I adopted Lyle (a lab terrier mix) from a shelter on October 1st. He was neutered before I brought him home, and is the sweetest lovable dog ever. He is also a great playmate for my beagle, Daisy. The only problem I have with Lyle is house breaking. He always goes potty when I take him outside. He never goes potty or poo in the house when I'm watching. In fact, I believed he was house brokent after a week because he NEVER (even the day I brought him home) went potty in the house. After about a week, I found that he would wait til I wasn't looking, and go to another room to poo or pee. So I started the crate training like a puppy. He's been doing that for about a month now I think. I let him out for Thanksgiving (hoping that this would be his time) and when I was hanging christmas lights in the kitchen, he went around the corner and left me a poo present. I have NEVER had such a problem housebreaking a dog!!! What do I do?? Will he ever be able to say out of his kennel w/ us?
2007-11-25 02:37:27 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
How old is your dog? Labs can be hard to housebreak. Sometimes it could take up to age 2 before they get it right. Both of my lab mixes were a handful with housebreaking. I asked my vet about this and he said that sometimes this happens and to not get frustrated. He also said do not clean the mess up while they are watching, as they see it as dominance over you. I thought he was crazy, but he was right. Do not hit the dog and try not to scold it. My dog occationally messes in the house as a way to get back at me when I leave for an errand or work, but she knows she did wrong because all I have to do is walk into the kitchen and she bee lines for her crate. I never have to scold her. All I can say is keep your dog's schedule the same and keep plenty of paper towels and Nature's Miracle on hand. Make sure you are also sharing equal time with both of your dogs, because it may also be a territory issue. Crate training was a good idea, because your dog will not go in the crate as they see it as their den. Time and patience is key.
2007-11-25 02:52:52 · answer #1 · answered by hazeleyedbeauty1967 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My shelter dog was a pain to housetrain. For a long time, I couldn't understand what the problem was either. I also used crate training. When you crate train, make sure and pick a command for going potty. At regular intevals let the dog go outside to pee or poo with your beagle and give the command like "Potty outside" or "Do your business." whatever. If the dog, goes outside praise him and give him a treat. Give him time to sniff a little bit too so that you can be more sure that his pottying is all done.
If he goes poop around the corner inside, do not spank him or yell or rub his nose in it just show him the poop, say "NO, potty outisde!" Take the dog and the poop outside and say "Good potty outside!" Give him time to sniff his poop on the grass outside so that he make a connection with poop and outside smells.
The key with crate training is making the dog feel like your entire home is the dog's "den". Dogs do not like to poop in their den. Your crate is a very small den. Since it has been a month in the crate, you can try to expand your dogs den area to only one room in the house with baby gates. If he still poops in the one fixed area, put him on a leash at your side over one weekend so he does not have a corner to go around. The key is to establish a routine and to make the dog feel that your whole house is his den. Keep the faith and it will happen. You are on the right track.
By the way it is really important to clean up the accidents well so that it is not a trigger for future accidents. I have had good success with a product called "Nature's Miracle" that uses enzymes to break down the smelly part of the stain and "Spot Shot" for removing the poop stains themselves. It took me about three months to fully train my dog, but after that she was very dependable and did not have accidents anymore. Be consistent and you be successful with your new dog.
2007-11-25 03:07:41 · answer #2 · answered by bonniegreen 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like the dog knows that he is doing something wrong when he poos and pees in the house cos he makes sure you dont see him. Also, you think he was probally house trained before he came to your house. Maby he was able to go outside to do his business by himself through one of those door flaps or maby his previous owner let him out more often or at specific times. He might also have let his owner know when he wants to go outside as mine does, he stands by the door and might even whine a bit...............hope this helps
2007-11-25 02:49:06 · answer #3 · answered by Ados 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yea, you just have to keep trying. I have a Maltese and I never thought I get her potty trained. But, I kept trying and one day she just started doing what she was soppossed to!
2007-11-25 02:47:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You might need more time crate training. Don't get discouraged, each dog is different.
2007-11-25 08:02:41 · answer #5 · answered by Freckles... 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
leave him out, and when he explodes punish him and make him stand up with his front paws against a wall for about 30 seconds. then yell at him.
2007-11-25 02:48:32 · answer #6 · answered by thekoreanemo 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