I have 2 dogs - 1 old, 1 new - and a new house.
Previous to this house, I always had a fenced yard in which the dogs could go out pretty much whenever they wanted. Fast forward to new house, which does NOT have a fenced yard. We will be getting a fenced yard, but not for at least 2 months. None of the local fence companies will build a fence in 4+ feet of snow :mad:
NEW dog is fine with this. She’s still a puppy, and we’ve always gone outside with her when it’s time for her to do her business. She took to this very well, and 9 out of 10 times when we take her out, she does her thing within a few minutes.
OLD dog, however, doesn’t get it. When we first got him, we worked outside the home all day and lived in a much more temperate climate. When we left for work, we’d let him out, and he stayed out until we came home. He learned to go scratch on the door when he needed to go out and do his thing. He also learned he had all the time in the world to do it, which brings us to our problem.
Old dog just doesn’t make the connection between us taking him out and he needs to do his thing. It’s not too hard to get him to pee - being a male dog, he gleefully marks everything. But pooping? Not unless he feels like it.
He also hasn’t really figured out where the door is in the new house to scratch on when he needs to go out.
What this all has resulted in is that old dog slinks away to the most expensive rug in the house and does his business there. Previous to this, I can’t remember the last time he had an accident indoors.
He’s let out at least 4 times a day, sometimes more. We try to let him out for a good amount of time, but face it - we work, and it’s cold out. I can’t take him out for a 30 minute walk 4 times a day. Even if I could, it doesn’t always work. A few days ago I took him out snowshoeing with me. We were out at least an hour. He came home and pooped on the rug within an hour after that.
He’s just not getting it.
What can I do? Will crate training help? If so, how? Like I said, most days we’re home all day, and he usually spends his days in my office sleeping, playing with the other dog, or slinking off to poop in the corner.
We’ve only been in the new house less than 2 weeks, so maybe this is just him getting used to things. I’m sick of cleaning up dog poop, though, so any suggestions will help.