Housetraining 16 mo dog

[heidizei]

Hi, I'm looking for suggestions for stopping my 16 mo pug from marking. He doesn't really go to the bathroom in the house, but marks at least once a day on vertical objects such as the couch, or chair legs. I've been pretty consistent with taking him outside to go to the bathroom and rewarding "good potty", I also tell him no and give him a time out outside when he marks, and then clean the area with odor neutralizers. I've tried working with a pet trainer privately, but she didn't really address the issue of marking/housebreaking and focused more on treating for good behavior (which hasn't seemed to work on it's own). Currently, Jabba (our Pug) uses a dog door to go outside and go to the bathroom. Generally he doesn't go to the bathroom while we're gone, but marks in the house when we're home. I am home during the day so Jabba is rarely left alone for more than 4 hours at a time though will be left for a day about 1 time per week.

Complicating factors:
* We have a 9 mo old baby
*Jabba was not neutered until he was 11 mo old
* We are having difficulty getting the smell to go away completely

Any suggestions that have worked for others would be greatly appreciated. If there are books that people have found helpful I'm willing to buy books but I don't have lots of money to spend buying every training book out there. I love Jabba very much and he is a very important member of the family though my husband is getting tired of things smelling like pee (understandable).

Thanks so much,
Heidi

[ViralMD]

I think one of your problems is that he was neutered very late...time enough for this to become a well-ingrained habit. I'm not sure what having a baby has to do with this. But you really have to redouble your efforts to neutralize the odor.

It should be understood that marking has little or nothing to do with the need to empty a full bladder, so rewarding him for 'good potty' is nice, but is not going to help much.

Your best bet is to take him out frequently (and by 'take him out' I mean just that: you go out with him, with the dog on a leash). Reward him mightily (with chicken, cheese or steak - tiny pieces are FINE - but not with crap from the store, they're not good enough) for going in the right place, because you want him to keep his bladder as empty as possible. In order for him to change a habit, you're going to have to make the rewards REALLY good, thus the chicken cheese or steak. Stuff from the store just will not cut it. It's not yummy enough to make him want to change his habit.

Stop the scolding. Just pick him up, mid leg-lift and get him outside. Scolding will only make him think that he'll get reprimanded when you see him and he's going to do it in places you won't see.

Get a belly band. Put a woman's feminine pad in it. When he marks it will become wet and somewhat uncomfortable and that might help him to stop marking. Do get an ultraviolet light to see any hidden urine stains and invest in a LOT of Nature's Miracle or Simple Solution to obliterate these areas that are still emitting an attractive scent.

Best of luck.

[lawpug]

Our Jack was a sneak-peer. (And may still be, for all I know.) For us, the key was simply removing the opportunity. He is not allowed to be in a room unsupervised. When we are home, we keep the doors to the back rooms shut, so he stays where we can see him. He has to come into the bathroom with us when we shower, so he's not left in the living room, unsupervised. And when we leave the house, both dogs go into their kennels, so they are contained and stay out of mischief.

[Rosiepug]

Viralmd gave you great advice.
The belly band is a must, as is Natures Miracle or Simple Solution enzyme eaters to get rid of both stains and odeur.

[Co-Pilot in Flight]

Between viralmd's advice and Jen adding to not leave him unsupervised I think you can overcome this, although I don't doubt it will be tough. Wishing you the best and the determination to do this!

It WILL be worth it!

[Snifter]

If you are can get into a situation where you are sure you will be able to see him each time he lifts his leg to mark you can try noise aversion - get a can and put a few pebbles or coins in it. As the leg is lifted, fling the can on the floor so it makes a noise. That should interrupt the marking, and the idea is that he starts to associate the act of marking with a sudden startling noise, which will put him off doing it in the house. Coupled with praising lavishly and treating for pottying outdoors this could work well. For best effect, though, he would not see you dropping the can, so that he does not know it is you doing it. You may need to have a few cans strategically placed round the house in rooms where he likes to mark. Perhaps put them on the edges of shelves so you can brush them off the edge without obviously throwing or dropping them.

I thoroughly agree with all the other advice.

I have to say that I did scold Snifter for marking, and for me that worked. He does not mark the house and he is still entire. But I can well see that it may not work in all situations.

[ViralMD]

I really disagree with the coins in the can method. I've seen it used and it results in a VERY fearful, skittish dog. Essentially, it's punishment and punishment isn't a helpful way to get a dog to change its behavior. Your dog will possibly start getting fearful of soda cans, people raising their arms, especially with a soda can. IMHO this technique is not a good idea.

[DantePugs]

If aimed at a specific unwanted behavior, and with a dog that isn't timid or at all skittish, using a shake can to startle will normally be fine and not instill fear. They're not supposed to be seen when shaken however. If they are, doing so repeatedly can cause fear of sound, the can, and sometimes even the owner....or, become completely ineffective rather quickly.

Still though, the shake can is meant to interrupt an unwanted behavior, and if it's going to be used should be followed up with an appropriate training strategy.

Shake cans should never ever be used with timid dogs or skittish dogs because even if used properly where the can is out of sight, the sound alone will be make them even more frightened and/or less stable.

If used properly and appropriately, I wouldn't consider a shake can punishment....If used improperly or with dogs where its use shouldn't be applied, it most certainly could be considered a tool of punishment.

[SmugPugs]

Generally he doesn't go to the bathroom while we're gone, but marks in the house when we're home.

This is the thing that I think you're having the problem with... It sounds like he's showing alpha behavior since he doesn't mark except when you're home. Establishing the appropriate relationship between you and him would probably eliminate the behavior.

[heidizei]

My dad thought that it was a dominance issue. I'm not sure how to establish dominance. Currently, the things that I am doing are taking him on a leash, trying to keep him from butting in front of me, and having him, sit, stay etc for treats. Any one have any more ideas?