HELP!!!!

[KAHLUA]

We are just so upset with Paxton, our little SHITPOO (literally!)  One of the reasons we got the floor was because the carpet was ruined.  What does Paxton do the FIRST day the floor is laid?  Pooped on the floor.  What did he do the first day we got the new area rugs?  PEE on the new area rug.  He is going to be two years old.  He didn't have any problem before he was neutered.  But I don't think that has anything to do with it because he does it between the time my husband leaves for work about 7:00 am and when he comes home for lunch abour 12:30.  Doesn't do it after that.  He stays out all night long and doesn't do it, so we know he can hold it over night from 11pm to 6am.  I don't care what anyone says, he knows he's doing it because when my husband walks in the door he doesn't run to him just tries to hide on the couch. My husband will rub his nose in it, say NO! Bad dog and put him in his crate and he knows exactly what he did.  What to do?  As far as Kahlua, she just looks at him like, can't you get it right?  I hate that I may have to give up a dog, but it's not fair for Kahlua to be penned up in a confined space when we aren't home.  But I also hate to have Paxton in his crate while we are gone and Kahlua gets to roam free.  I am so torn. 

 

How often do you feed your dogs?  I'm thinking that we have made a mistake by leaving the bowl of food out, only taking it up in the evening.  Maybe go to feeding once a day?  I need some advice, FAST!!!!

 

[Kerri B. & Zoey]

With re: to the food - Not sure what to tell you there.  My GR was one to lick the bowl clean as soon as you put it down, so she had a very regular feeding schedule.  Zoey is much more a grazer.  So her food stays down throughout the day & she picks at it and then I pick it up in the evening to cut her off from eating anything too late.  She likes to play in her water so that stays up all the time and she barks at the counter when she wants a drink.  But again, I usually cut this off the same time food it cut off.  She has never had an accident in her crate and is pretty much through the potty training, but she is also does not have free roam of the house when no one is home.  She is much younger than Paxton though, so I don't know that you can compare, but I would say until you can get this issue under control, you should crate or pen him when you are gone if you don't want him to eliminate.  

 

One more thing - from everything I know, you should not punish him if you come home and find the accident, only when you see him do it.  They can't distinguish what they are being punished for if it's well after the fact.  Even if he acts like he knows he has done something bad.  In that respect, it almost sounds like he is doing it to get attention or punish you guys for leaving him.  Again, my best advice (and this might not be the right answer) is to crate or pen him.  Good luck! 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

" My husband will rub his nose in it, say NO! Bad dog and put him in his crate and he knows exactly what he did.  What to do? "

Well that statement certainly is NOT WHAT TO DO
Crate the dog during this time.  Rubbing the nose in fecal matter is abuse.   I am glad you wrote this discussion so we can help you find better alternatives.

Restart potty training just like it was a puppy.  Use a pen, crate, or even gates and place him in an area that is safe fore him and your floors or even have someone come in and let him out.  Feeding and then leaving --well they just can not hold it that long.  Urine is easier to control than pooing. 

I think you have a good idea with changing feeding times.  Coordinate them to potty times!!

[Lisa and Summer]

I would definitely put him in his crate when you are not home. Maybe after a few months you can leave him out when u go somewhere for short periods of time and try to work your way back to all day. As soon as he starts messing on the floor again I would put him back in the crate. Our doodle was left out of the crate when she was 1 and she did well for several mo. then she chewed up my daughters $60.00 Jazz shoes so back in the crate she went while we were not home for several months. Then i gradually left her out for longer periods of time and she has not chewed up anything since(of course my daughter keeps her dance bag off the floor now). Good luck I know it is frustrating.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Joanne. This needed to be said.

 

[Becka]

Maybe Paxton is trying to hide in the couch because your husband is angry and he is afraid. I agree with Joanne that dogs don't make the connection that your husband is expecting him to make. He does not know exactly what he did--he just knows that your husband is angry. Crate the dog--everyone will be happier, and I don't think dogs have the same concept of "fairness" that people do, so if you don't crate Kahlua I don't think it's going to necessarily confuse the dogs.

