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

[Loril Hawk]

That's what I use, and the newest formula, "Urine Eliminator". I think it must be the wood floor that is emitting urine smell. I'll try to clean it well and hope that's it.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I had that problem for a while with Guinness...always a little pee right by the door. I used the Nature's Miracle and even steam cleaned. Finally I ended up putting a small area rug right in front of the door where he was having his "accidents", and that stopped it. He hasn't gone yet on this rug.

[Loril Hawk]

Well, this isn't a little pee, it's a huge wet spot--like he's been holding it all day. I have a large entryway area rug over a wood floor. I mopped the wood floor with vinegar and water, which the vinegar is supposed to neutralize urine smells and stains, soaked it, and let it air dry. I moved the rug for now. We'll see what happens.

Thanks.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Hi It sounds like you have tried a lot of things. Do everything you can to eradicate the urine smell and then start feeding Coulter his meals in his bowl right on the spot he pees on. When he is done eating leave the empty bowl in place. Put an old towel or rug in his crate for a week until it is nice and smelly and lay that nearby also. Do this for several weeks, meanwhile monitor him very carefully so he does not pick another favorite spot. Start really heavily praising him again (no food!) when he pees outside. I think this will do the trick, but you absolutely have to get that smell out first. Of course your entryway is going to be decorated "doggy style" for awhile!

Good luck

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Wow. Great ideas, Maryann. These suggestions will surely work for her.

[Loril Hawk]

Maryann, I will try those ideas. They are good ones for sure. Hadn't thought about feeding him in the entryway. Now I'm back to square one since he just urinated on the deeply cleaned wood floor. :(

[Melissa]

Is there some sort of scent on the door? is the door even close to where he is going? Sorry you are having so much difficulty. Hopefully the suggestions to feed him there will help!

[Loril Hawk]

The front door is in the entry way, but he's never urinated on the door--and it's the only door that goes out into the yard. I have scrubbed and scrubbed the wood floor. I got down on my hands and knees and smelled--didn't smell any urine--but that's my nose. His nose is a lot more sensitive. But I've used Nature's Miracle, white vinegar and water, and deep wood floor cleaner. It's like whenever he walks through the entryway he decides to pee. I hope I don't have to wait until I move out of this house before he stops!

[Melissa]

I just thought maybe there is a smell on the door that he didn't necessarily put there but maybe another animal at one time....just trying to come up with other ides. :(

[Loril Hawk]

I've scrubbed down the door, too. But he never goes right near the door--usually in the middle of the large entryway. It is getting very frustrating. Thanks.

[shelly]

Oh my gosh, Loril! I feel so bad! I can just imagine you smelling the floor - that's definitely something I would do! I do like Maryann's idea of putting his food there. Maybe he's just doing it out of habit???....wishing you lots of luck!..

[Lynda Kamrath]

Sounds like he is "marking his territory". The rental house was obviously not his territory, so he did not mark there. Since he is in the habit of marking, I don't know how you will break him of it. My dogs have never marked in the house and they frequently go twelve hours at night. If they need to go out, they come up and "huff" in my face until I wake up. I would suggest on leash or contained in an area that does not include the front door area until he stops this well-engrained habit.