I appreciate all suggestions. I've tried to provide enough background to get comments started but it's hard to include everything.

Jodi, when we first got her we were told she was housetrained. We would take her for a 2-3 mile walk twice a day and she went while walking. Nothing in the house other than a marking incident during the first few days. When on the walks and she would go, we started using our cue words and trying to treat immediately upon completion. She wouldn't take the treats and just wanted to head off again. We kept at it and sometimes she would take a treat other times not. We didn't realize we had an issue until it got so cold out we felt it unsafe to go for the long walks. Here we found out she will just hold it until she can't anymore--but she can hold it for 50 hours so far.

We have tried her on a lunge line and let her work circles around us. We have tried a short line and she had her heel back and forth releasing her on occasion using our cue words. Nothing.

Bob, we've tried keeping her crated and taking her out every half hour or so. That can go on for days without any potty at all.

Betty, I'm not sure what not feeding her accomplishes and I have not tried that. I also have not tried the suppository yet. When she does go in the correct area out of desperation we give her cooked chicken--a very high value treat to her. Then we start the LONG clock all over again. We are not walking her for exercise as we address this issue. That doesn't seem healthy to me but that's what we're doing. She doesn't care that she has gone in the correct spots before. She doesn't even seem to "register" that.

We talked to our vet and trainer. I did not ask specifically about Lasix but the vet said we were doing the right things and she didn't have any other ideas. Ditto for the trainer.

I'm sure our frustration IS showing and I can't help but think we're probably doing SOMETHING wrong. But we're not first timers either. There is a ton of collective wisdom in this forum so I'm glad to take advantage of it. :\

I think Betty is aiming to make the food reward that she gets for going in the appropriate area is a massive, HUGE deal in the dog's mind as a result of A. hunger and B. treat value.

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Edited by Kristin Muntz (01/16/2014 10:43 AM)
Edit reason: duplicate

Hey Paul, I think "accidents in the house" means she wasn't actually housetrained. It kinda sounds like they just restricted her to an area where she probably wouldn't want to mess, and only did when she couldn't help it. And then at the opposite end, she was allowed complete free run to do whatever, where ever.

At 4yrs, its pretty ingrained with her. Keep in mind too, some dogs just need a lot of moving around to go. I've had dogs that can hit a target on command for you. I've got one, that beelines to the pea gravel and then paces for 15mins before he can go. There's no reward that matters. He's gotta go, and he will. When he's ready.

I think you'll just need to be patient and consistant, and don't pressure her even if its cold and you're frustrated. The less of a big deal you make, the better.

My goal with the food deprivation and food reward was to clarify in the dog's mind that this behavior, elimination, is something that the you want to see and will reward. This is a behavior like "sit" or "down", it is not something for the dog is to just choose to do or not do based on their own whim. Elimination is the # 1 reason for going outdoors. Exercise, training, play, hunting squirrels-----all that is just extra.

If the reward is good enough and your timing with the reward is good enough the dog will choose to repeat the behavior. She may actually pee in front of you inside the house, just to see what happens. Hopefully you'll be able to rush her outside, have her piddle there, and reward that.



Very clean dogs will hold their urine long enough to raise their blood urea nitrogen, long enough to make themselves sick.

It sounds like your dog is not housebroken at all but is naturally clean. Once she figures out what you want she's going to be great.

The hard ones have lost the desire to be clean. That can be an impossible thing to overcome.

Hi Paul, has she had kidney function tests done? I'm no expert on doggie renal systems but generally the kidneys produce a certain amount of urine per hour usually resulting in a full bladder in so many hours, if she is drinking a normal amount of water holding her bladder for 30-50 hours is not normal, unless she is going someplace you don't know about. If this were my dog I would not start any medications to make her go without kidney function tests but that is jmo. And if everything is normal I give her credit, she's got an iron bladder, lol.

Betty, thanks for the clarification.

Jodi, she has had blood work and extensive urinalysis done. Except for the couple of mistakes I mentioned we are not giving her the opportunity to go somewhere we don't know about. I think she's got that iron bladder AND bowel. I really think her prior life was what messed her up. She just was never really formally potty trained and she doesn't associate the feeling of needing to go with actually having to go.

We are doing our best to be patient and not let the frustration show. That is much easier said than done!

Ah, good, glad to hear she is in good physical health.

Well, CJ peed and pooped in our preferred place out of desperation. We then took her for a regular walk and she pooped 3 more times! Now in the yard we seem to start over again. I'm thinking we'll just need to stay the course . . .

 Quote: Paul Shenefelt

Well, CJ peed and pooped in our preferred place out of desperation. We then took her for a regular walk and she pooped 3 more times! Now in the yard we seem to start over again. I'm thinking we'll just need to stay the course . . .

It will all work out in the end!