Can I trust a dog who's been house trained ?

Question

I paid a lot of money for a nice condo . My roommate is divorced and has a ten -- year -- old boy . The boy lives with his mother and spends weekends with us . The boy and his mother want to move to where he can have a dog . The boy wants the dog to spends weekends at my place . He insists he's house trained . My brother once had an outdoor dog . When my parents were taking care of this dog, he peed on their carpet . My Dad's niece said "He's used to going outdoors, so he WON'T go indoors !" . Somebody gave my former roommates had a dog, and claimed he was house trained . He peed all over the afghan my Mom knitted for me . I don't expect dogs to be perfect, but I haven't had much luck with dogs who were house trained . Why haven't I had much luck with dogs who were house trained ? Should I give another dog a chance ? Does a dog get confused by a new home ? What if this dog doesn't work out ?

Answer 1

Yes dogs get confused, esp younger dogs. A dog sometimes may be 100% housetrained at home, but will not understand that at another house outside is the exact same thing. You can prevent this by taking the dog out a few times so they understand. Also, if it is an unneutered male, and he is marking, this has NOTHING to do with housebreaking and I would not allow an unneutered, mature male to stay without diapers.

Regardless, I would let the dog stay, but insist the owner provide a bottle of Natures Miracle. It is an enzyme cleaner so if you do happen to have an accident there will be no smell, spot, etc. About $30 for the big bottle.

Answer 2

A little confused - does the boy have a dog, or does he just plan on getting one in the future?

I think you just aren't a dog person. My advice would be to give it a try and if the dog pees on the carpet, the roommate and child would have to clean it up. If it becomes a habit, then tell them the dog may not visit anymore. Even a housetrained dog will have accidents if it's not let out to relieve itself or if it goes into a new place that it doesn't recognize as a home initially. BTW, the notion that an outdoor dog will only pee outside doesn't make sense. He doesn't know NOT to pee inside because he's never been taught where not to pee - outdoors you can pee wherever you want.

Answer 3

Dogs are Dogs they are not perfect little humans. Actually I don't know any perfect little humans either.

I guess from your stand point you need to make some up-front rules. They dog can come on a trial. Any accidents and the visits are over. Explain that you value your property and will not tolerate a dog peeing in the house.

Try not to let past experiences ruin these visits. Every dog is different and every dog can have an accident. And dogs are very sensitive to the feeling of those around so be careful or your actions can cause the problems.

If the dog doesn't workout you made the rules up front ...remember.

Answer 4

Dogs that are reliably housetrained in one home may have an accident in an unfamiliar home, but all you need to do is supervise well until they get that the same rules apply in the new home.
Have them bring a crate or kennel for the dog to be in when someone cannot be supervising and you should be just fine.
Once the dog gets used to your place and where he is supposed to go, they are pretty trustworthy. I have 3 large dogs and have not had an accident with any of them in years.

Answer 5

My dog hadn't had an accident at all for a month, then i took her to my parents and she peed on the rug twice. I think it is they are not really sure where to go, so they need to be retrained as far as which door to wait at and such, but it isn't going to be this long process. Just be sure the first two days it is there the boy takes the dog outside every two hours or so and consistently take it to the same spot. It will realize "ok this is the door i need to go to if i need to go out".

Answer 6

Insist that they buy a crate for unsupervised times and that everyone reads the following article about training:
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/dog_behavior_tip_sheets/crate_training.html
You have the right to not want your home to smell of urine and until the dog is mature and well trained, should not be left unsupervised. You should also insist that the son be responsible for appropriately timed walks (depending on the dogs age/size) and that he use a leash and scooper to not offend your new neighbors. A male dog in particular will "mark" in a new environment and with him going back and forth, this could continue for a while. They make bands for them to wear in the house to prevent this and it would be another tool you could require. BOL!

Answer 7

children love there pets,..It might work,..is it indoors with the child when he is at his weekday home? males especially are more tempted to lift a leg than a female, to mark a new area,..but after the first time,..he should be o.k.,..make sure the dog is altered before giving it a try,..or you may be very disappointed,..If you go to the talk forums in craigslist.org ,..there are some (we call them trolls,..LOL people with rude opinions) but other than that which is seaming better now, than a few weeks ago, but the regulars can answer a lot of questions, and seam to know there stuff,.. Also If you could encourage the dog to get some basic obedience,..that could help a lot,..( it's really about teaching us, how to teach them) Please work with the child,..pets teach responsability, and children are only small once,..we need to enjoy them!

Answer 8

Dogs who are house trained in their own house might mark in a strange house. It's your condo. If you don't want the dog there, don't let the kid bring him. Let the boy's mother care for the dog during the weekends.

Answer 9

yes,there are a lot of good dogs that are house trained 100% and never go inside, but I have a terrier that is papertrained and will go inside the house when he cant get outside and that works for me especially in the winter. dogs usually are not like cats, they wont spray a particular area. maybe provide puppy scented pee pads so the dog will know he has an alternative to going outside.

Answer 10

No one knows.
Helps if dog is fixed though. Less likely to mark territory.
It is a LIFE and if dog "has to go, it has to go"!
I'm sure there will be an occasional accident,.. but up to you.
Make sure water is avail. but not given just before bedtime and also that you aren't neglectful and dog goes outside frequently to pee.
Gd. luck.

*Dogs are dogs, not robots.