[Val]

Hello again,

I'm still working on the loose leash training and it's working out better than what I was doing before. Still trying to perfect the method for us.

Now I have another question: I would like my dog to go to the bathroom in a certain location but she absolutely won't. I know it takes persistance but I usually give in and let her go in the yard because she'll hold it all day if I don't. She's killing our grass everywhere. I've tried pouring water on the spots as soon as she goes but I don't always see her (especially at night).

Is there some kind of spray or something that will make the area more attractive to her? I've also tried these little tablets that are supposed to make their pee less potent but she won't eat them no matter what I hide them in. The bottom line is though I would really like her to go in a certain area.

Any help would be greatly appreciated - thanks.

Val
(Pepper's mom)

[crazydays]

Hi- Have you tried putting your dog on leash, taking her to location you want and tell her what you want- I say go to your place. Then when she goes she knows she gets a good yummie treat. You have to do that repeatedly and if your dog likes the treats, going to your place is what she wants to do. When this becomes easy, don't use leash just take her to zone and again if she wants treats she does it. Eventually, you stand at door and tell her to go to her place. This worked for me. Both dogs run to the right side of my yard. I have never had success with the urine treatment tabs.

[Dorygirl]

Val, you may have some work ahead of you but it will be worth it.

crazydays is right. But since your dog is used to using other spots, it may take a while for her to be re-trained to use just one spot.

But it is so great to be able to just open the back door, say, "Go to your spot" and have the dog run out and back, with all the pee/poo in one area.

The pain of it is the training...out each time with the leash. If she doesn't go, back in for a few minutes and then back out to try again. Ugh. It's time consuming. It can be done, though, so best of luck!

[Val]

Thank you for the answers. Here's how yesterday went so you can see what the problem is:

About 5:30, took the dog out on leash to the area. Wouldn't go. Came in and waited for awile and tried again in about half an hour. Still nothing.

Went for a walk, for about 40 minutes, she peed twice but wouldn't poo because there were too many rabbits and all she does is stress about where the next one will turn up. Hence the problems adapting the loose leash method mentioned earlier. Went home.

Then for the rest of the day I took her out maybe 4 to 6 times to the area on a leash and she wouldn't do anything. Held it all day. She was even in her crate for a bout 3 hours while we were away and most dogs love to go to the bathroom after being let out of their crate. Not her.

After supper I took her for another walk and this time she peed twice and poo'd twice (thank goodness I brought 2 bags). Then she was indoors for the rest of the night until about 10:30. Took her out on a leash for one last tinkle (which she will always do if I just take her out to the grassy area) to the "special spot" but she wouldn't go.

Now this morning you'd think that she would HAVE to go but when I took her out at 5:30 on the leash to the spot - still nothing. This is typical of how it usually goes. I usually give up after 2 or 3 days because 1. It can't be good for her to hold it all the time and 2. I start feeling sorry for her having to be on the leash constantly at home and away.

Has anyone else ever had a dog that can hold it soooooo long like that or is so stubborn about going in a certain area? I must add, she could care less about treats when outside. If I give them to her in the house, she's fine with that, she'll eat them but once we're outside on a leash and walking, she won't take a treat from me even when I put it up to her lips.

On the walk ALL she cares about is the rabbits. I have taken treats along on the walk and right before she goes I'll start saying "go potty" and then when she's done I'll say "good girl" like I'm really happy and then try and give her a treat. Nope, she won't look at it. She just goes right back to scanning for rabbits.

I know this is long winded but I thought it might help show you more what I'm up against. She's some sort of beagle-mix that I got from the shelter about 6 weeks ago. They think she's about 2 years old. She's a great little dog for the most part with the exception of some seperation anxiety (which I'm trying to work on), the whole walking thing (which I'm trying to work on), a little dog aggression (I just signed up for obedience class) so I'm hoping to work on that as well. In the house, she's the greatest. Meeting other people, no problem, she loves everyone. So I don't want to make it sound like she's a mess.

