So, we moved into an apartment in the first floor many years ago. About eight years ago we got a small dog (some kind of poodle-schnauzer-mutt hybrid). We taught him to pee in the yard, and never inside. Life was good.
About a year ago, we purchased the apartment directly upstairs from ours, and built an inside stairwell, effectively turning both apartments into a two-story house. And then the dog decided that the upper floor was fair game, and started peeing all over. Problem is, he pees against the wooden walls and furniture. It’s really bad.
I tried shouts, rolled newspaper, even spanking, but he keeps doing it. He clarly knows it’s wrong, as he won’t do it when watched. In fact, you’ll never see him go upstairs, but as soon as he gets a chance, you’ll find a puddle upstairs. It’s becoming a real concern, because we really like the dog, but can’t afford to let him ruin half our furniture just because he feels like it.
He won’t pee downstairs, only upstairs. Oh, and I’m leery about a gate for the stairs; first, because the boys sleep upstairs, sometimes come down half-asleep in the middle of the night and I don’t like the idea of putting obstacles in their path, but also because, deep inside, I feel like the dog really should be able to learn this.
I’ll be really thankful for any ideas as to why he’s doing that and, mostly, how can I make him stop.
First, you have to catch him in the act. Finding a puddle on the floor and then punishing him an hour later doesn’t work. Have you tried taking him outside every few hours and waiting for him to pee? Once he does you give him a treat and maybe play with him for a while. In other words, use positive reinforcement and reduce the chances of him having an accident inside the house.
One thing I found that worked when I was house training my dog was to clean up the area really well after he had an accident so there is no smell or residue of pee left. Dogs sometime pee in the same place because they smell pee there.
Gate off the stairs so he can’t get up there. It’s hard to get a dog to stop peeing somewhere once it smells like urine. I’d make him a downstairs only dog for a while to break the habit.
You may think you taught him not to pee inside and only out in the yard. Your dog may have a different view on that subject. He may think you taught him not to pee in the first floor apartment and everywhere else was acceptable. And from his point of view, you’re now changing the rules.