I'm having trouble with one of my two dogs-- both came from the same home; the first one (Dixon) was a katrina puppy the woman adopted, the second (Jake) she purchased about 3 months following adopting Dixon. According to her they were housebroken.

Since bringing them home (Feb. 07) Dixon has never been a problem. Jake, however, is definitely not housetrained-- or at least not in my house. I didn't have a crate for him for two months or so (talk about being ill-prepared; I had only planned on adopting ONE dog, so I only had one crate that was too small for Jake), and by the time I finally got one ordered, I had them both on a schedule and he only peed in the house once every month or two... but its still going on! I get so I think we're doing good, and then I come home and find a puddle; but then he won't do it again for another month or two!?! I was being stubborn and refused to crate jake while I was gone... I wish I'd followed Ed's advice a long time ago!!

The thing that finally got to me was coming home two days after putting up the xmas tree to find that he'd peed on one of the lower branches!!!! Luckily its a fake tree, but still. He's been crated when I'm not there ever since, and I purchased Ed's housetraining article.

What I'd like some input on is if anyone has some suggestions why he does it so infrequently? I don't think any of the occasions were because he hadn't been let out often enough. Even though we're running through this like he's not housetrained, I want to try and understand why he does this; otherwise I'm not sure the housetraining scheme will fix the problem? Is it a dominance issue? or that he just doesn't get it?

I've noticed now that it helps when dixon goes with us; usually jake will pee/mark (not sure which) in the same spot immediately following dixon. I assume he's trying to infer dominance. He only gets off-leash to play in the yard after he's peed. I've been going to the same spot each time...

I have been letting them have free run of the (fenced) backyard for a few hours in the morning until I come home for lunch. Is this hindering our 'training'? Jake is a lot more manageable energy-wise when he's had some extra run around time, but if it'll make the housetraining go faster I'll make time for extra exercise while I'm home...

any help is appreciated!!

p.s. sorry-- they're +/- 2.5 yrs old

I doubt it's a dominance thing. The infrequency can probably be attributed to the fact that he just finds himself really needing to go, and has no insentive to hold it.

Work on the housetraining and rewarding him for going outside (look at the thread "Peeing on command" in General, I believe).

I assume that you've started crating them when you're gone? Limit his free access to the house, work on housetraining for a few months, then, if the problem still occurs, it may be worth talking about.

just saw the thread on peeing on command-- thanks! It was also very helpful.

I've just been crating Jake when I'm gone... haven't had any problems with Dixon so figured I'd still let him have the run of the house (with limits-- some doors are closed). Is there any harm in doing this as long as he doesn't cause trouble?

It's absolutely your call. If you have a dog that has no dominance issues and is trustworthy with run of the house while you're away, I see no reason not to allow them the level of freedom that you are comfortable with.

However, you have to accept 100% responsibility for anything that gets destroyed or eaten when you're not home. If you can do that, you're golden.

lol- many pairs of shoes later, I understand that principle.

I remind myself a) put it away, b) double check you put everything important away, and c) if it got eaten its your own fault!!!