[FINCH]

OK, i am at wits end with my 1.5 year old female Shorkie. She came to me at the age of 6 mths, and i was driving long haul and she lived in the truck with me. She has always been a hyper dog, and a somewhat disobedient. She has always had issues with going pee and poo in the house. I can let her out, and she can do her "biz" and not long after i let her in she will piss somewhere else. I just had her spayed 3 weeks ago and she had a thorough check up and was perfect in all aspects. She pees on my bed sometimes, she pees on the floors, and today was the most amazing! She got up on the kitchen table, licked the table clean and PEED ON THE TABLE. I just found it and cleaned it up! Have you ever heard of such a thing?

We moved into this new house (brand new) about a month ago. She is comfortable in it. Also i bought her a shock collar for her excessive barking in the evenings and have "zapped" her MAYBE 6 times for her barking. That is the only changes. I strongly doubt she has a bladder infection or a weak bladder. I have reason to believe she is just doing it out of spite. The past couple weeks she has been getting up on the chair or table and getting yelled at. But not slapped. And never zapped for it yet. I have never had such a difficult dog to train in my life!


HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Willowy]

What have you done for potty training? I suspect she never got the idea in the first place, so going back to potty training 101 like you would with a new puppy will probably be necessary.

What other training have you done? How much exercise does she get?

Dogs don't do things out of spite. But stress can have a terrible effect.

 

[Zoey's Mommy]

well, punishing her for going in the house sends the wrong message. The message dog's get when people do that is they are bad for pottying in front of you. Instead, closely monitor when she eats and drinks, take her outside about 20 minutes after and praise her for pottying outside. (side note: Growing up my mother was always the sort to "rub their nose in it," and she has never successfully housetrained one dog in the 70 years she's been alive. I do the food monitoring, and I have 100% successfully house trained 4 dogs that way. Three of which were rescues. I'm 36. So the "old way" is clearly the wrong way.)


It sounds like you have a second issue, getting up place where doggies don't belong. The suggested method for dealing with this is "all four on the floor all the time." For at least 6 months, she needs to stay on the floor, no bed, no couch, nothing. all 4 on the floor, end of story. THEN you can work on teaching her about being "invited" up on furniture. When she tries to get on furniture, give her something to do that you want her to do, like a "sit" or a "down." This gives you a reason to praise her, and build your relationship. Otherwise, you'll end up "no-ing" her out. A few cocktails, for you, definately aids in the process.

Lastly, don't bother punishing your dog for something they do while you're away. They have short attention spans, and will only associate punishment with you coming home. and don't let your aunt martha convince you the dog "looks guilty" cause they know they did domething wrong... if your dog acts like that, then all it really means is she thinks she's gonna be punished everytime you come home.

I'm not one of those people that preach positive for everything, but positive reinforcement is where I start when solving a problem.

 

[ManyRoses]

I would agree that you may have to start potty training from scratch again. Limit food and water access (meal times ONLY, or water after exercise, ice cubes in the evening or when it is hot out) and time how long she can hold her bladder. All the basics need to be covered again.

Give her LOTS of positive reinforcement, and go easy on negative unless you catch her in the act. As Zoey's Mommy said, dogs have a very short memory span. If you come home, find the pee, and then punish, she won't understand WHY she is being punished. In the act, you do need to do something to show her it is not ok, but positive reinforcement is far more important than negative.

However, it does sound like you have bigger issues, and the peeing is just a symptom. She is up on furniture, barking excessively, etc etc. Sounds to me that she is either bored out of her brain, or has little respect for you as the alpha in the house. Dogs tend to bark either out of boredom (they are barking for attention) or if you are not home, they are barking at perceived threats, because they feel that they are not safe in the house, or that they must protect it - either way, it suggests that they are not confident that you are protecting the house when you are not there. I would go back to training 101 on ALL aspects, and start to assert your leadership.

 

[GreatDaneMom]

However, it does sound like you have bigger issues, and the peeing is just a symptom. She is up on furniture, barking excessively, etc etc. Sounds to me that she is either bored out of her brain, or has little respect for you as the alpha in the house. Dogs tend to bark either out of boredom (they are barking for attention) or if you are not home, they are barking at perceived threats, because they feel that they are not safe in the house, or that they must protect it - either way, it suggests that they are not confident that you are protecting the house when you are not there. I would go back to training 101 on ALL aspects, and start to assert your leadership.

ok that... thats just really silly....i can agree with being bored and needing more but, the alpha stuff is silly. and suggesting the dog feels the need to protect the house because they think they are the alpha is silly too. my dogs protect my house just fine and i have NO issues anywhere else with them. its very common for dogs to bark at things they feel are in "their territory", its very natural.

