Somebody made a mess... (long)

blphome

New member
So we're running into an issue that has me stumped. Some of you may recall we added a five year old girl named Token three weeks ago. No dog v. dog issues but Token has now peed in front of us twice, once the first night home. Thought that was stress, new surroundings, etc. Over this past weekend she squated and peed in front of Ellen. Tonight, we think she peed and pooped in our daughter's room. She's almost five, hasn't really lived with people before other than when she had puppies and the breeeder brought her into her home.

Lewis had UTI's in the past and this seems distinctly different; he would walk and dribble at random. Token seems to squat and let it go.

How do you tell who's making the mess anyway? With one dog it's easy but with two how do you ever really know unless you witness the act?

Really unsure what to do and would like any feedback or thoughts in particular since she seems to do this even when we're home and she has unfettered access to go outside.

Thanks,

Barry
 

ardeagold

New member
OK...it's going to take her a while to figure out where everything is...like the doors to go out.

Just like with a puppy, she needs to be watched all the time. Don't give her free reign of the house yet. Keep her near you or if you can't be right there, put her in an area like a kitchen (or a crate) where if she has an accident, you can easily clean it up.

You're going to have to show her where to go after you learn the her signals telling you she needs to go. It's a two way street. You're learning about each other.

Start at the beginning. Take her out often, on a leash, to her potty spot, and when she goes, make a BIG happy deal out of it. AND, give her a treat along with happy voice and GOOOOOOD GIRL!! You need to be with her so you'll know she's actually gone. If you're letting her go out and assuming she's going, she might not be. Or she might need to go more often (I don't know how often she's going out). An adult should be able to hold urine for at least a few hours and will tend to poop on a schedule. Some of ours have to go out immediately after eating....others about 2-3 hrs later. You'll figure out what hers is and know when it's time for her to go out.

Also, if she hasn't been to the Vet yet, I'd take her in and have her checked for a UTI and get a full check up. Not all UTI's present the same.

She's going to confuse you for a while, but just think about how confused she's been! She didn't know where she was supposed to potty (sounds like she still doesn't)...where the water bowls are...when she would eat (and where), where she was allowed to sleep, what she could play with, what those smells were, and why don't those people know what I've been trying to tell them?

I've found that within a month dogs dogs START to settle in nicely, but as I watch them over the next few months, they open up more and more and in time you'll see their real personality emerge...and their individual traits and intelligence. Depending on the dog, it can take weeks or many months for their true "self" to appear. As she becomes more confident and secure, she'll open up more. By watching our rescues closely over the years, I found that the "magic" time where I can clearly see that they feel they belong and know they're "home" is right around 8 mos after they arrive. That's when they start becoming more "bratty" with you and your other dogs (if they're the bratty type but have been hiding it well, being all angelic until they know they can get away with murder LOL). Then that settles down too, as you continue your training with them. They're fine for a long time before that, but really takes about that long for most of them to be truly comfortable in their surroundings, with their people and the schedule.

Just be patient, CALM -don't ever punish or yell at her when she does things she shouldn't (although if you catch her in the act a loud NO or that "at at" sound is appropriate while you redirect her to something that's okay) - but DO show her what you expect in a loving, but firm way...and give lots of treats and good girls when she does things right. And always be consistent.

It will get better. Hang in there!
 
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R Taft

Active member
I have to totally agree with Donna. I had the same issues with Annabelle when we got her as an adult. She had no idea.
I started her like I would a puppy..... I used the umbilical system, she was constantly tied to me and I Pottied her every hour, She was never out of my sight. And if I was not there she was in our outdoor kennel.
The three week part is also very important. Funnily enough with all the rescues we deal with in Assistance dogs, the three week barrier is when we have to most problems and we see all the little idiosyncrasies the dog has (not always bad ones) they just seem to be settling in.
I never ever told Annabelle off for what she did. I blamed myself for missing it. I tried teaching Annabelle the bells on the door, But I failed with her, even though I always managed with everyone else.
It took some time, but things went well eventually. And she is very good now. Can stay in for hours when we are out, just free in the house. I was never able to crate Annabelle, but it could also be useful in your training. Annabelle was crated 24/7, so she would freak.........Lukey also had some mishaps when we first got him.....it happens with Rescues who lived a different life. But they do learn, good luck :) Ronnie
 

