I read a post somewhere on the board from a breeder who sold a puppy as house trained (or at least on its way, can't remember), then had the puppy returned, and one of it's "problems" was that it was no longer house trained.

Got me thinking... how do you un-house train a dog? especially because I was/am having so many problems with one of mine. Both of my dogs were supposed to be house trained when I got them (at 1-1/2 yrs old, from previous owner through a GSD rescue). Brought them home and one was, one was not-- at least in my house. Wondering if I, in my ignorance, did something to mess up an already house trained dog? I didn't use the crate right away-- obviously that was a mistake. Didn't go back to some house training basics (like taking them out on a leash and praising outside) when the dogs first arrived... that was a mistake. I also thought he might be marking a new house... and kept hoping it would go away-- obviously that was ridiculous . But would any of those things matter to an already house trained dog?? Is there anything I might have done without knowing to encourage him to urinate in the house? I only scolded him (with a firm NO) when I caught him in the act, which was all of twice. The other times were when he was unsupervised... (and yes, I understand now that that was wrong, too, lol). For what it's worth I did give them a definite schedule; cleaned up with the right cleaning products, worked on pack structure. The problem we were having I posted in another thread-- not sure if it's relevant. We're crating and tethering now... working well so far.

This post is about trying to figure out what all I did wrong in the beginning... or if maybe Jake just wasn't house trained to begin with. It occurred to me today that I'll get the basics of having a dog figured out by making all these mistakes and then not be able to use any of the knowledge for another 10+ years, lol. Oh well. I hope it's longer than 10 years before I have to look for another dog

 Quote: carolyn pike

Got me thinking... how do you un-house train a dog?

Carolyn,

I think it is important to remember that the dogs have gone to a completely new environment and they still need to be taught what the rules are.

Also, maybe they did not watch the dog for signs that (s)he needed to go out? That is a big one, people get a dog and are told they are housebroke, so they automatically think the dog will open the door and go outside....

However, I do not see that happening with you at all. It might be the change in his surroundings, perhaps a bit of nervousness and he just "forgot". Some refreshers, like tethering, crating and a midnight potty break would help the dog get back on track.

I do not think it was due to ignorance on your part at all. Lots of people think it is something they did, and forget that changes in a dogs living situation can make them need refresher training.

Hope that helps, and I commend you for already going back to basics....GOOD JOB!!!!

(of course, if it keeps going on there are other factors to consider like UTI's and such, but you stated that all is going well so far so I do not think that plays into your story)

Carolyn, just my two cents if it will help.

I got a schipperke at 6 mos (2 mos ago) and she was crate trained and they said house trained. I asked what she did when she wanted out (I knew she wouldn't open the door!) and they said she ran around in circles.

NOT!

She was in the crate most of the time and let out on a tie out (alone) when they got in from work. So, no, she was only trained to stay in the crate all day and all night and didn't crap in the crate.

I did what you are doing (crate, tether, reward) and backslid a few times and then went back to strict crate,tether, reward.

I am pleased to say that finally she is about 80% housetrained but that's after two months. She still doesn't run in circles and sniff, none of the typical stuff.

I think one of the biggest mistakes I made was when I would take her out and take her out and take her out with no production, I would feel sorry for her and found myself pleading with her to 'Hurry, pp' and when she didn't I would say now I have to put you back in your crate. So when I realized it was just part of her training and nothing to feel sorry for her about, she started doing it. But it was strict crate, tether, reward.

Hope it helps.

Thanks Carol--

lol, although I wish I had done so sooner. I didn't put in my post (although I should have), and I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't go back to basics until almost a year later. We've been crating and tethering and praising outside for a week and a half now. I'm SO late in this. But we're here now~

Part of the problem was that the last time I tried this (2 months ago, after reading the LB house training article) I would take him out on a leash in the back yard, and we'd stand there forever; he'd just want to play. Then I tried taking him out for 10 min. at a time, crated in between until he went. He wouldn't go until I went inside, leaving him out there. Sometimes only when Dixon was out there to urinate on something first; then Jake would follow right along. I lasted about a week of this, then back to the same routine as before . Finally 2 weeks ago it rained for the first time in forever, and the back is muddy in spots (trying to grow new grass) so I took them out to the front yard on leash, and presto- he goes like no tomorrow. So for the last week and a half (+/-) I've been taking him out on the leash to the front so he'll go and I can praise and treat him. We're still crating when he has to be indoors and I'm not home, and spending time tethering. Although after walks when I know he's empty I'll let him off so Dixon and I can watch some TV and Jake and I can play mini-fetch on the living room floor

The next thing will be how do I transfer him over from front yard to back? I'm thinking I'm going to have to try teach the go on command idea, then transfer him back?? we have a ways to go yet before that anyway...

Its entirely possible for a dog to be house trained for one persons house, but not understand the same rules apply in another persons house.

House breaking a dog that already understands the basic concept is easy. Just go back to puppy basics.

Nora- gosh that all sounds familiar!!

No backsliding for me this time either. It's time I got this taken care of.

Jake'll whine a tiny bit if he has to go out to defecate, but almost no signals that he has to urinate. At least I'm missing them all if there are any.

How long should this all take assuming we're strict? How will I know that I can start doing less tethering? when he give me signs he wants to go out?

Are you using a short lead or a long line?

You might try a long line in the backyard and see if a little more space between you and him would work....sounds crazy since he goes in front, but dogs do weird things sometimes.

Carol- using a 6' lead. I have a long line, will give it a try.

I think I let this go for so long that now it's gonna be a pain in the rear to fix ...

 Quote: Carolyn Pike

I think I let this go for so long that now it's gonna be a pain in the rear to fix ...

Nah...your gonna do great!!!! There is already progress so you are definitely on the right track.....

Carolyn, I still have to watch mine like a hawk and still tether most of the time (I've been giving her a little more freedom, but when I do, it's almost always a mistake because I'm not watching as good.)

But when she got serios (or rather I did) it was about 2-3 weeks (very stict).

I use a short lead, but wish I had used a longer one (now I do).

Also, if you read back on a bunck of posts you will see that Connie and others say walk, walk, walk and they are right. They can't hardly hold it when they exercise. I would even do a little dance around/walk to get her excited outside.

Then - immediately after- bring him back in.

Mine would want to stay and play, too. And at first, I took her out so much she thought it was a sniff around and play break instead of a potty break. So I finally cut back to every two hours. Now I don't think she even goes out that much now.

Also, Connie and others said use a word so I say Hurry Up PP over and over and now she looks at me and almost immediately squats. I don't do praise until she is finished.

I keep referring to Connie because she does dogs and not pups and even seniors, too.

She may see this and chime in.

Good luck. But it sounds like you are on the right track.

I read somewhere, probably on a thread here, that is they are accident free for two weeks you can probably presume them to be good. We haven't made it a full two weeks yet, and every accident, I will have to admit, was my fault.