Almost have had it! What is with my dog?

ORIGINAL: glenmar

Sheba's morning routine is to come in for some love and then lay down beside me.  If she goes and stands by the office door, then I know that she or Tyler needs to go out.  I sure don't take it as an irritating habit.

No, but I can sympathize with the owners whose dogs pick up on the fact that they can feign having to go, because what they really want is to play ball, go for a walk, go for a ride, chase a squirrel, etc., and they have figured out how to make the human open the door LOL.  []  I know where mudpuppy is coming from, but I think if you go about things the right way, you don't end up with that problem.  I have never understood, however, why people want to teach their dogs to ring a bell to get the door opened...that would make me feel like a butler, plus I'm not that fond of noise. []

for me it's because I tend to concentrate so hard when I'm working on something I become oblivious to all else and a sound trigger gets MY attention.  Hey, when I get home with the groceries and need help getting it in, David has ME blow the car horn -- he's not my slave either but it's just easy fur US *grin*

I do not play doggie doorman either. However, if someone has to go, they've gotta go.

 
I agee Glenmar, I would never not let my dogs out if they have to go.  I don't think you even have to train a dog to "tell" you he needs to go out.  Once they are trained to go out side they find ways of letting you know.  My River, barks at me.  My pug comes in front of you and starts to run in circles, my Cat will just sit at the door patiently waiting for you to open it.  I didn't train any one of them those things it is just there way of letting us know. 
 
There not stupid either, they can hold it for hours in the crate after going in the morning.  But if I am home, they will ask to go out mulitple times in those same hours.  Why?  Most of the time I think it is just for a change of senery more that having to relieve them selves.
 
I don't think any one is arguing with Callie including Mudpuppy.  Just everyone should beware of a dog taking over and making you a doggie door.

I find this an interesting and curious topic because I continue to deal with Rosie either "marking" or just not being housebroken... I haven't seen her pee anywhere but outside, across the street in the park as she's supposed to for a few months now, and I believe the reason for that is that I take them both out several times a day for about a 20 minute loop, during which they are permitted a certain amount of leeway with the marking.  They will ALWAYS, invariably, without fail empty their bladders upon first stepping into the park.  After that, it's all just marking, which I allow to a point.
 
The reason I bring this up is because my Rosie and the OP's dog are approximately the same age and seem to have similar situational problems, and I'm curious how many times in a day the dog is taken on a walk-length of the walk not being important, rather the act of "going out" being important.
 
I find that my dogs almost never "ask" to go out because they don't have to.  I just take them whenever I feel like it, which is several times over the course of an evening.  They never have to wait until it's "necessary".  That may help the OP if they are having trouble with signals and timing.  Don't wait to be asked, just GO OUT.  Several times.
 
Having said that, if Tek HAS to GOOOooo... he'll sit by the door quietly.  So quietly that it sometimes takes a while to notice.  I would hardly call that irritating behavior.

Zoe will need a housetraining refresher course at the new place.  When you get Zoe there (Note that I didn't say "if" - think positive), treat her like a brand new puppy no matter how well she does at the current home.  That may mean a lot of baby gates.  There are very wide "fences" with gates in them if that is what is required.
 
To start, her feet should never touch carpet, except within the first 30-45 minutes of her peeing outside and only then when closely supervised (leashed to a person?).  Keep this carpeted area small (throw rug initially on top of carpet?) and feed her there.  Dogs will avoid peeing where they sleep or eat.
 
Once you feel like Zoe is reliable in that small carpeted area, slowly start opening up new areas to her.  To start, supervise her like a new puppy in those new areas and always feed her in the new area. 
 
Show this to your hubby (borrowed from another thread):
A rolled up newspaper can be an effective training tool when used properly. For instance, use the rolled-up newspaper if your dog chews up something inappropriate or has a housebreaking accident. Bring the dog over to the destroyed object (or mess), then take the rolled-up newspaper... and hit yourself over the head as you repeat the phrase,"I FORGOT TO WATCH MY DOG, I FORGOT TO WATCH MY DOG!"

[sm=rotfl.gif][sm=rotfl.gif][sm=rotfl.gif]You had me worried there for a minute!

Janet_Rose?  PRICELESS!!!

Show this to your hubby (borrowed from another thread):
A rolled up newspaper can be an effective training tool when used properly. For instance, use the rolled-up newspaper if your dog chews up something inappropriate or has a housebreaking accident. Bring the dog over to the destroyed object (or mess), then take the rolled-up newspaper... and hit yourself over the head as you repeat the phrase,"I FORGOT TO WATCH MY DOG, I FORGOT TO WATCH MY DOG!"

 
 
I am going to give this to my daughter!!  [sm=rotfl.gif]

Let me preface this by saying that I haven't read all of the posts. []
 
I had two dogs growing up. One of them was a male German Shepherd (named Toby) that came to us when he was 4 years old. He was an outside dog before and he remained an outside dog when we got him. However, when he was allowed inside, he never had an accident until he got much older and was having bladder problems.
 
The other was a Dobbie/Rott mix, female (named Angel). We got her as a puppy. She was a pain the butt to housetrain! The reason being because we had no idea what we were doing. My step-dad brought her home, my mom was NOT happy having another dog, and my brother was a baby so I was left to care for her. I had no idea about housetraining. Eventually, it started to register that I needed to just take her outside about every 30 minutes. Whether I thought she had to go or not, I would take her outside.
 
Fast forward to now and I have a 2 year old ACD (named Ash). I've had her since a puppy as well and I implemented this same method. I took her out on a schedule and within 2 weeks, she was potty trained. I was also her little "potty cheerleader". I would throw the biggest happy fit whenever she went potty outside. She came to know VERY quickly that potty outside was good and potty inside was bad. I never got mad at her for her accidents. I just would make no fuss at all. It got no reaction from me really. I would look disappointed and shake my head, but that's about it.
 
Ash lets me know when she has to go by standing next to the door. We have moved twice and she is constantly at my mom's and we have never had to "re-train" her, so to speak. Angel also lets us know by standing next to the door and whining.
 
Good luck. I'm sure you can nip this thing in the bud with the proper attention and routine. I know you said you've tried almost everything, but  . . . try again. []
 

Positive renforcement and timing and all of that, none of it seemed to work consistently for Joey. His secret is a schedule. He goes out every 3 hours almost to the minute and doesnt have a problem. But if we forget to exercise that day, or have extra company, or any change in his routine and he often will have an accident. Our last dog barely had a schedule but would run to the door and scratch or dance. My assumption is you just have to find what works for each dog. Best of luck, I know how awful it can be!!

A schedule was really necessary for Marlowe for the first few months (dunno, maybe it's a houng thing--their way or the highway?). 7PM was known in our house a Pee O'Clock. It did not matter one bit if he'd just been outside 10 minutes before. The clock struck 7 and he HAD to pee and if he happened to be indoors at the time, oh well. By just sucking that up and going with that for about 6 months, we broke his habit of peeing inside and now he doesn't have such a firm schedule any more and has finally learned to make it clear he has to go out when he's having a potty emergency.