Okay, I need some suggestions about house training.

[Loril Hawk]

Colter is the perfect, happy, playful puppy.  His only, and I mean only problem is his urinating right in front of the front door.  It almost seems like a habit because I took him to Vermont for a week, and he never, not once, not a little, not ever urinated indoors in the house I rented.  But, here, at his home, he continues to "go hurry up" right in the same place.  The rug has been cleaned--I've used the black light--no urine stains.  No urine smell.  The black light shows it is gone.  But he keeps doing it.  He's almost 7 months old.

And, he does it even after he's come in from outside.  I've been keeping him on a leash when he's in the house, but I can't keep it on him all of the time.  Just now, I brought them in, and I went to grab my computer, came into the entry way, and a new pee stain on the area rug.  It's like he pees just to pee.  At 7 months, his bladder should be able to hold his urine shouldn't it?  I have done everything I'm supposed to do since I first got him.  Kept him crated while in the house; taken him outside, at first every 10 minutes, then 20, then 30, then an hour, praising him every time he did it where he's supposed to do it.  I know he knows better because of how he was in Vermont. 

How do I break him of this habit?  And how do I teach him to let me know when he needs to go outside?  Or is it just possible he pees out of habit?   I really need help with this.  I don't know what to do when I don't catch him at it (which I have in the past, scolded him and took him right outside.  I also have praised him and given him treats when he "goes hurry up" outside.  I'm at a loss.


Loril

[Carlos and Chloe]

Sounds look Colter is house trained. If he is going at the exact same spot every time it sounds like there is still some urine odor that he is detecting at that spot which you haven't managed to get to. If you completely block access to that section does she still have accidents elsewhere? If not, you probably need to do some deep cleaning on that carpet. The urine's probably penetrated beneath the carpet. Someone else may have a good suggestion on what to use for cleaner.

Chloe, my doodle just turned 7 months recently and she can probably hold it for 9+ hours but I think she just has a big bladder but I"m sure Colter has similar control. From the pics he looks similar in size. When Chloe wakes up in the morning she'll usually eat and play for an hour or so before she wants to go out.

[Loril Hawk]

It's an indoor/outdoor area rug. I've scoured the rug as well as the rug pad. Underneath is a wood floor. Maybe I'll scrub that with vinegar and water, because he still urinates there even if the rug is not laid down. So maybe it's the wood floor?

[shelly]

I would definitely say the would is holding the scent. There is a 'deep cleaning solution' for wood floors from Home depot.... Just got rid of the bottle and can't think of the name now... Tori has had accidents on our wood floors too, and although they are polyurethaned, it did manage to seep through in missed spots, this really cleaned it up well.... I know if you google how to clean dog urine out of wood floors, there's some great natural ways as well.... Good luck. I like the idea of blocking that area - can you use another way out. Does he use bells to alert that he needs to go out? Maybe hang them at the other door for a while, or if not, try using them now. If I can find the name I will forward it to you!

[Loril Hawk]

Unfortunately, the entry way separates the kitchen and dining rooms from the living room, so there's no way to block the entryway. It is an old house and the doorways are very wide, too, so it is impossible to even put up a gate. And he has to walk through the entryway to get to the food/water in the kitchen.

[Loril Hawk]

And I've never used bells. My older Golden just stands patiently in front of the door and waits for me to notice that he has to go out. Maybe I'll try the bells. Can you use them from hobby lobby? I'll check it out.

[Leigh & Allie]

I made my own bells for Allie. I bought some cute ribbon form Hobby Lobby. They also had some bells so I just tied them to the bottom and I made a circle at the top to attach to the door handle. Allie picked up on it on her own. I just made a huge deal when she walked by the bells and she got the idea. Be careful to not teach him to use his paws because I have heard from a friend whose door is ruined. Allie just walks by the bells and they ring. My bells were a LOT cheaper then the pet stores' and I like it better because it isn't as big.

[Loril Hawk]

I just picked up some bells at Michael;s and some craft cord. I just strong the bells on the cord and tied a know at the end, so it's a circle and just put it over the door knob. It's not very "crafty" or cute, but hopefully it will do the trick. So far, every time I let them out this afternoon, I rang the bells--I also helped Cody (my Golden) touch them with his nose so they rang then opened the door, Not sure "old dogs can learn new trick" but I'm hoping young ones can :)

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Knox uses the bells! My husband used to insist that Knox was "just playing with them," but I'd go running to let him out anyway! Now, without a doubt, he hits them and he means BUSINESS! No need to be crafty, but each time you let him out of the door, ring the bells, rather he has rung them or not. Then, of course, have a PARTY when he goes potty! I bet he catches on real quickly! Knox is now sleeping at night in our bedroom ALL night. I have a baby-gate that I put up in the hall leading to our room to keep him from wondering, but no more crate for that boy! (At least, not at night...daytime when I'm gone is another story!) Good luck, Loril!!

[Loril Hawk]

Thanks. I'm picking up a used vari-kennel tomorrow. He was using a metal one but got so hyper in it he rocked it to the point of scratching my wood floors. So no more metal crates. Hopefully the bells will work here.

[Leigh & Allie]

My husband said the same thing!! Are they related? Allie was a little scared of them at first but as soon as she walked by them and they rang, I ran to let her out and told her what a good girl she was for ringing the bells. She caught on really quick. A while back she would ring them just to go out not for business, but she grew out of that. Thank goodness.

[shelly]

Forget what these doodles have in common, I'm beginning to see how all of the DHs are somehow related too. They all say and do all the same things! Maybe we should hang some bells for them! LOL

[Melissa]

You should probably get some Nature's Miracle http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3506556

This is supposed to completely eliminate all of the odors, etc, even if you think it is clean it probably isn't. Saturate the area rung and floor and let it air dry. And be sure to saturate several inches around where he urinates as it can spread when he goes.

Hopefully that helps.! Good luck!