House training a rescue dog

[DOMS]

I've adopted a rescue dog about 3 weeks ago, and thing were going well for about a week or so with no problems at all. A little history about the dog: He was found in the east bay, appears to be a mixed breed with a shitzu and something else (no one we've talked to can put a finger on it), the vets that have seen him say he is health with no problems and is between 6 to 8 months old. When he was found, it appeared as if he had been wandering the streets for a while, he has not been neutered yet.

When we brought him in, we were surprised to see how well behaved he was and never had any problems with him going potty, until recently, about a week ago, he has started to go potty indoors at my parents and our place, each time he has done it, he does it in the same fashion he does as when he is marking territory. At our house he has done so on the same spot over 3 times already, and we cant figure out whether it is his stray dog nature coming forth, or something else.

I've had several dogs in the past, but they have always been outdoor dogs, and never had a dog here in the US, and his behavior is completely different to what i have experienced before, and its getting very frustrating because he does so with no warning what so ever :|

 

[CHUM]

is it just a small 'zap' of piss in the same place (marking)....or is he actually full-on urinating?

those are 2 totally different problems IMHO....

 

[fast4d]

WTF is potty.

is he going #1 or #2 or both?

 

[lefty]

Congrats to you for saving this doggies life!!!!

Make an appt. with the local Human Society (much cheaper than your Vet) to have him fixed ASAP!!!

As a dog matures sexually, they want to start 'marking' their territory. Also, you need to 'catch him in the act', and then rush him outside. When he goes outside to potty, praise him exuberently.

Keep doing this and you will have a wonderful doggie.

Congrats!!

 

[fast4d]

get him fixed and be the alpha dog.

 

[DOMS]

is it just a small 'zap' of piss in the same place (marking)....or is he actually full-on urinating?

those are 2 totally different problems IMHO....

a small zap, as in marking. We havent found him full on urinating indoors

wtf is potty

he's been pissing indoors

 

[CHUM]

a small zap, as in marking. We havent found him full on urinating indoors...

as fast4d stated.....get him fixed...pronto.

then ask idontdotrix.....she's the resident doggie pro.

more than likely it will involve thoroughly cleaning/removing the 'marked' object....some training/behavior technique that i don't know...then patience and consistency....


damn....i haven't helped at all....blah....

 

[}Dragon{]

I've adopted a rescue dog about 3 weeks ago, and thing were going well for about a week or so with no problems at all. A little history about the dog: He was found in the east bay, appears to be a mixed breed with a shiatsu and something else (no one we've talked to can put a finger on it), the vets that have seen him say he is health with no problems and is between 6 to 8 months old. When he was found, it appeared as if he had been wandering the streets for a while, he has not been neutered yet.

When we brought him in, we were surprised to see how well behaved he was and never had any problems with him going potty, until recently, about a week ago, he has started to go potty indoors at my parents and our place, each time he has done it, he does it in the same fashion he does as when he is marking territory. At our house he has done so on the same spot over 3 times already, and we cant figure out whether it is his stray dog nature coming forth, or something else.

I've had several dogs in the past, but they have always been outdoor dogs, and never had a dog here in the US, and his behavior is completely different to what i have experienced before, and its getting very frustrating because he does so with no warning what so ever :|

Shiatsu? It's a massage dog?

1st- get him fixed.

2nd- reward/praise the dog when he pees outside immediately when he's done

3rd- Are you walking him for 30+ mins twice a day?

edit- and +1 on what Chum said about cleaning/deodorizing the marking spot immediately if he pees inside.

 

[Dubbington]

Shiatsu? It's a massage dog?

1st- get him fixed.

2nd- reward/praise the dog when he pees outside immediately when he's done

3rd- Are you walking him for 30+ mins twice a day?

edit- and +1 on what Chum said about cleaning/deodorizing the marking spot immediately if he pees inside.

+1 on all this....

Make sure he knows outside is where potty goes. Take him out there a lot even if he doesnt have to go, say 'go potty' and wait. Say it several times and if nothing then go back in. If he goes then give him a treat and be really happy. They will eventually want to please you so they get a treat and love. Plus, if its a yard make sure there is an area that's different than were he plays...like gravel and lawn. Gravel to pee, lawn to play.

I like ammonia and water for a deterrent for potty inside. My puppies have had only a couple mistakes inside and I quickly tell them no, take them outside where they are supposed to go potty, tell them potty and clean where they went inside with the ammonia/water, I think it works better than dog specific stuff.

Being the alpha is huge as the dog pissing everywhere is marking "his" territory. You need to let him know its your territory.

 

[DOMS]

Thanks for all the tips. The dog does get several walks during the day (morning before going to work, when one of us comes back from work, and before going to bed) What we have been missing in telling him "go potty" repeatedly, and properly train him...