2Paws

New member
The trick to potty training is to have all successes and no failures. If you follow what Donna says your girl will have successes and will be potty trained in no time. I would also get a check up from the vet. UTI's can express themselves differently in each dog.
 

twright1231

New member
All good advice given. When we got Ty he was 18 months old and had lived most of his life in an outdoor kennel. He didn't really know it wasn't ok to relieve himself inside. He just always went whenever he had to go. It took a while, but he learned, and we learned.
 

Carole Macomber

New member
on a side note.... When I moved to a new house with my 2 female newfs aged 5 and 7 at the time, I would find accident downstairs in the basement in the morning. We didn't have a basement in the old house. (The girls had full reign of the old house.) For some reason, I had a feeling it was Smudge Pot that was acting out and marking her territory. I decided that I would crate her for the night so she would know she still needed to go Outside in the morning. The next morning I went downstairs and there was an accident again.... And Tugboat looking very guilty! I'd accused the wrong dog... and Smudge Pot seemed to be laughing at me, wagging her tail and smiling inside her crate! :lol: The next night, Tugboat slept in the crate... and she figured out very quickly that the basement was not a potty anymore.
The above posts have given some wonderful advise. Token will figure everything out. It's in a newf's nature to want to please their people. :)
 

4ondafloor

New member
With each adopted rescue (and the fosters) they all had to be treated as if they were 12 weeks old when it came to potty training. Learning their way around the house, following the other guys to learn the routine, figuring out what is expected of them... It's all necessary part of the drill. I crated each one when I was away so that I could direct them where to go as soon as I arrived home.
While home I kept them within eyesight at all times while learning their signs of when they needed to go potty.
Crating Sydney was no small feat either! I had to buy a special crate large enough for that ginormous boy!
Be patient and understanding as she learns the ropes. She wil too but you have to help her along. She seems like a very sweet and smart girl.
Gojie was the same way as Sydney. He had his share of accidents in the beginning too. It wasn't any time at all before he fell lockstep right behind the others.
It'll get better Barry. Just love her and guide her in the right direction.
I hate that whole mindset that some people have where they think they need to punish in order to teach. You can't scold any dog for something they did prior or even when you catch them in the act. I totally agree with a firm "NO" and redirect. Even if it means while they're in mid-pee just direct her outside and go with her. When she goes potty praise her like the dickens!!
 

BLCOLE

Active member
With each adopted rescue (and the fosters) they all had to be treated as if they were 12 weeks old when it came to potty training.
As you know, I like to rehome adult dogs from breeders. I find the exact same thing with the rehomes that you have found with the rescues. I don't care how well they were "potty trained" at the breeder.
 

mulenag

New member
I agree with the above comments. Just start over and act like she is a new puppy coming in. Phoebe also had some potty accidents in the beginning until we all adjusted to each others schedules. We became much more diligent and basically re-potty trained her. We also have installed a dog door since her arrival and she is *very* pleased to have the choice to let herself outside when needed. But, I know that option isn't possible in all cases.
Token will catch on, in time.
 

blphome

New member
Thanks for the all feedback. Does crating/restricting her area and leaving Lewis free in the house create jealousy or other behavioural issues?
 

4ondafloor

New member
I have found that crating one while leaving the others free poses no issues here at all Barry. When a new rescue comes into the house it's necessary to crate for a while in order to determine several things. We look for continuity, whether they're housebroken or not and if they're destructive. Everything else can be taught. I think the longest I crated was three weeks. After that he was gated in the kitchen for a few more weeks. (large kitchen) I rotated one of the others to keep him company and then little by little started leaving him out too.
Keep in mind I come home every day for an hour and a half at lunch too so they really weren't in the crate that long.
You'll find the right method that works well for you. She needs time to find her bearings and fit into the routine. Lots of hugs and kisses and above all else, patience! She'll learn what you expect of her.
 
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