I’ve got a 6-year-old terrier who has never been perfect with her potty habits, but has now gotten to the point where I need her to really do better. Heidi has always been kind of a diva, and has always seemed very particular about finding just the right blade of grass to pee on, no matter how long it takes. And sometimes, if the perfect blade of grass isn’t located, or if it’s raining and the grass is wet, she just won’t go. Until she gets back inside.
This morning’s final straw was having her go outside with my boyfriend and our other two dogs (who are very, very good with their pottying). She found a spot to pee in, spent a couple more minutes exploring the yard, but came back inside to poop.
I am honestly at a loss on how to deal with this one, and I’m considering hiring a trainer to work with her. I’d love to get some feedback from someone who’s used a trainer before. Did it work? Anyone?
We’ve had two dogs we turned over to professional trainers. The first one worked out well, the second one is still a work in progress.
I’ll save you several sessions and a few hundred bucks. The first and last thing you need to know and do is “be consistent.” When something works for you and your dog you do it every time, morning or night, hot or cold, rain or shine.
Sounds like the dog was never really house trained. I’d start all over, keep her in a crate anytime you aren’t directly supervising. When you take her out of the crate, leash her and take her outside immediately. Use a command phrase (I’ve always said, “go pee”) and do not go back inside until the dog eliminates. Treat her verbally (good girl!) and with a tiny bit of liver or some other food.
Also, structure her feedings and get to know her bowel habits. I feed our dogs ~7 am and 7 pm. I know when each of them is most likely to defecate.
If you seek the help of a professional trainer, they will primarily be working with you, training you to consistently use the crate, etc.
I only know how to house train puppies. Not sure what all a pro trainer would do w/ a mature dog - short of moving in w/ you. Just saying, reading/watching vids might be as useful as in-person.
I respect folk who adopt mature dogs, but this sort of thing reinforces my personal preference for raising them from young.
We have two border collie mixes. Rescues so we don’t really know their past. Hardly my first dogs, but they where so head strong, I just couldn’t get them to mind.
We did the professional trainer thing (Very expensive), and they are doing great now. They even heal on different sides so one walks on my right side, the other on the left.
I think you’ve brought up an excellent point. She’s a kill shelter rescue, so I know nothing about how she was raised. But it does make sense that she was never housebroken.
We actually had been crating her for the past couple of weeks, which has helped. But we still encounter the “No, Mom, that’s okay, I’ll hold it til we get inside.” As much as I’d love to stay outside with her til she goes, I don’t have that option if I’m trying to get to work on time.
It’s been frustrating, because we’ll go through a stretch of flawless days, then regress.
Has a veterinarian ruled out anything medical that could possibly be contributing to this issue ?
I don’t think it’s likely, but it’s something I wouldn’t want to miss, and … occasionally … lends itself to some kind of relatively easier fix that can sometimes help in other departments (if there’s a problem, it may be causing other – maybe as yet unrecognized – issues) as well.
Does she “go” in the same spot in the house each time?
We had a similar problem with one of our Chihuahuas, but the chosen potty place inside the house was always the same. We gave up, and just keep puppy pads on that particular area. Some days he won’t “go” outside, even in good weather. So we wait for the inevitable, and change the pad(s).
This is kind of a lazy man’s solution, but it had an upside. He (and the other dogs) now associate pads with pottying. It makes traveling a lot easier.
I’ve had some luck with the potty pads, but unfortunately, she often chooses a different spot.
However, I’m glad to report that after a week of being confined to her crate when we’re at work, little Heidi is making some progress. We’ve had zero accidents, and she surprised us both when she sat by the back door, waiting to go out because she had to pee.