Dog Forum

Hi all, I'm new here, and I am looking for some advice.

I have a now 9 month old Standard smooth haired Dachshund x, called Colin (I also have a "Jackuahua" called Luci, but she is an angel!).

My husband and I bought him from a breeder of chihuahuas and shi tzus (the Daxi was a family pet) aged 4 months, so we have now had him for 5 months.

He'd previously been paper-trained, but we wanted to housetrain him, so we started almost straight away.

It took ages, and he was SO stubborn. However, a few months ago, we'd cracked it and Colin was going through the night, and was fine through the day too (they're only left on their own for a max of 4 hours, if mine and my hubby's shifts overlap).
However, a few weeks ago, he began to wet and soil in the house again, so I put him back in his crate overnight and when we weren't able to supervise. I have no idea why!
At first I thought it was behavioural, and I assessed everything, thought it could be Colin preferance to Luci's bed, bought him one the same, left him out of his cage overnight, and came down in the morning to a wee
He is neutered, and I know from the quantity of wee that he is not marking.
I'm starting to think Colin has actually just decided he doesn't want to wait to go out and that if he needs to do a wee or poo, he's going to do it, regardless of where that is.
It's frustrating.

Also, Colin doesn't wet and soil my floor, which I could cope with. Instead, he chooses my sofas (which I cover with shower curtains as a precaution, as he's done this before).
As he NEVER does this in front of me, I can't ever tell him off for it, so he goes on thinking this is acceptable.

He knows 150% where his toilet is.

I just don't know what to do.
I've read lots of books, and as I said, was successful before, but don't know what to do now.

Temporarily, he's back in the crate, but I really hate putting him in there (he doesn't mind though) because the idea of having 2 dogs was for them to be company for each other, but when Luci has the whole room, and he's shoved in a cage, they're no company for each other at all.

Please help.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Hello, welcome to the forum.

If I were you I'd go right back to the beginning, as if you'd just brought an 8 wk old pup home. I'm not a big fan of paper training, think its easier to train a dog to toilet outside from the beginning (assuming you have a garden/yard), taking into consideration vaccinations.

I would make a point of taking your dog outside to toilet reguarly (every couple of hrs if poss)to start with. Dogs usually prefer to poo/wee on grass as opposed to concrete. Carry treats with you, if your dog has a wee/poo outside say 'go toilet' or something similar. Praise and give a treat.

If your dog does a poo/wee indoors you said you don't reprimand him which is exactly right, doing so would make him nervous of going to the toilet in front of you and obviously you don't want this. If you catch him in the middle of the act, if possible, lift him and place him outside. If he finishes his wee/poo outside repeat 'go toilet', praise and reward.

You can buy special detergents for pets which remove the smell of urine properly from furniture and carpets, otherwise he will make a habit of weeing in the same spot.

This is the way I've always trained my dogs to toilet, I've found it to be very successfull and my dog will now toilet on command!! Other posters may have different ways.

Hope this helps.

The key comment in this is that the dog does not do it in front of you, whether or not you consciously reprimand the dog is not the point, it will get all the information it needs from your body language.

Go back to basics, do not allow him free rein.


This has nothing to do with stubborness, it has everything to do with your training.

It has nothing to do with my training, as I said in my post, I HAD him housetrained, and he's relapsed for some reason.

Back to basics it is

Failing that, my boss has told me to put his nose TO his mess (not rub his nose IN it), tell him "NO", and put him outside.
Despite all my books saying otherwise, I may have to do this as a very last resort

Thanks for suggestions

Mousey-kumar wrote - Failing that, my boss has told me to put his nose TO his mess (not rub his nose IN it), tell him "NO", and put him outside.


Please do not resort to this method. Your boss clearly knows nothing about dogs so I wouldn't take advise from him!!. This is an out-dated and ineffective way to toilet train. Instead of becoming frustrated with your dog, try the method I suggested, but be PATIENT, CONSISTENT and as SB suggested concious of you body language.

It is very unusual for a dog to lapse his toileting habits once it has been trained correctly, unless it is due to a health condition.

You also stated that your dog doesn't wee/poo when your there, so pushing his face towards his mess and shouting 'no' any more than a few seconds later will cause confusion for the dog, he won't be able to link the act with the punishment!!

Please NEVER EVER resort to what boss advises,he is very ignorant regarding dog training.Back to the start is only way,definately no short cuts.

Gypsy78 wrote:
You also stated that your dog doesn't wee/poo when your there, so pushing his face towards his mess and shouting 'no' any more than a few seconds later will cause confusion for the dog, he won't be able to link the act with the punishment!!


He will go on the garden in front of me, but what he NEVER does is make a mistake in the house when I'm there, which is why I can't discipline him.

I'm glad you've said that about putting his nose to his mess, because I didn't want to do that to my boy. You're right, my boss doesn't know what she's talking about.

My dad said his friend's dog, a Lakeland Terrier relapsed too, but he got it in the end, so hopefully Colin will too.
Got to motivate him with lots of treats and praise

i had the same probolem with my yorkie
just persivere

You could make a strict routune, to make sure he is always empty when in the house! You could only let him have food or water when you say like every half hour of something, then take him straight into the garden to relieve himself!

tillytubbie wrote:
You could make a strict routune, to make sure he is always empty when in the house! You could only let him have food or water when you say like every half hour of something, then take him straight into the garden to relieve himself!

This is making hard work for yourself. Toilet training is actually very simple so why over complicate the matter. The emphasis is on praising and rewarding the dog when he does it in the CORRECT place. Dogs naturally like to please their owners but how will they know what you want them to do, if you don't show them???

