[BeagleJason]

It was my wife's birthday last week and after months and months of weighing the ups and downs we decided we wanted to get a beagle puppy. I had beagles as a kid and loved them and now that our lives are more stable than they've ever been we felt like we were finally in a place to get a puppy and give him the loving but disciplined "pack" atmosphere he would need.

I work from home so I take him out several times a day to spot that is designated for his potty. When we go out he knows what it is for, does his business and comes back inside the house. Unfortunately he still chews a lot and isn't quite fully housebroken yet so he stays in the crate during the day while I work. We let him out in the mornings to play and eat and in the evenings after we're both done with work. The only time he spends back in the crate is during our meal times when neither of us can watch him.

I've noticed a serious problem with him over the last two weeks however. It seems when we stop paying attention to him he finds a spot and goes potty in the house. He doesn't mess in his crate. He doesn't mess while we're playing. But if for some reason both my wife and I stop paying attention to him, he randomly decides to go potty someplace in the house.

The first time he did it was when my wife found a spider in my office. I have several computers in there with wires everywhere and besides wanting to keep my computers safe, it's not safe for a puppy either. So that room is off-limits for him. I left him in the hall just long enough to come into the room, shut the door, kill the spider and walk out. And when I hit the hallway he had pooped on the floor.

Tonight my wife was eating a snack on the couch and I went into the kitchen to make myself a snack as well, and he walked right over to the front door and pooped. I took him out side, let him do his business and then we came back inside. Later on I was playing with him while my wife watched from the couch. He bit my arm while we were playing so I pulled him off of me and told him "No" in a stern voice. Then I turned to talk to my wife momentarily. When I turned back, he had walked over to another corner of the room and pee'd.

He doesn't go in the same spot everytime. He doesn't do it while I'm scolding him. So it doesn't seem like he thinks any one place is a good potty spot or that it's a submission thing. He gets plenty of regular chances to go potty outside in his spot which he seems to understand is the place for his business. We play with him, get him excercise and feed him on a regular schedule. The only thing I can think he's doing with this is messing to somehow punish us for not paying attention to him. Or perhaps he knows that we suddenly pay LOTS of attention to him when he goes in the house so he does it to get our attention back.


So what do I do? It's driving my wife nuts that he dominates our evenings in the house. Either we pay attention to him or he messes in the house... or we have to keep him in his Crate way more than I think is fair for a little puppy. Is he punishing us? Is there something I'm missing on the housebreaking?? Someone please give me some advice!

THANKS!!

[opokki]

I definately don't think he is trying to "punish" you. Dogs don't find feces or urine offensive so it is unlikely that they would use it to punish other dogs or people. It sounds like he is still young and is just not fully housebroken yet. If he does have an "accident" inside, don't make a big fuss. Just take him outside to finish up and crate him while you clean up.

Activity stimulates the need to eliminate and from your post it seems that frequently he does this after you engage in some activity with him.
For now, it would be best to crate him every time you can't watch him...even if its only for a moment. It may seem like a lot of crate time but keep in mind that it is only short term. Be sure to take him outside after each play session even if he was just out recently.

[Whitney]

My first dog used to potty in the house after play time as well -- I guess all of the excitement made her have to go. We just took her outside right after play, and then she did fine. She is still like that at the dog park, after running around for a bit but at least if we play in the house she runs towards the door and barks.

[alundy]

I think he is doing it because of the attention he recieves after tha fact - it reinforces the behaviour.

You could try tethering him to you (with a leash) for a week or so, that way you can see his every move.

Don't worry, he'll come around!