Sooo much to learn, no wonder they say dogs are like having a kid

 

[Dubbington]

Thanks for all the tips. The dog does get several walks during the day (morning before going to work, when one of us comes back from work, and before going to bed) What we have been missing in telling him "go potty" repeatedly, and properly train him...

Sooo much to learn, no wonder they say dogs are like having a kid

I didnt think it would work either but now at only 4 months I open the door and say "go potty" and it works.


I just read an article in National Geo about animal minds and there is a border collie that is supposedly the smartest dog. It knows upwards of 350 words and can fetch a ball if shown a card the reads Ball....the dog can read ....thats impressive. I'm stoked one of mine can high-five

 

[Sharky]

Thanks for all the tips. The dog does get several walks during the day (morning before going to work, when one of us comes back from work, and before going to bed) What we have been missing in telling him "go potty" repeatedly, and properly train him...

Sooo much to learn, no wonder they say dogs are like having a kid

Good luck with training. It will take time, hopefully, you're training and love will make all of the difference. The smartest dog I ever had was a rescue.

 

[DOMS]

Good luck with training. It will take time, hopefully, you're training and love will make all of the difference. The smartest dog I ever had was a rescue.

This brings up a question i've been thinking of lately... what do you guys consider proper training?

- Do the dog training classes
- Read literature and practice yourself
- Friends with Dog experience
- Combination of methods

 

[V4]

I wouldn't mind a BARF doggie training days lead by experienced owners on teh BARF...

 

[DOMS]

^^^ i could vouch for that

 

[Sharky]

This brings up a question i've been thinking of lately... what do you guys consider proper training?

- Do the dog training classes
- Read literature and practice yourself
- Friends with Dog experience
- Combination of methods

Puppy classes will teach you the basics, then work and exercise will do the rest. The biggest part of dog training is training yourself to do it correctly and training yourself how to interact with the dog. The dog will take care of the rest (unless it is my idiot Dobie, she's more of a kid than a dog).

Some dogs are limited and some are gifted, kinda like people. My former Cattledog learned to shake (both paws on command) in about 5 minutes, my doberman took more than an hour and still (after a couple of years) doesn't always get it right. My wife says she's a lover. I say she's stupid. My kid loves her and she's good for him so that's what really matters.

 

[Melissa]

thanks for rescuing a dog!
Bullet Love is a rescue from back in 2000 and it took a little while to properly train him to not pee in my home. Patience and rewarding for healthy behaviors is the way to go.
Screaming is never the correct thing to do.
Enjoy!!

 

[Lorry]

If it is always the same place, give it a thorough cleaning with a non-ammonia based cleaner. If possible, you could temporarily move his feeding dishes close to the area - most dogs don't like to pee where they eat.

We have 3 dogs (2 rescue, 1 feral) and they all live indoors. Luckily only one of them has ever been inclined to mark things. It is usually if he is stressed (family visits etc). He also likes to tag new/unfamiliar things so I have to be careful when I bring new things into the house.

 

[DOMS]

thanks for rescuing a dog!
Bullet Love is a rescue from back in 2000 and it took a little while to properly train him to not pee in my home. Patience and rewarding for healthy behaviors is the way to go.
Screaming is never the correct thing to do.
Enjoy!!

I never scream at the dog, but the times he did pee indoors, i did use a stern voice repeating NO while carrying him outside and putting him on time out, I hope i havent scared the little guy already

If it is always the same place, give it a thorough cleaning with a non-ammonia based cleaner. If possible, you could temporarily move his feeding dishes close to the area - most dogs don't like to pee where they eat.

will do that and see what happens, thanks

 

[coddswaddle]

Definitely check to make sure whatever you clean with is NOT ammonia-based (since ammonia is in urine he might think it's someone else marking over his tag).

Do all the lovey-dovey stuff so that he knows that he's a protected full-on member of your pack and make sure that YOU mark those few areas with YOUR scent (or whomever's the alpha-calls-the-shots one in the family, when i was a kid it was my dad even though my mom did the feeding and i did the training my dad had the authority in the dog's eyes).

As gross as it may sound, keep a sweat rag and don't wash it, let it live in your dirty clothes hamper. If you're nasty and smelly, wipe that rag on you before hopping in the shower. Now use that same nasty rag to "mark" areas. I've had this work with both rescue dogs and adolescent dogs that wanted to own their own turf. They're not gonna cross their lead dog by marking what's already been marked.

Rescued and/or abused dogs seem more "feral". Not as in they're wild and out of control but in that their rules aren't the same as a baby-of-the family, wants to eat at the table sort of dog. You need to communicate the same way other dogs would.