[uneasyrider]

OK here's a bit of backstory about my min-pin.

She is about 9 years old. We adopted her about 2 and a half years ago from a rescue foundation and we've given her a great home with lots and lots of love.

She is deaf.

She doesn't have separation anxiety, as we can leave her alone for quite a while. What she DOES have is anxiety about being locked up away from people. What I mean by this is if she were to be closed up in a bedroom or a crate and she knew people were there, she would absolutely freak out. I'm not exaggerating when I say freaking out either. She throws herself against the door, cries at the top of her lungs, and she will not stop until she is let out (trust me, I've tried).

She gets let out all the time. There is almost always someone there with her. However she doesn't always use the bathroom when she goes out. There have been times when she's been let out (and stayed out for a while)... then come right inside and pee'd or pooped on the floor.

She will NOT use the bathroom in the house in front of us. It is impossible to catch her in the act.

I've tried everything I know how to do. I praise her when she uses the bathroom outside... but it does nothing to help. I've taken her droppings and shown her they belong outside. Nothing. I'm at my wits end.

What is really compounding this is the fact that me and my wife just had twins (our first children). They were premature, so they are still in the hospital (doing great). They will be coming home in a matter of weeks. I've thought about this and I have come to the conclusion that I will not let my children crawl around on a floor that my pet uses as a toilet on an almost daily basis. I know that sounds disgusting, but it's the truth...

We're both very close to our pet. We love her with all of our heart. But if it comes down to choosing to keep our seemingly unreconcilable pet and keeping a clean & sanitary house for our new children... well... it's not even really a question.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I have almost given up hope.

[RubesMom]

First of all, congratulations on your twin babies! Also, congratulations and hooray for adopting an older dog. This dog is deaf, so this may be part of the problem. Possibly the dog feels insecure or unsure because she cannot hear what is going on; she can only see or smell. Dogs rely big time on their hearing. Imagine being a blind person who is taken away from his environment and thrown onto an island of... I don't know, gorillas. Some species that you can barely communicate with. You'd be scared, wouldn't you?
Is the dog often left alone when other people are around? If so, why? She may want to be included in her people's activities. Some dogs really just want to feel as though they are a part of the family and do not like to be left alone, particularly when they know that there are people in the home.
How often do you play with her or walk her? She may need some extra attention for awhile, which will be difficult to give since you now have twins to take care of, but you have made a commitment and you basically have no choice. Please please please consider doing all that you can for her, because if you take her back to a shelter, it is likely that she will be put down, due to her age and deafness. Good luck to you and your dog.

[uneasyrider]

I appreciate your response.

Believe me, I want to do all that I can for our pup (Lucy). I just don't know where to turn to anymore.

Lucy is never left alone when someone is home, she won't have any part of that!! My wife & I work full time, but there is always someone there during the day. We have a home health nurse that takes care of my mother-in-law, who is a quadrapelegic. Lucy sits with the nurse & her grandmother all day.

Lucy isn't an active dog whatsoever. She enjoys taking walks every now and then... but if it were up to her... she would sit inside all day.

I think the toughest thing about her is that she does not let someone know when she has to go outside. She is content just to walk into the other room to do her business. I know you aren't supposed to leave a dog unsupervised when trying to train... but it's practically impossible to follow her every time she goes into another room.

I'm at my wits end... so any advice would help out tremendously.

[poodleholic]

I think the toughest thing about her is that she does not let someone know when she has to go outside. She is content just to walk into the other room to do her business. I know you aren't supposed to leave a dog unsupervised when trying to train... but it's practically impossible to follow her every time she goes into another room.

This is where tethering her to you would be helpful, and to contain her at all other times (with baby gates, or in an x-pen or crate). You must not give her freedom to come and go in the house until she's housetrained. Forget about her age and treat her as if she were just a puppy being housetrained. It will be a pain initially, and may take a few days or a couple of weeks, but worth it in the long run.

Congratulations on your twins!