gets to a place that is interesting and begins to sniff the grass or tree or whatever, encourage him by giving him The Command--"Go now," "Get done," whatever you want to say. The Command should be a phrase you will never use in any other situation and it should be short. When he begins to go, REPEAT the command as he is going. Then follow up with praise praise praise and a treat, if he responds well to food.

Once he has done ALL his business, then the two of you get to have the fun walk--where he can chase squirrels, sniff around, you talk to him, whatever.

If you are consistent with this, he will get it! I've had to housebreak a whole lot of foster dogs (including some who were as old as 10 years), and believe me--this works!

Also, when he has an accident in the house, ignore it. No scolding, no fussing. You don't want to give him ANY attention when he does the bad thing--dogs crave your attention, even when it's bad attention. :circle:

Good luck!

[Sandra K.]

Hi Wienergal- Wow, thanks for the suggestion! One of Jack's problems is that he will go outside and not do his business. And then sometimes, he will go to the door and cry like he needs to go out and of couse we take him and then he doesn't go. And he will do this like 5 times in one evening. I don't want to NOT take him out though because I'm afraid he might really need to go- it's like the boy who cried wolf- hahah.

I know this is off topic of housebreaking, but let me ask one more question - the other thing Jack does that drives me nuts is while we are walking and even in the house, he will find things(like tissues, paper, anything) and he will pick it up and run away and not let go. Sometimes they are thing that he should definitely not eat (like bark, or something gross outside) and I try to get it out of his mouth and say "drop it" but Jack clenches his jaws so tight that I simpy can not get it out. He will not listen to me to drop it. The other day I tried to get it out of his mouth and he BIT me! I just don't know what to do- he must be the most stubborn dog ever- any suggestions?!!?!?

[TessieMom]

Sounds like Jack is a normal dachshund! If you offer him a trade (like a yummy treat) when you say "drop it" maybe that will help.

Good luck on the training. Some folks also use treats to reward a dog who goes to the bathroom when they go out, so you could try that as well. Rewards and praise are the best way to change behavior!

Rena and the Waco crew

[Jennie]

I took Baxter to puppy kindergarten, and while he didn't do so well, it is really my fault, as I didn't practice like we should. But one thing they did teach us was the command "Drop it" and the command "Leave it". "Drop it" can be used to get them to drop something, and "Leave it" to get them not to pick it up at all. The way we were taught to do it is to start with something they have but may not be terribly interested in. For example, say he has a sock. You would approach him with a treat in your hand and let him see the treat. Do not give him any command at this point. When he drops the sock to take the treat, give him the treat (still with no command). Do this four or five times until he reliably (OK with dachsies that may mean four or five dozen times :) ) drops what you want. Then introduce the command as he drops the item. Eventually you would wean him off the treat and onto the command alone. I never really worked with Baxter on this, but it sounds like it would work. "Leave it" works the same way, but you treat as soon as he turns his attention away from whatever you don't want him to pick up at all. So for example, you would have him on a leash and lead him to the bark. As he goes for it, hold him just out of reach. As soon as he turns his attention away, treat him. The rest of the process is just like "Drop it". I can't completely vouch for this, as I never really got my boys to use it, but it might help. Good luck!

[DoxieLuv4U]

Sandra, I don't really know if this applies or not, but sometimes dogs take things they're not supposed to and run around the house with them because they think it's a game. They may be bored and looking for something to do. If they pick something up and don't give it back and you end up chasing them around the house...they end up having a lot of fun!! The "Drop It" or "Leave It" command would be great to teach, but in the meantime try not to make it a game for him. Offering a treat instead like TessieMom suggested often works wonders. You can try regular treats or if those don't work make it something really good...whatever it takes to get the object out of his mouth. Just whatever you do, try not to chase him. Make him come to you or have him drop it because he loses interest.

[lotsadox]

DoxieLuv4U is right. Do not chase him. You are the leader and leaders do not chase after others. You will lose status in his eyes and he will be less inclined to obey you even when he knows the command. If you can establish your leadership firmly, he'll be much more likely to pay attention to you and obey.