Ok you guys -- I'm going to say something completely different here
kaytee576
she takes FOREVER to do her wees outside! I know it can take a while for a dog to find the right spot to pee but she totally takes it to the extreme, she walks up and down constantly...goes to squat but nope walks again, then half squats and walks up and down again! Any ideas why she is like this? I thought it could be the weather but she does it in all types, sometimes we give up and come back in it takes that long of constantly walking up and down!
*I* think this dog has a urinary tract infection. "She's always been like this" -- YEP IT COULD BE!!!
Some dogs carry a uti for a long long time - they 'cope' with it and meanwhile the behavior gets more and more difficult to deal with from a human perspective.
I bet she doesn't drink much does she?? Is her urine pretty stinky? The behavior you're talking about -- **particularly** squatting repeatedly -- that's not being fussy -- that's usually that she's hurting to try to pee. It burns and she can't relax to release it *because* it burns.
Please -- before you try to approach this from a behavior standpoint, get her to a vet FIRST. She may have an infection, she may have crystals -- you've already said she didn't come from a good place and yes, she surely CAN have had a uti all this time.
Next -- I'm gonna ignore everything that everyone is trying to argue about above and I'm gonna put it in Callie-ese. I'm trying to think like the dog here, not like a human.
If you cane from an abusive place typically what has happened is this -- you gotta go, and you squat and the nearest human starts yelling at you telling you you're BAD.
O-kayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy -- what'd I learn? Ain't going in front of THEM again!! It hurts bad enough to pee now ... I'm not gonna get yelled at fur it 2!!!
So -- I'll wait and do it when they aren't around. In fact, I'll get up on this nice high absorbent place!! Then I won't step in it.
The humans find my nice mark (pee and poop ARE ***me*** you understand -- it's the very essence of me-ness) and tell ME I'm 'bad' again -- soooo now only only can't I relax around them, but they don't LIKE ME EITHER!!!
(human note: yeah -- when you point to poop/pee that's in an inappropriate place -- they don't 'get it' AT ALL that you don't like **where** they put it -- they identify with that mess, and all you just told them is you don't like THEM very much). So once again you've reinforced not to go IN FRONT of you.)
My suggestion;
When the dog goes inside -- go put the dog out of sight (it is somehow positively reinforcing for you to handle their waste in front of them - I don't know why but I've proved it to myself many times). Go back and pick up that waste in paper and take it OUTSIDE and lay it down where you want them TO go. Clean the spot inside far beyond what you think is 'clean'. Use an enzyme product that will deep clean. Even if you don't smell it the dog will and they'll return to mark that place over and over otherwise.
Then, MY way of training is to go get the dog again, on leash, take them outside to where you've moved their waste. SHOW them (they'll sniff it -- they know it's theirs) and simply say "potty here!!"
Ok -- point made, go inside.
With regard to marathon outside sessions - I think you'll find this is a uti -- and that will help with re-training. But I tend to use a bit of both ways above.
When we're outside for the purpose of pottying -- I only stay out maybe 2 minutes. No longer. But go back inside and LEASH the dog TO you. Watch that pup like a hawk. Watch for sniffing, circling, agitated behavior that indicates the need to go. See it? Ask "Potty?" and briskly walk outside back to where you've placed the waste. AGain -- wait just a short time. If the dog even TRIES, reward with soft praise, and tell her she's a star.
You can use a bit of additional outside time as a reward. It's always best not to just return inside if possible. They do, unfrotuantely, learn you'll return when they're done. But I think that's particularly important when you're on a walk or outside for exercise.
You may have to take that dog out 99 times in the next 99 minutes. But for that ONE time you isolate the dog actually peeing a few drops OUTSIDE to then "have a party" it's worth it. I've been known to carry my cell outside and CALL someone (usually my husband's voice mail or even time and temperature) just to 'brag' "SHE WENT OUTSIDE!!! What a GOOD girl she's being today and I just had to tell someone!!"
They don't care who you talked to -- but there is a very subtle thing there. Praise goes to a new level when it becomes a brag. It's another thing I've learned over the years. They love being told they're good. But they ADORE beging bragged on and talked about. Particularly within the family and someone they know you've complained to. Think I'm crazy? Fine .. but it works.
I think you'll find that if you take her to a vet, I'd bet money she has a uti. It's literally 'not normal' for a dog to repeatedly squat and not be able to urinate. Now marking? That's a different story -- but marking usually is a place they've sniffed out and maybe DELIBERATELY only drop a few drops ... but they don't pick out a place, TRY and not be able to pee.
I would think you could tell the difference between frustration (can't go here, will try again there) -- and marking. Marking tends to be less hurried - it's planned. Pain is frustrating.
Is she spayed? Spaying will help reduce marking.
Ok -- that's my fourty-four cents (trust me -- my two-cents isn't short either).