Training Woes...

[ImMACnificent]

Hi guys, hope you are having a good new years so far

Soooo, any dog lovers or owners out there, help me out, puh-lease.

I adopted my dog, Oscar, a full blooded Cocker Spaniel from a rescue here in Columbus. We have had him for about 2 months. He is supposed to be about 2-3 years old (they weren't sure, he was a stray). But the boy acts like a 6 month old!

So, when we got him, he was already completely housebroken which made me and my boyfriend super happy as you can imagine.

Well, as of the last 2 weeks, he practically refuses to poop outside. He will go in the basement, the laundry room and last night he went in our hallway upstairs outside our bedroom. We are SO frustrated. There is no snow on the ground outside, it's been cold but not terrible, so I don't know what his deal is. He is SUPPOSED to be housebroken, but is definitely not acting like it. We can barely let him out of our sight or else he will go use the bathroom in the house. Our poor carpet

I dunno what gives. Is he trying to tell us something? Is he rebelling? I dunno what to do. I called the rescue owner and she was VERY little help to me, I mean at this point we are almost on the verge of giving him back to the rescue because we can't afford new carpet and having our place smell like poop!

We love him lots, he just... he's being a very bad puppy!

I'm not really that knowledgeable on training. etc.

Can any of you guys give me any advice, tips, etc? I just need to get this dog to remember he is TRAINED.

Thanks, lovelies. <3

 

[Simply Elegant]

You have to really clean it well. Get some cleaner specifically for animals. They'll go wherever they smell it. Animals also do this when they don't respect their owner. You also have to be consistent. They're like kids. You can't let it go once or twice. Going back to obedience school might be a good option. When they make a mess, you're supposed to put their nose near it and then take them outside where they're supposed to go so they'll associate going to the bathroom with being outside.

 

[ImMACnificent]

Yeah we bought this spray stuff that is supposed to make them not go anywhere in that area...............and he did anyway, so apparently it didnt work.


We cleaned the carpet in the basement yesterday with a steam cleaner, so maybe he won't be able to smell it anymore.


We have a trainer coming out to our place Jan 10th, I guess we might have to rely on him. :X

 

[abbey_08]

my cats are bit like this now but they are old! we put em outside and sometimes they will just come back in and use their litter tray. but we put them straight back in the garden for a small bit after because they hate the cold so learn just to do it outside the first time!

the thing is with animals they pick up a routine very quickly, once they've poo'd somewhere thats it! they will keep going back. its good you have got a trainer cos its better to nip these things in the bud.

i wouldnt worry too much until the trainer comes, they will help you sort it out. in the mean time jus keep an eye on him and if he shows signs of being restless or looking like hes about to go take him outside.

 

[MACLovin]

I don't know about the spray that is supposed to repel them from going in certain areas, but I do know that you need to clean it with a special product that uses enzymes to break down the actual scent that the animal can smell. Regular cleaning products may seem to get it all, but the dog can probably still pick up the scent.

A couple tips I have based on my experience house training a stubborn Chihuahua:

-Don't let the dog out of your sight in the house. If he has a chance to sneak off to a quiet place and poo he will!

-You have to catch him in the act, firmly tell him "NO!" and take him outside immediately. Don't scream and freak out and scare him though, because then he'll associate going potty with being punished and will further try to hide it from you.

-The best way I've found is just repetition and positive reinforcement. When he does go outside make a HUGE deal out of it and say "Yaay, good boy!" and pet him. They will eventually catch on and because they love to please their owners, he will more than likely prefer to go outside.


You mentioned that he was housetrained before, but sometimes they can revert back to basically puppyhood. It sucks but you have to pretty much just start over like you just got him. Do you put the training pads on the floor at all? if it's the weather he doesn't like, maybe he'd prefer to go on those. Otherwise, if none of this works you may want to try crate training him.

Good luck! Please don't give up.. it takes work, but a dog's love is so rewarding.. he'll get there, don't worry.

edit: forgot to ask.. how often do you take him outside? do you have any kind of schedule for him? (for example, first thing in the morning when he wakes up, after eating, after naps, etc..)

 

[ImMACnificent]

Thanks so much for the feedback, guys!

MAClovin-

You pretty much said everything we have been trying!

Yesterday, I kept Oscar on a 10 ft. leash and he could not leave my sight. He even had to come to the bathroom with me! Haha. I knew if he got away he would go poop. And last night, my boyfriend took him out at dinner time.... and he POOPED!!!! He got lots of treats and petting from us and was definitely rewarded

I just hope he keeps this up! We are now taking treats outside with us so as soon as he goes, he gets on so he knows it's because he went poop/pee and not just for going outside, period.


We have a routine for the most part. He goes out first thing in the morning with my boyfriend when he gets up for work, then he comes to bed with me until I get up for work at 8 am, and he hangs out with me until I am ready, then I take him out again, then he goes to his crate. On weekends, it's pretty much the same, but without the crate because we are here, of course

But we take him out about every 2-3 hours unless he is acting like he needs to go out again. And for the most part, we walk him until he goes, we won't let him come back in until he does something, or until 15 minutes has passed b/c at that point he isn't gonna go!



So helpful, thanks guys