Dog Community

Stop peeing in the basement, Argh!

Posted : 12/21/2010 5:15:14 PM

I have a large, unfinished basement. I love it, its my doggy-play room. Completely doggy-safe, no rooms in the main area, just one large space.

In the past, my four dogs could be down there to play with no accidents, all day. I crated them if I was going to give special treats like a Kong, but they were not crated every day. We introduced a new dog, Daisy, and have been crate training again for the safety of everyone until she can be trusted with all the dogs, if ever. (I have accepted that we may need to do this for safety as her and Josie don't get along all the time)

Daisy pees in the basement whenever she is left alone even for a MOMENT. She wont do it if I'm playing with the dogs down there, its only if she manages to sneak off when I'm doing something else. There is a baby-gate to keep her out of there now, but that means the other 4 can't freely go down there to play anymore. Another time that she does it: right after eating, if I'm upstairs and she finished eating, the dog door is closed. Does not do it if dog door is open. She knows better, just helps herself to the "basement bathroom" if she wants to.

I considered puppy pads but I did not want to encourage the behavior. I am trying diligently to just not let the situation happen, but in the future I really want to be able to let everyone have access to the basement. Is this wishful thinking with this dog? Accept that she doesn't understand and move on? She was an outdoor-only dog for her first 4 years of life so I have been very impressed with her other housebreaking achievements, never has had an accident in the house-area, just basement.

EDIT: My Lhasa (also spayed female) has now started marking in the basement all along my daughter's bedroom area, perhaps in response to Daisy's pee? Gotta love dogs.

Jewlieee

Posted : 12/21/2010 6:07:55 PM

I have no advice, just wanted to say that I feel your pain. My basement is unfinished too and I used to use it for a training area. When my husky got old and having digestive issues, she started to use the basement as a bathroom when I wasn't home (I could not crate her, she destroyed all crates). When I adopted lily, she picked up on that habit and believes that the basement is an alternative to the backyard. I have tried everything and all kinds of disenfectents but it is a matter of habit. So now I block off all access to the basement at all times. It stinks because if I forget one day and leave the basement door open she will go to the bathroom down there while I'm at work.

calliecritturs

Posted : 12/21/2010 7:08:07 PM

Ack I know what you mean.

The bottom line is -- ANY time we bring a *NEW* dog in, it changes the whole 'pack' structure/relationship. Everyone learns from the dogs who live there and everbuddy learns from the newbie.

And sometimes they "learn" things that just aren't good.

And THEN that changes how you have to deal with everything forever.

When we brought Kee home 4 years ago -- I have NEVER before had a dog who ate poop. Good Heavens she taught ALL of them. ughhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I have NEVER had a dog who jumped the fence -- I've lived in this house for like 24 years -- nice 4 1/2 foot chain link fence. We brought home the pug and Luna LEARNED to jump from watching the pug. No joke -- Luna noticed how much "spring" the pug got and I could see in front of my own eyes Luna imitate her -- suddenly this dog who had lived here over 4 years was JUMPING THE FENCE. ACK!!!! We had to install cypress privacy fence because of it.

So many things -- every time we bring in a dog we "change" things and dang but sometimes we don't like those changes. But we learn to live with them!

Riiseli

Posted : 12/22/2010 5:15:46 AM

Do you have a rug in the basement and a couch etc.? You might want to spend some more time there yourself with the dogs, but not necessarily interacting with the dogs, ie. sit on a couch and read or some other activity like that. It is quite probable that Daisy doesn't feel that the basement is an indoor area and a part of your living quarters. You'll want to try and make her understand this and generally I'd say it's a matter of spending time in said space and having it smell and "look" like a regular room.

I've had a problem whenever we visit my mom's as she has a really big house with an unused upstairs that has no furniture in it. Some of my dogs that are used to my small appartment have thougt that it's not a part of the house and will relieve themselves there, if they get an inclination to do so. Therefore there's a fence at the foot of the stairs whenever we visit. We've never had similar problems with other big houses, but those have been lived in all around.

Dterndtenn

Posted : 12/22/2010 5:59:02 AM

Yeh - we had the same problem when we moved house - the upstairs was unused for a good few months and we were basically camping downstairs - there were quite a few 'accidents' upstairs! And my take on it was exactly what you said - I felt my dogs didn't see it as part of their house - it was after all unlived in. Initially solved with a gate at the base of the stairs and now that the upstairs is lived in, the problem has ceased altogether.

krbshappy71

Posted : 12/22/2010 10:22:48 AM

Riiseli
Do you have a rug in the basement and a couch etc.? You might want to spend some more time there yourself with the dogs, but not necessarily interacting with the dogs, ie. sit on a couch and read or some other activity like that. It is quite probable that Daisy doesn't feel that the basement is an indoor area and a part of your living quarters. You'll want to try and make her understand this and generally I'd say it's a matter of spending time in said space and having it smell and "look" like a regular room.
I've had a problem whenever we visit my mom's as she has a really big house with an unused upstairs that has no furniture in it. Some of my dogs that are used to my small appartment have thougt that it's not a part of the house and will relieve themselves there, if they get an inclination to do so. Therefore there's a fence at the foot of the stairs whenever we visit. We've never had similar problems with other big houses, but those have been lived in all around.

Thank you for the advice, I used to have furniture down there but I had it removed because one of my dogs is destructive and was chewing up everything. So I removed everything and had it just a nice big open "fetch" and "rough house" area for them where they could be.

If it can't be their big open space anymore maybe I need to look at repurposing it for myself. So frustrating, I really wanted my own "doggy daycare" type space for them, you know?

krbshappy71

Posted : 12/22/2010 10:26:11 AM

calliecritturs
Ack I know what you mean.

The bottom line is -- ANY time we bring a *NEW* dog in, it changes the whole 'pack' structure/relationship. Everyone learns from the dogs who live there and everbuddy learns from the newbie.

And sometimes they "learn" things that just aren't good.

And THEN that changes how you have to deal with everything forever.

When we brought Kee home 4 years ago -- I have NEVER before had a dog who ate poop. Good Heavens she taught ALL of them. ughhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I have NEVER had a dog who jumped the fence -- I've lived in this house for like 24 years -- nice 4 1/2 foot chain link fence. We brought home the pug and Luna LEARNED to jump from watching the pug. No joke -- Luna noticed how much "spring" the pug got and I could see in front of my own eyes Luna imitate her -- suddenly this dog who had lived here over 4 years was JUMPING THE FENCE. ACK!!!! We had to install cypress privacy fence because of it.

So many things -- every time we bring in a dog we "change" things and dang but sometimes we don't like those changes. But we learn to live with them!

Ok this made me laugh, sorry, but I could not picture a little short, stocky pug hopping a fence!! That's adorable and NOT at the same time because I feel your pain! When we got Daisy, she is taller than the other dogs and I was told she MIGHT be a fence jumper. I was so afraid I would have to invest in another fence but she has not attempted it once. For the majority of their days they are indoors, in the basement area, I'm heartsick to lose that big open doggy play area but you are right, we never know what we are getting into when we add to the family. There's worse things to happen I suppose. Oh, and I have poop eaters as well, thanks to the Sheltie teaching the others. YUCK YUCK. Another reason they aren't outside unattended much, if at all.