Dog Community

7 year old dog regressing with house training

Posted : 5/18/2008 7:05:52 PM

It's been a while since I've posted on idog. Joey and I have moved alot in the past 9 months. I've recenlty moved to Ft. Collins CO. We are temporarily staying with my cousin. Joey has decided that he is going to potty on the floor when I'm not home. It's obviously behavioral. He's 7 years old and hasn't done this since he was 2. I realize this could be stress. However, we temporarily lived with my father in Florida, followed by a friend again in FL without this problem. May I also mention that the area of FL we lived in was dog park less and park less in general, which meant far less walks than now - in this great city with a dog park in every 5 mile radius.

I thought that maybe since this is my cousins new condo that the previous owner had "dog potty" issues. Maybe Joey was marking his territory. So I started locking Joey in a large bathroom when I wasn't home. But then he started peeing on the carpet when I am asleep. I haven't had to use a dog crate in years and I don't have one and I really don't want to buy another.

One more problem that may be related to the potty problem; Joey yelps at my new boyfriend. The new boyfriend really likes Joey. He likes to take him to the dog park. He loves to give him snacks - almost too much. He asks if we can take the dog with us where ever we go. He's a clean freak and lets Joey on the bed. But, he, the boyfriend is a little hyperactive, which scares Joey a little. Sometimes when the new boyfriend goes to pet Joey he yelps. It's obvious that Brian didn't intend to hurt Joey or really didn't hurt him at all. He yelps at him when they are playing. I play with him hard than Brian does.

Advice?

spiritdogs

Posted : 5/18/2008 7:23:04 PM

Well, you won't like to hear it, but since dogs don't generalize well, I would go back to crating him if it was successful before. That way, he will learn that it isn't ok to pee in this house either. As to the BF/yelping thing, hard to say what's going on without seeing it. Got video?

janetmichel3009

Posted : 5/18/2008 11:27:35 PM

since the potty issues are occuring when you are sleeping or away, i dont know how you would go about it, except crating either. maybe just be SUPER proactive about taking him out, so that he doesnt geta chance to go inside?

the boyfriend issue i can relate to! teach the boyfriend to be gentle. and expect him to learn slower than your dog... i STILL have problems with my boyfriend not GETTING it after 1.5 years.... ergh...

Margaret Tyler

Posted : 5/19/2008 12:06:41 PM

Yah, thanks for the advice. I think I will have to go buy another crate. How irritating. "Super Proactive about taking him out"....Response: Joey stock piles his poop if he's mad at me. In other words, if he is mad at me he'll refuse to poop outside, no matter how much I walk him.

Glad to know someone else has the same problem with their boyfriend. It's almost like Brian gives my dog too much attention and Joey gets annoyed. I think he also knows that if he yelps, mom will comfort him. Maybe it's an attention thing. Like,...

"Yo, mom, this guy won't leave me alone. Mom, this is the 18th time he's made me dance. Do I really have to put up with this. Why is he picking me up again. And why are you smiling. Tell him to leave me alone. Fine, I'll yelp. Hmmm, he stopped and you scolded him for hurting me. Hmmm, I think I'll do this more often."

janetmichel3009

Posted : 5/19/2008 9:13:07 PM

lol!!! tell me about it... just be glad if it's only your dog trying to manipulate you.

i got my hands full with one dog that is super nervy and one that's a submissive pee-er and a boyfriend that seems completely incapable of learning! haha