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Help! Puppy peeing inside - but only when I am home?

Hi there,

My husband and I adopted our terrier/dachshund mix a few months ago - she is now 6 months old. We were told she was completely house-trained and until now she has been extremely good. I am gone 10 hours a day, so I have a dog walker come in during the day to let her out for a potty break and take her round the block. She gets a 45 minute walk in the morning and either another 45 minute walk or dog park time in the evening, plus I throw a ball for her down the hallway of my apartment block a few times as well :)

When I take her out to do her business she knows "tiddle tiddle" is the command for peeing, and "go potty" for pooping. We are pretty close to having her go on command.

However, the last few days she has started peeing in our living room, but only when I'm home. We have all-hard flooring so I feel I would spot it if she was going at other times. She has "picked a spot" which I covered with the coffee table today and I'm going to pick up some Nature's Miracle to deodorize it so it isn't marked. My other plans are to make more frequent potty breaks for her in the evenings, and to possibly confine her to my kitchen/bedroom/entrance area (sealing off the living room) when I'm not home, as that is mostly tile. What else would folks suggest?

I am really stressed out about this as I've been dealing with a number of behavioural issues that I've worked through, but I'm absolutely not equipped to housebreak a puppy. My work are not comfortable with frequent remote working so I am gone too long, my husband is currently deployed, and I can't afford to have someone come in multiple times a day. I don't want to have to rehome her but I am worried I may have to if I'm not able to fix this. Willing to try anything!

Comments

I would recommend a doggy door: http://www.carpetrenovations.com/blog/pet-stains-odors-products-blog/how-effective-is-a-doggy-door If the problem persist here are some spot cleaning tips: http://www.carpetrenovations.com/blog/pet-stains-odors-products-blog/how-to-remove-pet-urine-from-carpet%3C/p%3E (http://www.carpetrenovations.com/blog/pet-stains-odors-products-blog/how-to-remove-pet-urine-from-carpet)

5 Answers

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First off, I'd suggest patience! :)

Since the problem seems to be while you're home, I'd suggest for the time being, keeping her within sight at all times while you're home. That may mean putting her on a leash, or fencing her off in the room that you're in, make sure she's always with you. This way you can keep an eye on her for signs that she's trying to tell you she has to go.

When I adopted my second dog, shortly after adopting him, he went through a phase where he peed while we were present, just after coming inside from a walk. I did what I suggested above and made sure to take him out anytime it even seemed like he might need to go. After sometime, I gradually gave him more freedom as I felt appropriate and he hasn't had a problem since.

I imagine it may be one of two things, either your little girl really does have to go and when you're there she doesn't feel she can hold it as long and/or you're not noticing her signs. Or two, she's having some trouble adjusting to a change (could be anything) in your home and this is how she's coping/dealing/showing you.

I'm not a expert but hopefully my two-cents will help!

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Thank you for your two cents! It makes me feel better to know I'm not alone. Last night I had her follow me around while I was doing chores about the house and generally just watched her v closely, plus regular trips outside. No inside peeing last night, so fingers crossed that continues :)

That's great news!

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Dogs have a plateau which seems to occur around 2 months after learning something. It can appear to be disobedience, but it's more like amnesia. They seem to disassociate what they learned, and have to learn it again. (But, it comes back quickly.). Maybe she learned a lot coming to your home. If it's plateau just be patient and start over as if she doesn't know anything. You can google about it.

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I'd heard of that before. We've been going to puppy training class and such so it could be a "puppy brain fart". Going to keep strongly praising when she goes outside and watch her like a hawk! Thank you for the advice :)

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I suggest going with the suggestions above. I recently adopted a dog who's previous adoptive owners said "Don't bring her back." She is the SWEETEST dog. But, she is a puppy. She has LOTS of energy and loves to be outside, so she used to bolt for the door. We chased her a LOT the first few weeks. I am guessing that is what the previous owners got tired of doing. Then, she started pooping in my son's bed. ONLY his bed. Not ever in my bed, or even my room! Only HIS bed. And she would do it with him sitting RIGHT THERE. I told him that he: #1. Is not paying attention to her signs. #2. Is not seen as an alpha. He started paying more attention, walking her more, and being more involved. She hasn't pooped anywhere except outside for a few weeks now.

Best of luck!!!

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Put down a wee-wee pad is that one spot. And while your not home she doesn't pee so that's fine. Just take her out for more bathroom breaks.

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Remember she's still a baby.

Since she's peeing only when you're home, you can control it! It would be a lot tougher if it was when you were off to work etc. Plus she's a smaller breed, I find the smaller dogs have a tougher time just because they have smaller bladder in general. Also it's not uncommon for relapses. Sometimes due to stress, illness, change in schedule, or simply growing up. I had a 6 month old puppy that would have accidents *in her kennel after one hour! It freaked me out because I thought she was sick. Turned out it was stress of having another dog leave after a play date. Go figure. She was too attached.

So yes, accidents aren't uncommon. It's part of having a puppy. Just ask your mom how long it took to potty train you and it will help you get some perspective, Lol.