House trained when I'm home, but then I go to work...

ted · 01-16-2008, 01:47 AM

Hey guys -

I have a boston terrier, almost 2 and only 8 pounds, and I'm having some difficulty with potty training. When I'm around the house and giving him attention, he's perfectly behaved as far as not pottying in the house.
However, when I leave, he goes to town on the carpet. I installed a dog door, so it's not a problem of being trapped inside, and (I think) he knows it's wrong because he skulks around the house all guilty until I find the presents he's left for us.
I feel like he's trying to punish us for leaving him alone?

As for his training, he was first paper trained in his litter, then pads, then grass, all with treat reinforcement, and the couple times I caught him in the act I did the yelling mid-pee dash through the house
to get him outside while trying to aim him away from the upholstery...

Anybody have any suggestions?

Dakota Spirit · 01-16-2008, 01:56 AM

First, he's not punishing you

. Dogs go not have the mental capacity to form revenge or do something out of spite or punishment.

How long is he alone while you are at work? It's possible he is house trained while you are home because you are taking him out regularly and he has no reason to go on the carpet. I assume while at work he is alone for a longer interval of time.

Does he actually know how to use the dog door? Have you seen him use it?

Once he does soil the carpets, what do you clean it up with?

Aussiefan · 01-16-2008, 02:21 AM

My only suggestion would be to crate him when you are not home. If you are gone for too long of a period of time is there any way you can take him with you, and have him crated in your office (if that is where you go, lol)? Right now my newly adopted BC goes with me if im going to be gone for too long, if its just short trips, he stays in his crate at the house. I don't trust him in the house, not with the pottying, but you can just imagine the possibilties with a crazy/ton-o-energy 1yr old Border Collie unsuperivsed in a house, lol! I am lucky with my job in that i work outside, so a fair amout of the time he can be with me, otherwise he is crated in my Tahoe but with lots of potty and fun breaks.

ted · 01-16-2008, 06:24 PM

Thanks guys!

I've seen him use the dog door, and at first I thought it had fixed the problem because for a few days all went well with fresh daily deposits on the lawn, but now he seems more arbitrary. I've been using nature's miracle to clean up his messes. I do think you might be right about him not being really potty trained, because it occurred to me that I do take him out a lot whenever I'm home, he recognizes the command "go potty" and flies out the dog door and onto the lawn, but maybe he doesn't recognize that it's bad to go inside, and doesn't see any incentive not to when I'm not around? Maybe I should give him a refresher course of crate training?

Dakota Spirit · 01-16-2008, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ted

Thanks guys!

I've seen him use the dog door, and at first I thought it had fixed the problem because for a few days all went well with fresh daily deposits on the lawn, but now he seems more arbitrary. I've been using nature's miracle to clean up his messes. I do think you might be right about him not being really potty trained, because it occurred to me that I do take him out a lot whenever I'm home, he recognizes the command "go potty" and flies out the dog door and onto the lawn, but maybe he doesn't recognize that it's bad to go inside, and doesn't see any incentive not to when I'm not around? Maybe I should give him a refresher course of crate training?

Oh good, I was going to suggest Nature's Miracle.

Anyway, a refresher course sounds like a good idea too me. Having your crate training down solidly can help with a lot of situations - including housebreaking.

Good luck! And feel free to ask any more questions you may have.

Elana55 · 01-17-2008, 01:47 PM

When you are not home, is there a way you can set up the crate so when he comes IN the dog door he is IN the crate and cannot run about the house? Just an idea.

Yes.. sounds like a back to square one thing. BTW have you ever punished him for going in the house AFTER finding it? Like when you come home?? Do you blow your stack, even if not at the dog when you find it???

Doesn't work. Dog only knows that when you come home you can sometimes be 'dangerous.' No association with the potty in the house thing at all. Dog trots around looking guilty because he knows you 'can' be dangerous when you come home from work and he is trying to appease you.