 

[EdDTS]

Try a walk 30-45 minutes every single day at a steady pace. Excessive barking usually comes from pent up energy. I'm sure many of the other problems will go away once she gets out all that energy. She'll also be more obedient since she has gotten rid of her frustrations.
You have to get rid of your frustrations as well. Working with your dog calmly is the only way for her to want to listen to you. Dogs are experts at reading energy, so if you aren't calm but are trying to act calm, they'll know. Who wants to listen to someone that is yelling and zapping them with a shock collar all the time? Would you? You listen to someone who calmly tells you to do something.
Dogs don't do things out of spite, they aren't capable of that, so that's out the window.

 

[poindexterwz]

Lastly, don't bother punishing your dog for something they do while you're away.

 

[FINCH]

OK, i never scold her when i find her mistakes. I know she has no clue what she would be scolding for. She knows it's bad what she did, as i clean it she cowers away, she knows she did bad.

As for energy, she is a hyper dog, and i am unfortunately not. I am thinking of getting a cheap treadmill for her to run on each day. I am sure this will help.

As for the "Four on the floor" i am use to letting her sleep with me, and get on the couch, and other stuff. I just need to catch her going where i do NOT want her to go. All my dogs growing up knew it was ok on the couch and lazy boy but the table was a no-no.

As for the zapper, i never liked it, and think i will return it as i was told to give it a try. It breaks my heart to give her a zap and have her run to me for protection when she gets zapped, not knowing i am the one doing it. I don't think she is marking her territory, i just think she gets angry and does it out of spite. I really do. I just might have to go back to potty training 101. I usually just tie her out, let her do her business and let her in.

 

[Kayota]

I think you should walk your dog rather than buy it a treadmill.

 

[HollowHeaven]

i just think she gets angry and does it out of spite. I really do.

It's not safe to assume that your dog is trying to spite you. I'm inclined to believe animals don't sit and contemplate spiting their owners, and besides that, what would she have to spite you about? Since, ya know, you're not scolding her for her mistakes.

I just might have to go back to potty training 101

If you never did it in the first place, I'd say yeah, go back to that. There should be no yelling, no zapping, or scolding, no rubbing noses in it, nothing like that. Keep on her, clean up after her, put her on a schedule. It'll be like having a puppy.

I usually just tie her out, let her do her business and let her in.

This is not helping her. You need to go out with her ON A LEASH and walk her around, and say "go potty' or whatever phrase or word you like. When it happens, give her lots of praise and take her back in. Tying her outside so long she has to use the bathroom isn't teaching her anything. It's just setting her outside. A dog sits long enough and it'll have to pee eventually.

Go through your house to her usual potty spots and give them a thorough cleaning with something (I'm sure someone else can suggest a particular product) that will completely remove the scent. And after that it's a matter of treating her as if she were a small puppy. You'll have to monitor her water intake, take her out frequently, praise her outside potties, clean after her inside ones, etc.


As for exercise, it's not optional with dogs, no matter the size, breed or age. The levels vary from dog to dog but it's a must-do-everyday thing. Even if you'd rather pop a squat on the sofa, you need to get up and take your dog out for several brisk walks a day. When inside, provide her with mentally stimulating toys like a treat stuffed kong or anything else that will keep her mind going. Give her things to chew, play fetch with her. A tired dog is a good dog.
Just as an example, I am very overweight, stay sick, am pretty lazy and I keep a headache most of the time, and I deal with depression. Yet, my two youngest go for no less than two walks a day, for an hour each, with lots of hard play time before and after, every day. And at least once a day, they are both allowed to run on a long lead. This is an every day thing. It surely won't kill a person to get up and walk their dog once or twice a day, Lol. My oldest, the chihuahua in my sig. is pretty high energy and plays fetch for hours on end, indoors. You don't even have to leave the couch. Pretty good deal.

 

[Kayota]

Honestly, I take no greater delight in anything than I do in doing something with my dog. A simple walk, a vigorous training session, running around the yard or just going to the store, there's really nothing better in this world than spending time with my dog... And I don't understand how anyone with a dog can feel differently. Maybe I'm nuts... But I think you would at least enjoy a simple walk, OP.

 

[EdDTS]

As for energy, she is a hyper dog, and i am unfortunately not. I am thinking of getting a cheap treadmill for her to run on each day. I am sure this will help.

So you will spend money on a treadmill when the solution to her hyperactivity is a 30-45 minute walk a day for free? I'm afraid I don't see the logic in this. If you can't spend 30-45 minutes with a dog, why do you even have a dog?

As for the "Four on the floor" i am use to letting her sleep with me, and get on the couch, and other stuff. I just need to catch her going where i do NOT want her to go. All my dogs growing up knew it was ok on the couch and lazy boy but the table was a no-no.

