[mydogiszoe]

hi, i just moved into an appartment with my dog zoe. she is very obedient but two weeks after i moved in she has started going potty in the house. she has NEVER done this before. we stayed at my grandmas for a month while the appartment was being prepped and my grandma's dogs go freely in her house, but my dog never went in her house either (i took the time off of work while staying there and was there all the time or when i was out i took my dog with me), dispite learning many other bad habbits from my grandmas dogs. i dont understand why shes doing this. she is soo well behaved, why is she doing this now. i punish her when she goes in the house, send her to her timeout kennel and scold her. that didnt work, so i started squirting her with a water bottle, that didn't work. its gotten to the point where i take her out for a half an hour at least and she wont go then when we come back in she goes right in front of me. i am very frustrated and if she doesnt stop, she will have to live her life in her kennel. thanks for any help.
april

(here is a little background on zoe: i got zoe about 2 years ago from a breeder. she was 2. i am her 4th owner (and last). she is a rat terrier known for being difficult to train, but when i got her she was already very obedient. she has never been an only dog,(she is now sence we've moved) and the places we've, she's, lived before shes always been allowed to go in and out as she pleases.)

[all4thedogs]

Has she been to the vet to rule out a UTI, or other health problem? This is step #1.

If the vet says she is healthy, it may be behavioral, due to the stress from the move. Start with housetraining 101 again. Crated unless she is supervised, walks outside etc. Treat her as a puppy again

[mydogiszoe]

thanks.
yes she had to have a check up to move to the appartment (a requirement). it feels like shes doing it deliberatly to be spiteful. i know shes lonely, but getting another dog is out of the question for now.

[Curbside Prophet]

I concure with all4thedogs. In stressful times, you'll have to anticipate a return to kindergarten for your dog. Give her some time to reaquaint herself to your home. And as far as I know, dogs are not capable of spite...that's a human characteristic that you may be attaching to your dog. Dogs are more reactionary than dwellers like us humans. So on your dogs behalf I ask that you give her a break. And I mean that with as much amusement as possible.

[tirluc]

let's see....you just moved to a new place and she has just become an only dog......sounds like major stress and demands for attention to me......i agree w/ the housebreaking 101 and starting fom basics again......make sure she potties b/4 bringing her in and love the heck out of her when she does.....if she doesn't go, then straight to the crate till the next time out (and carry her if you have to when you bring her in)

[mydogiszoe]

wonderfull news. ive been takeing zoe to the park every day and the problem has stopped! we walk to the park, about half a mile, and stay for about an hour, i let her chase the squirrels,(its all fenced), which she loves. she'll spend twenty minutes jumpping at the base of a tree a squirrel has gone up. its hysterrical. we get home, and the rest of the day she napps. yesterday she started this thing where when i ask her if she needs to go out she runs to the door, (she's always done this), but the new thing is that when i open the door she runs outside, down the stairs and to the grass, then when she's done, she runs right back in. its great!. thanks for everyone's advice.