MY DOG IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!!?

Question

My dog was a cute little puppy when we first got her, and acted like any other regular K9 throughout her puppy years. But once she hit the age of 4 or 5, it started. It started out as nothing too big, just a little tinkle here and there around the same places. And they were usually caused by us being out of the house and she had no one to take her out. We thought it was nothing, but as she older, the worse it got. She started peeing on the carpet even when we were there and she knew she wasn't suppose to. And when we moved to a new house was when ALL the chaos began. Barking barking and more barking! Pee all over the carpets and eventually p**p too!! Now at the age of 7, it still continues! sometimes I just want to cry! We have to shampoo our carpets at least twice a month because of this. I feel so embarrassed to invite people into my house because of the pet hair and oder of the carpets! Did I mention that we live in a townhouse too, and the neighbors complain all the time! The dog literally thinks that she runs the house! If she was a child, she would be the most bratty,spoiled kid in the world! We put her upstairs at the front every once in a while and now she thinks that she NEEDS to go there every day! But, we can't put her there because she'll potty! And when I take her out, she won't go, but as soon as I put her at the front, she does go! She is a bassett hound dog and barks at every little thing! Sorry I keep going on and on, but there are no words to explain my frustration towards her behavior!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOMEONE HELP ME!! I THINK I'M GOING TO EXPLODE!!

Answer 1

Perhaps you have been using too much negative reinforcements???

Try it this way, maybe you can walk your dog out every two hours from now on and bring dog treats. Walk her on a leash for at least five minutes! don't just put her in the backyard to go or she will want to play and will forget to go potty until she gets back inside.  if she pees or poops outside, reward her with a food treat.  This will make her want to always go outside and do business.  It's called positive reinforcements, where you find a way to train her that makes her want to do the right thing.

Also, maybe she needs a little more time in the cage to make her understand you have authority over her and she isnt a wild animal in some house.  Do some more review training such as come, sit, lay down, stay...etc.  This should get her a little more under control.

But, if you ever catch her going inside, punish her by scolding and bonking her nose (lightly!).

Also, give her a more attention too, peeing and pooping in the house may be the only way she knows to get your attention!!

Good luck!

Answer 2

well first of all when dogs get older they tend to have problems like my dogs twitches even if you move your hand and she is always scared if you have a pet smart near you i would suggest taking your dog to a PRIVATE dog obedience class and make sure it is PRIVATE  because sometimes dogs get distracted and if that doesnt work take your dog to the vet maybe it has some type of bladder problem and anyways if you dog is a purebred it probablly has some type of frantic disease because all purebred animals get sometype of disease in there life time  

Answer 3

Take her outside. Ignore her until she goes. Don't let her inside until she goes. Wait at least 5 minutes after she has gone just in case she needs to go again. Praise her lots, give her a small treat. Take her out frequently, she needs to re-learn that outside is the place that is where she is rewarded for "going".

Take her to an obedience class, ask your trainer for any pointers. By letting her get away with it when she was 5 she no longer felt that outside was the right place to go. Treat her like she is a puppy again. Every time she goes inside rush her outside. Even when she looks like she is about to go rush her outside. If possible put a dog door in so that she can get outside. She may think that she is the dominant one now. You may need to hire a behavior coach or something like that to help you out.  

Answer 4

best thing you can do is start over and crate train your dog.

Answer 5

Have you brought her to your vet? This could be something medical so really you should get her checked out for everything.  

Answer 6

As silly as it sounds, you are going to need to start all over from square one, and house break her all over again. Also, carpet cleaners will make it look better and smell better to her, but not to you. You need to use an enzymatic cleaner, such as natures miracle, to get the scent out. Remember, dogs noses are much stronger than ours, and if smells like a good place to potty, the dog will potty there. Also, you should crate train her, and crate her while you are gone so she doesn't have the ability to have accidents all over the house. When you are home, have a leash on her tied to you, so that you can see her at all times. Even if she goes in the house, bring her outside immediately so she knows where the right place is to go. A vet check is also always a good idea to make sure that this isn't a medical issue. Many older dogs have trouble holding their bladder.

Do NOT punish her!! She will not understand why you are punishing her, and this will only make her not want to pee in front of you, so she will run away and do it.

Answer 7

old dog syndrome.. Seriously i read about that in my dogs breed book. Google it.

Answer 8

I would suggest a form of punishment. Perhaps every time she goes in the house make her stay outside for 24 hours. Then let her in she will learn that when she goes inside the house she is forced outside for 24 hours and will grow acustom to outdoor "potty" again.

Answer 9

Get a dog behavior therapist in to help you get a handle on her  behavior.  I adopted a dog from a second hand dog agency and she had some major issues.  The dog therapist spent several hours with us and suggested a number of things to discourage behavior.

Your vet might also have some suggestions to make- including a good dog behaviorist.  Your dog might need medication at this stage of her life to help her with whatever ails her.

Answer 10

i think what you have to do is live her outside longer and when you let her in keep an eye on her and if she poops let her know she did wrong and take her out that same moment and let her know she wont be allowed inside if she continues to do that. dogs are smart and they will understand. she has to understand your the boss not the dog. i have 7 dogs and 4 of them are inside dogs i trained them that way and when they want to go outside they scratch on the door to let them out to go pee.

Answer 11

Do not punish her, for any reason!  Punishment is the worst form of dog training, and produces no long-term positive results.

First off, have the vet check her over thoroughly;  tell him of her new behavior, and ask his advice.  One of the first signs of several serious illnesses is a radical change in potty habits.  If there is no physiological cause, consider the possibility that the problem is the recent move,  Granted she had the peeing problem before the move, but this could have begun as a reaction to all the fuss of preparing to move.  Does she have a kennel or crate?  She should have, or a room that is just hers.  A kennel is not just a place to park your dog, it should be their personal shelter and refuge, a retreat  for their Me-Time.  And you might try accompanying her outside on her potty breaks for a week or two, to give her your support and comfort in an unfamiliar new home, so she can grow confident in her changed circumstances.

Also, use an enzymatic cleanser like Nature's Miracle to clean up her accidents; regular cleaners will not remove the smell, so that they remain there as a temptation that will not further her adjustment in a positive fashion.  Give the whole house a thorough cleaning with just such a product, then work on acclimating her to her new home.  I do think your biggest problem is her loss on confidence in the move.  Try spending more time with her in the house and yard, playing or even just hanging out.  And generously strew her toys around the house, so it'll feel more like home to her.