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Resolving a House Soiling Problem [Print This Article]
Published in the August 2005 Colorado Greyhound Adoption Newsletter. Although this article was written for greyhounds, it applies equally to all breeds of dogs.
Question: I recently adopted a second dog. She seemed to do fine at first, but now she is peeing in the house. I’m not sure when as I only find it later. She potties when we go out, but I am still finding spots in the house. What can I do to get her housetrained?
The Trainer Answers:
Are you sure it is the new dog peeing in the house? Is it possible that your first dog is the one soiling in the house? Separate the two dogs in different parts of the house so you can determine which dog it is.
Once you know which dog has the problem, you can address the issue. Is the dog peeing more frequently than before? Is it happening during the day or at night? How often is the dog soiling in the house? Where does it occur - is it always in the same place?
The first thing to consider is whether it could be due to a medical issue, such as a urinary tract infection or UTI. If you are able to rule out any medical issues, then you need to start over with housetraining. The most efficient way to housetrain your dog is to ensure she is in one of three situations.
First, she is outside and you are with her so you can reward her when she does potty outside. Let her know that outdoors is the BEST place to potty! If you have a particular place you want her to go, take her there immediately and stand there until she goes. Then reward your dog with something of value to her, such as a treat, praise, play time or a walk.
The second situation is indoors. If you are unable to watch her, she should be confined to one area of the house. Crates work well for many dogs, but you can also use an ex-pen, a bathroom, a laundry room or some other small area of the house. Have food, water and a bed in this area to help her understand this is her home. Do not allow your dog free run of the entire house until she has earned it.
The third situation is indoors when you are able to very closely supervise her. In some cases, it helps to have your dog on leash so she does not have a chance to sneak off. In this situation, take your dog out at the first sign she might have to pee. Also take her out immediately after sleeping, eating or playing. If she never has the opportunity to potty in the house, she will learn much faster that outside is not only the BEST place to potty, but the ONLY place to potty!
In this particular case, it turns out the original dog in the household had a urinary tract infection. Since the UTI has been cleared up, there have been no more accidents in the house.
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