 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I agree.

[Ellen, Brûlée, and Tira]

All that being said...and I agree with all of it...you will not only rid yourself of the soiled floor problem, you'll also be able to remember the reasons you love Kahlua so much. And he will be able to relax, knowing the anger's out of the air. Win/win. We're with you...keep us posted!

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

You have between 2 and 3 seconds after a behavior to reward or correct that behavior and have your dog make the connection.  So what your husband is actually teaching Paxton is this "daddy comes home I get in trouble".  Your husband has taught Paxton to be afraid of him.

Rubbing a dogs nose in poop or anything else for that matter is unacceptable. 

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

my motto is "if you wouldnty do it to a child, dont do it to a dog". that goes for hitting, shock collars, and rubbing noses in pee and poop. A dog is just like a small child. You cant reason with them, they dont understand doing something wrong unless the punishment is a few seconds from the act. They also cannot feel guilt.

 

Paxton is hiding on the couch because he has learnt that when daddy comes home, he gets into trouble. He doesnt understand why.

 

Go back to potty training basics as previously suggested. work hard at it. When you have dogs, you cant expect a fancy pristine house with immaculate floors. Mud, pee and poop is going to get everywhere at times. 

 

I dont think you should worry about one dog being in a crate or pen and the other not. I know of many here on DK who do that. Also, a dog sleeps most of the time we are gone. I have noticed just how much Cooper sleeps since I stopped working a month ago and am home all day.

 

Also, to food and water - i would restrict both for now, with set feeding and drinking times, as this will help you to know when Paxton needs to go potty.

 

I would also perhaps take him to the vet to check if maybe he has infections (pee), parasites (poop) etc that may be causing these problems. 

[Adina P]

I don't have time to write more...but it is ABSOLUTELY OKAY for Paxton to be crated while Kahlua is not. COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY OKAY AND FAIR and you should not feel an iota of guilt. Boca is crated and Rosco is not. Not a single problem. Rosco was crated for his first 2 years of life while our other 2 dogs roamed free. Any guest dog we have dogsat has been crated while ours roamed free. NO issues, no guilt. Just what was necessary. Crating beats getting rid of Paxton any day if that is the only problem you have with Paxton.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Do some reasearch on proper dog training. There is a lot of good material out there. There are a lot of different training methods but it is generally accepted across the board that rubbing a dogs nose in their poop is abusive and ineffective. Take the time to read up and you'll realize you and your husband are the problem, not Paxton. Change your methods and you'll all be happier.

[KAHLUA]

OMD!  Now that I have been throughly reprimanded and I have been put  in my place, thank you all for your feedback.  My post yesterday was out of frustration and a cry for help, which we recieved. First and foremost, we are not bad parents.  Rest assured, we had a minor relapse and my post came off stronger than even I had anticipated (after I re-read it.).  I know that there are other dog lovers out there, and you may not agree (right now) but we ARE a part of that group, we do love animals, especially Paxton and Kahlua.  We would NEVER give Paxton up, no matter what he does or doesn't do.  We have adjusted our life and lifestyles to have the privledge of having both of them in our lives.  With that said, we thank you for your feedback. 

1.  We are going to start by getting both Kahlua and Paxton on an eating schedule.  Once in the morning and once in the early evening.  One post said to pick up the water bowl also.  I always thought that they should always have access to water.  So is that correct, put BOTH water and food bowl up? 

2.  When we are not at home Paxton will go in his crate.  We also decided to move his crate from the kitchen (high traffic area) to corner in the famiy room so that he doesn't have to feel to rejected if someone passes the crate or that Kahlua is walking around freely.

3.  Last but not least and definitley the MOST IMPORTANT, hubby and I have agreed not to reprimand him unless we actually see him pooping or peeing inside the house.  Rest assured, that reprimand will only be vocal and then he will be put in the crate.  ABSOLUTELY NO rubbing of his nose into his mess.

I hope this will assure all of you that we are commited to Paxton and Kahlua.  Will keep you all posted on Paxton's progress as well as ours.