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I have a 6 1/2 year old Cocker Spaniel who I have Crate trained his entire life. He has never fully potty trained and, despite being in his kennel at night and being let out every hour(I have a timer) he still wets/poops on the carpet on a regular basis.
Because he has been untrainable he ends up being imprisoned in his kennel a lot or taken with me everywhere. He has never once had an accident in his kennel or in the car while waiting for me. Until a few months ago, I worked nights and to avoid locking him in his kennel 16 hours per day (while at work and sleeping) I took him with me to work where he slept in his bed in the car and I let him out every hour. Still, there are accidents regularly; small urine spots or big poops.
He is an extremely unintelligent dog. I know that sounds mean but friends/family often mention to me that he's "not the sharpest tool in the shed" or "dumb as a box of rocks." It took weeks and hundreds of repetitions to train him to sit and shake when other dogs pick it up in an afternoon. He is also as silent as a mouse; never ever barking so he doesn't understand signaling me if he has a potty emergency. The idea of going while he's outside is way beyond his comprehension. His mind doesn't think to let loose until he absolutely has to go and its too late.
I got married four months ago and moved to live with my wife in British Columbia. Since then, his problem has persisted. Despite sharing the cottage with her well-trained dog to observe, being kenneled at night, walked every day and having me home to let him out hourly(I'm waiting for my permanent residency so I can legally work) I still walk into the living room and find surprise pee spots or poo on the carpet(the only carpet in the house) and him having retreated to his kennel. he knows what he did was wrong but still decided to go instead of holding it.
The potty problem has put an immense stress on my relationship with my wife. She is a patient woman but is extremely fed up with the continual messes and the pee smell we can no longer get rid of despite trying several products. Last night turned into a HUGE fight after yet another accident and I realized that my dogs chronic problem has become a liability for my marriage. I also feel like I've developed a lot of resentment/anger towards my dog which I feel guilty about because I fully know that he is just a dog and not trying to hurt anyone.
I need some ideas quickly or I am going to be forced to send him back with my parents when they visit from Oregon in a week. Right now we are broke since I cant work and cant afford to pay a trainer, build an outdoor run/fence the yard(no garage), or make other dog related investments. I would have to send him away and give things another go when my residency comes through.
I love my dog and don't want to be apart from him for up to 9 months. What can I possibly do? Should I try hanging a bell from the door and training him to ring it? I'm at my wits end and need a solution.
Thanks
Because he has been untrainable he ends up being imprisoned in his kennel a lot or taken with me everywhere. He has never once had an accident in his kennel or in the car while waiting for me. Until a few months ago, I worked nights and to avoid locking him in his kennel 16 hours per day (while at work and sleeping) I took him with me to work where he slept in his bed in the car and I let him out every hour. Still, there are accidents regularly; small urine spots or big poops.
He is an extremely unintelligent dog. I know that sounds mean but friends/family often mention to me that he's "not the sharpest tool in the shed" or "dumb as a box of rocks." It took weeks and hundreds of repetitions to train him to sit and shake when other dogs pick it up in an afternoon. He is also as silent as a mouse; never ever barking so he doesn't understand signaling me if he has a potty emergency. The idea of going while he's outside is way beyond his comprehension. His mind doesn't think to let loose until he absolutely has to go and its too late.
I got married four months ago and moved to live with my wife in British Columbia. Since then, his problem has persisted. Despite sharing the cottage with her well-trained dog to observe, being kenneled at night, walked every day and having me home to let him out hourly(I'm waiting for my permanent residency so I can legally work) I still walk into the living room and find surprise pee spots or poo on the carpet(the only carpet in the house) and him having retreated to his kennel. he knows what he did was wrong but still decided to go instead of holding it.
The potty problem has put an immense stress on my relationship with my wife. She is a patient woman but is extremely fed up with the continual messes and the pee smell we can no longer get rid of despite trying several products. Last night turned into a HUGE fight after yet another accident and I realized that my dogs chronic problem has become a liability for my marriage. I also feel like I've developed a lot of resentment/anger towards my dog which I feel guilty about because I fully know that he is just a dog and not trying to hurt anyone.
I need some ideas quickly or I am going to be forced to send him back with my parents when they visit from Oregon in a week. Right now we are broke since I cant work and cant afford to pay a trainer, build an outdoor run/fence the yard(no garage), or make other dog related investments. I would have to send him away and give things another go when my residency comes through.
I love my dog and don't want to be apart from him for up to 9 months. What can I possibly do? Should I try hanging a bell from the door and training him to ring it? I'm at my wits end and need a solution.
Thanks