Dog Community

4 yr old dog housebreaking problems

Posted : 6/17/2006 10:07:00 AM

I have a 4 yr old australian shepherd mix. i got him about two years ago from a shelter. when i lived in new york he was completely house trained. although i lived in an apartment and he was walked regularly and on a good schedule. then i moved in with my fiance into his house and he could go out the back door whenever he wanted. there he also had no problems with going in the house.

then we moved to florida and we now have a house with a dog door. he can go in and out as he pleases but since we have been here (about a year) he has gotten worse and worse with going to the bathroom in the house. in the beginning it was just a once in a while thing that would happen overnight when the dog door was closed. it would also sometimes happen during the day while my husband and i are at work when the dog door was closed.

now it is an everyday occurence. we have been keeping him in our bedroom with newspaper put down on our attached bathroom floor. usually he goes on the paper in the bathroom. so it's like we've now trained him to go on the paper during the day and at night.

the main problem is that riley (my dog) is overly attached to me and does not leave my side. so when i get home from work, he is fed and then he stays next to me all the time. so even if he HAS to go out he won't go out the dog door. he only goes out if he hears a dog barking or something. and then he comes right back. if i am out in the backyard for a long time he will go to the bathroom. because obviously he has to go and i'm there so it's ok. i'm assuming that crate training is my only option. i have tried walking him at night and in the morning but he is not a dog that easily poops. he takes a long long time to go and it's never if he really HAS to go. so he holds it until he absoultely has to go which is usually in the house. if anyone has ANY advice i would really apprecite it as this is now a daily occurence and i am very desparate. Thanks

I should also mention that I have another dog in the house as well, a six year old Newfoundland mix that has no problems using the dog door. The dogs get along fairly well though Riley can be a bit aggressive and is definitley possessive when it comes to me. He doesn't really let Wooley up on the bed with me without him jumping up and sometimes growling at Wooley. but overall, they play and get along fairly well.

Sandy

Posted : 6/19/2006 11:50:24 AM

I am in no way a dog expert, but I can see a few correlations between our dogs. I have an australian cattle dog (Lucy) and she does a lot of things your does. I think part of it is because of his breed. Lucy is also Very attached to me and follows me where ever I go. She even gets highly upset when I take our other dog (boxer/shepard mix, Tia) out side to potty and leave her in the house.

I have to take ours outside to potty (the yard isn't fenced in), but if Lucy had a doggy door, she probably wouldn't use it either. She would insist I go outside with her. She simply doesn't want to be away from my side. Can you try going outside with yours at regular intervals again telling him to potty and see if that works? It may just be that he doesn't want to go outside "without" you?! Just my guess. I'm going to guess he is a very intelligent dog. Also, can you possibly take him outside to play catch for a few minutes after you come home from work? He would not only enjoy playing, but he would probably potty while out there.

Hopefully someone else will come along and help you out that has more dog experience. Don't give up!

aussiemom15

Posted : 6/19/2006 12:51:21 PM

thanks for the reply! yes, it sounds like our dogs do have a lot in common. it's definitley the herding/working dogs that have these quirks and they are all very intelligent. riley is a very, very smart dog so i know i can break him of this. in fact when my husband gets upset with him for going in the house i keep telling him it's not his fault. it's ours for not knowing how to properly train him to fix the problem. going out back to throw the ball is actually a very good idea. i'll give it a try! i just feel bad for my other dog wooley (who loves playing ball) because i'll have to keep him inside. when we throw the ball to the both of them riley nips at him in a herding manner. he's a very high maintenance dog but he's soooooooo worth it! the amount of love he gives me is immeasurable. i'm actually six months pregnant and i'm a little nervous at how he will be with the baby although i'm pretty sure he will just see it as his new job to guard the baby and be just as obsessed with him as he is with me. but i do have a book and hopefully i can train him a bit before october. i have much faith! thanks again for the reply

Sandy

Posted : 6/19/2006 2:06:21 PM

I can't have both our dogs out at the same time either! I usually take Lucy out first (acd) and then take her in and bring Tia out to play. I just have to stay where Lucy can see me and she lays down and waits for us to come back in. With mine, the older dog won't let Lucy catch the ball - it is her favorite game also! Lucy nips at Tia's feet in the house when she is trying to get her to play. At least she does it to the dog and not us!

Riley will probably be great with a baby. I was really worried about Lucy and little ones because she is so possessive of me. My nephew (4) comes over and Lucy just loves him (no idea why, he is a little monster!). I would read up on it too - great idea!

Let me know how the ball thing works out. Also, you might want to crate him when you can't be home. Just make sure you leave a Kong in there for him. If you end up crating him at night, you might need to keep the crate in your room so he can see you!

aussiemom15

Posted : 6/19/2006 3:17:09 PM

that is too funny! we always feel like riley is the only one with these quirks as I like to call them. and then I'll read about things that aussies or other herding dogs do and it's exactly what he does! and i'm always telling my husband SEE, IT'S HIS BREED, he's not just a weirdo. like him coming with me to the bathroom. he's not the only one! haha. and yes, as long as riley can SEE ME, then he's ok. sometimes i'm outside in the back and he'll stay inside but sit right by the glass doors so he can see me but still be in the air conditioning (we live in FL) but yes, i always have to be in his sights. he really likes children so I think he'll be really good with the new baby. i'm more worried about him being too protective of him. but like i said hopefully by working with him beforehand I can prevent any problems. I really didn't want to crate him but i'm afraid it may be the only option. that or gating him into one of the bathrooms.

Sandy

Posted : 6/19/2006 3:25:42 PM

It sounds like your Riley and my Lucy could be related! LOL I'm sure he is like mine - very, very intelligent. I taught Lucy to find her Kong and if she brings it to me, she can have it with a biscuit inside. It didn't take her too long to figure it out! You should try it with Riley. It is another "job" and they love to work!

Let me know how it goes with the pottying. I really think if you start going out with him and TELLING him to go potty or poop, that he will start to go again. It is harder on you, but then he is with you (makes him happy) and he will go to the bathroom (your happy). PRAISE him when he goes, just like you are potty training him again. He won't mind being in the crate when you have to leave the house. He will patiently wait for you to come home.[

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