Catching her in the act when she is hyperactive does nothing, she will do it again and again and again because it gets you to give her attention, even if it's negative attention, you'd be surprised what a dog will deal with for attention. There was this dog I once knew that the owners would literally hit it hard, with newspapers, shoes, wooden boards, you name it, and the dog would continue the behavior all because it wanted some attention. When I told them to take it for a walk, all of a sudden she wasn't jumping on people, nipping people's ankles, and digging in the backyard. And when they kept walking it, the dog continued to not do the bad behavior. You've got a different dog than you did growing up, and this dog has different needs.

i just think she gets angry and does it out of spite. I really do. I just might have to go back to potty training 101. I usually just tie her out, let her do her business and let her in.

Come to terms with the fact that you are not fulfilling your dogs needs(aka physical and mental stimulation) and these silly ideas of your dog doing things out of spite will go away. Accept that you are at fault, not the dog.
Setting up a schedule for using the potty will prevent accidents and eventually the dog will learn to use the restroom wherever you have wanted it to go on it's own, and you won't need the schedule anymore.
Exercise, discipline and affection in that order. You fulfill the dogs needs with exercise, you do training(discipline) after the mind has gotten rid of excess stimulation, and when the dog does what you want you give all that affection and love.
I hope this helps.

 

[hanksimon]

I don't have a house training suggestion... you have enough of those. But I have a theory about peeing on the table.

I've noticed that sometimes my dog would eat a crumb of bread or left over potato chip at the Park. Afterwards, he would pee on the plastic bag, or on that spot. So, my theory is that he is not marking to show ownership in this case, but is leaving a scent to let himself know that he was already there and had already eaten all the good stuff... no need to sniff for goodies any more...

 

[Bordermom]

You've gotten some great advice. Start walking her twice a day, even if it's just ten minutes to start and build up your endurance as well as hers. The treadmill should be to finish tiring her out, but you should also get out and walk, even if you're not hyper, it's good for you.

Start back at square one with potty training like she's a baby puppy. Do not let her out of sight for a good month, if you can't watch her use a crate or small pen to confine her. Take her out often (yes, you with the leash outside).

If you find a puddle on the floor, take some rolled up newspaper, hit yourself in the forehead ten times (firmly or you won't learn) while repeating 'I forgot to watch my dog, I forgot to watch my dog......'. You just have to learn and not let her sneak off and pee somewhere. Stop being 'spiteful' of your dog. Really, that makes more sense than your dog being spiteful. They just don't think that much.

 

[Hambonez]

This sounds like a good time to stop being lazy and start taking your dog out for walks! It will be good for both of you.

 

[Amaryllis]

Putting the dog in the back yard teaches her nothing. She has no idea why you want her out there unless you stay out there and praise and treat every single potty.

Dogs aren't spiteful. They're not mentally capable of it. She isn't housetrained, she needs way more exercise and way more training. You're blaming her for your own deficiencies as an owner.

Get out there and walk! Treadmills are not the same as walks. Walking not only physically exercises a dog, it mentally exercises a dog. 30% of a dog's brain is devoted to smell. What smells are there on a treadmill? Dogs need walks. The thing is, so do humans. Walking won't just make your dog behave better, it will improve your heart, blood pressure, joint function and overall mental health. (Walking is as effective for depression as prozac, and prozac is very effective.)

Get off the internet, give your dog a pat and put on your shoes!

 

[GreatDaneMom]

Putting the dog in the back yard teaches her nothing. She has no idea why you want her out there unless you stay out there and praise and treat every single potty.

Dogs aren't spiteful. They're not mentally capable of it. She isn't housetrained, she needs way more exercise and way more training. You're blaming her for your own deficiencies as an owner.

Get out there and walk! Treadmills are not the same as walks. Walking not only physically exercises a dog, it mentally exercises a dog. 30% of a dog's brain is devoted to smell. What smells are there on a treadmill? Dogs need walks. The thing is, so do humans. Walking won't just make your dog behave better, it will improve your heart, blood pressure, joint function and overall mental health. (Walking is as effective for depression as prozac, and prozac is very effective.)

Get off the internet, give your dog a pat and put on your shoes!

i feel like im supposed to send you money now for listening to your pep/self motivation talk.... you made me want to go for a walk.... then my dogs looked at me like i was crazy. maybe you should come talk to them for me?

 

[The Feather Duster]

Dogs are simply not deep thinkers. Nor are many humans, now that I think deeply about it.

As well, dogs are not spiteful creatures as others have said. Their canine brains are not wired for spite. Or guilt, which is often mistaken for appeasement behaviour. Dogs want their humans to be happy with them for many reasons, including survival, getting goodies, attention, love, etc.

Most, if not all, dogs want to please their owners. It's just that sometimes wires get crossed, messages between dog and human are misunderstood and problems are the result.

I can read and understand my dog about 98% of the time and respond to what she is telling me. But there is that 2% where I'm flummoxed as to what she wants me to know. Hungry? No. Potty need? No. Toy desire? No. Too hot and need the A/C on? Yes and bingo. Sometimes, it's just a cuddle she is after.

It's often just a matter of knowing your dog. And that can take time if your dog is new to you.