What on earth makes you think I don't praise my dogs? You make it sound like I'm completely incompetent with regard to my dogs!
Sure, I don't give them treats for every single good thing they do, but I do praise them vocally and with fuss every time, or reward them with a favourite toy or an occassional treat, but I don't want them to lose their value.

We'll get there sooner or later, me and my boy

mousey_kumar wrote:
What on earth makes you think I don't praise my dogs? You make it sound like I'm completely incompetent with regard to my dogs!
Sure, I don't give them treats for every single good thing they do, but I do praise them vocally and with fuss every time, or reward them with a favourite toy or an occassional treat, but I don't want them to lose their value.

We'll get there sooner or later, me and my boy

Mouse_kumar - I quoted tillytubbie because I was responding to that statement in particular, but I was talking about toilet training in general. No offence mean't but YOU did ask for advice so you can't complain if posters are discussing the issue now.

I never said you were an incompetent dog owner, please quote me if I have. I don't know you or your dogs so I wouldn't make that sort of judgement. Again, no offence mean't

[/quote]...No offence mean't but YOU did ask for advice so you can't complain if posters are discussing the issue now.

I never said you were an incompetent dog owner, please quote me if I have. I don't know you or your dogs so I wouldn't make that sort of judgement. Again, no offence mean't [/quote]


Sorry for being hasty and on the defence!
I guess I just feel incompetent and discouraged at the moment.
I do appreciate people's advice though. Thanks

mousey_kumar wrote:
Sorry for being hasty and on the defence!
I guess I just feel incompetent and discouraged at the moment.
I do appreciate people's advice though. Thanks [/quote]


Thats ok, I'm sorry if my tone sounded unfriendly. I'm a matter of a fact kind of person, don't dress things up so I can understand how my comments may be interpreted. I really was only trying to help.

I don't think you should be so hard on yourself. I'm sure things will work out.

Gypsy78 wrote:
[b]Thats ok, I'm sorry if my tone sounded unfriendly. I'm a matter of a fact kind of person, don't dress things up so I can understand how my comments may be interpreted. I really was only trying to help.

I appreciate that, thanks
That's great, I'll know how to take you in future, and not jump down your throat on the defence again (sorry )

Well, I'm moving the dogs back into the kitchen overnight, as this is how we got Colin housetrained first time round, with nothing to jump up on and wee / poo on (can't leave them in there through the day when we're out though, as they dug up my coconut rug near the front door before and I had to break in to my house!!!). He will still be crated in the day if he's left alone.
Through the day, I'm taking him out (and going out with him now) every 2 hours and giving him treats and LOTS of praise (cut his food down to compensate) when he performs.

I'm hoping to have him fully housetrained again in 4 weeks

Good luck, I hope it works out.

I had a few problems with my dog when we moved house, but it's all fine now she's got used to that.

On a totally different note - did you choose his name? I seem to recollect there being a dachshund called Colin who was mentioned in the Blackadder series!

Janet

mousey_kumar - a little off topic so I apologise but how do you find the Dachshund as a breed and what would you advise for a potential owner.

It is a breed I have considered adding to the family - a Lab and a Dalmatian.

PedigreeUK wrote:
On a totally different note - did you choose his name? I seem to recollect there being a dachshund called Colin who was mentioned in the Blackadder series!

Janet

Hi Janet,
yes, we did choose Colin's name, long before we got him! I've always found the name 'Colin' to be rather amusing (sorry if anyone here is called Colin or has a relative called Colin), and said I would one day have a dog called Colin (though originally I wanted a Siberian Husky, but that wouldn't fit with my lifestyle now, or fit IN my house!!!). When we got the Dachshund, he just fitted the name, because he's amusing, being so daft and clumsy and in general just a big lovable oaf!!!

I've got the complete box set of Blackadder, but don't recall there being a Daxi called Colin in it, though I haven't watched it for aaaaaaaaages!
In Spaced, Tim & Daisy have a Miniature Schnauzer called Colin

Jenna37365 wrote:
mousey_kumar - a little off topic so I apologise but how do you find the Dachshund as a breed and what would you advise for a potential owner.

It is a breed I have considered adding to the family - a Lab and a Dalmatian.

Well, Colin is a crossbreed (he's crossed with a chihuahua, not that you can tell from looking at him), so he's probably not truly representative of your typical Dachshund.

Honestly? As much as I love Colin, I do wish I'd had another breed (though obviously I wouldn't part with him now).
Colin is very stubborn and headstrong, and training with him is difficult and prolonged, but he has a lovely temprement, very affectionate, which does make my efforts worthwhile.

Out of the two sizes, I'd definately go for a Standard as opposed to a Miniature, as they're supposed to be very high strung!
And coat wise, I picked the worst one, as smooth coats are supposedly the most stubborn! (I'd go for a wirehaired if I had to choose again, as I'm too houseproud for a long haired!).

Your Dog did a breed profile on the Dachshund, October 09 I think? That's pretty good and paints an accurate picture.

Advice for someone considering getting one? Do your research (which you obviously are), and get them to puppy socialisation classes and obedience classes as soon as possible.
I have yet to do this with Colin (obviously, he's too old for socialisation classes), and I so regret not doing so.

Also, something else to take into consideration is your other 2 dogs.
Dachshunds aren't cut out for long walks, where as your other 2 dogs will be. From books I've read, they say between 40 minutes and 1 hour a day (I walk Colin for 15 minutes in the morning before breakfast and 45 minutes early evening).

Sorry I can't be much help! And sorry to be so honest! But remember, this is only Colin... every dog is different, as I'm sure you'll know

Good luck in your search for a new family member

Clair.