My husband is getting ticked over all the yellow spots in the yard so that's why I'm trying to get her to go in this mulched area that we have. It's not huge but it's totally adequate for her to go in. But - she won't. I know there are liquids that are supposed to keep your dog from going places but I was hoping there was something to spray that said to the dog "hey I HAVE to go here". I'm worried because this winter I won't be able to count on taking her for 2 walks a day. I was hoping to be able to get away with taking her for 1 long walk mid morning and then having her go in the mulched area for the rest of the day.

So am I off base here? What am I doing wrong? I know persistence is the key but isn't holding it so long bad for her?

Thanks for any suggestions and thanks for the answers that were posted already. I truly appreciate the help.

Val

[Dorygirl]

My dog can hold it for hours and hours. It drives me crazy. Usually it's because of rain...she just will not pee or poo in the rain. She once went for over 18 hours without peeing. Amazing.

Hmmmm. When we brought Dory home, she was 10 weeks and I only kept her in the crate or in her spot. We just went back and forth for weeks. She wasn't expecting walks because she was just a baby, but you have a harder situation. Once we trained her to just use the spot, then we started taking her on walks.
If your dog can relieve herself on walks, there isn't as big an incentive to use the spot. I wonder if it's ok to stop the walks for a while in order to train her to just use the spot. Sooner or later, she'll have to pee there, right?

[Val]

Originally Posted by Dorygirl

If your dog can relieve herself on walks, there isn't as big an incentive to use the spot. I wonder if it's ok to stop the walks for a while in order to train her to just use the spot. Sooner or later, she'll have to pee there, right?

Okay - as nutty as this sounds, I never even thought about stopping the walks. Duh! In a way I hate to do that. Not only does it get her out but me as well :-) But I think I might have to do just that. Thanks.

Val

[Val]

Hi again,

Here's a short update: My dog went 26 1/2 hours without peeing or pooing! I was scared she was going to get an urinary infection or something. I finally couldn't take it anymore and I took her for a walk. Boy, did she squat and go and go and go. I can't believe she's being so stubborn over this. I'll keep trying but I'm not sure I'll stop the walks again - 26 hours without going just can't be healthy.

Val

[Abby]

I used to like to poop in the backyard... but now I've discovered my neighbor's yard. For some reason... I think that is the best pooping spot ever!

My mom's not to happy about that, and she feels like she needs to keep an eye on me everytime I'm outside. I try to sneak over there to poop, but she keeps stopping me.

So... I'm just going to hold my poop in FOREVER! I know I can. Today, I've already held it in since yesterday's dog park outing. (I really had to go bad then, since I had been holding in my poop for over a day also)

My plan... either take me to the dog park, or let me poop in Larry's yard!

Abby the Labradoodle
Visit my dogblog

[*goldenretrievergal*]

Both my dogs used to pee in the house. Not necessarily in the same spot but fr my golden it was one room that she relived her self in. Now we don't allow her in that room when we leave but we do let her have the freedom to wander in the other parts of the house. You just really have to be on top of your dog even if that means taking them out every 5 minutes. We had to block my dog out of that room until she didn't pee when we were home with her.

[Val]

Originally Posted by Val

26 hours without going just can't be healthy.

Thanks for the responses and that was a very funny story about Abby. I talked to my vet's assistant today and she confirmed that it's not healthy to let her go so long without going. It can lead to more than an infection. I'm going in next week to talk to my vet. We might have to go to medication since Pepper also has seperation anxiety. I'm also thinking of going to a behavorist.

The tech said it sounded like I was doing everything right just not getting a good response with Pepper. Since I've only had her 6 weeks and she's approx. 2 years old, we don't know why she's got a problem. So I guess I'm going to have to work on it.

One thing she suggested which I might try is planting a little grass in the mulched area until she gets used to going there. It's a little extreme but I might do it. I'm going to wait until after I talk to the vet though.

Thanks again for the responses. All info is good info.

Val