This is an update on Pip our lovely JR cross ( a rescue dog)  In most respects after a shaky start he is doing well.  We take him to training classes, he is better with our cats now.  He is excellent off the lead and doesn't fight etc.  However when we first had him he didn't seem to have a clue about housetraining and peed everywhere.  Gradually things improved but he is not entirely reliable.  He will not ASK to go out -we have to remember to either take him out for a walk or put him in the garden. If we forget he will must do a big pee on the carpet - even when we are there - he will not let us know he wants to go.   Can't understand it as he is bright in other respects.

Oddly eneough when left in the kitchen for a few hours if we are out or I am at work I put paper down and he seldom needs to go.

He has been neutered.  I don't really know the best things to do.  As things stand I could never take him to my son's or daughter's houses to visit in case he just lifts his leg and pees(he doesn't always lift his leg. sometimes he goes like a female).  I would say also that these are BIG pees not the lifting of the leg to mark territory type.  We have had him since 27 December last.

Would be grateful for any suggestions.  Pip is about 18 months old,  is kind and gentle so do want to resolve this - have never had a problem of this nature with all the other dogs we have had over the years!  HELP PLEASE!

Leonora

Hi Leonora,

The fact that he's a rescue boy (good on you!) means you won't have much if any background info on him.  He possibly had no form of training before arriving with you and was toileting here there and everywhere in a kennel & run for the first 14 months or more of his life.  That is a habit which will take a little longer to train out than normal - and not his fault really.

I think he's possibly not "asking" to go out because he's not got the message yet that he's supposed to :O  You will have to do the most basic house training with him as though he were an 8 week old pup, ie. taking him out to the garden regularly to relieve himself and staying with him so that you can use a command word as he "goes" and lavish lots of praise on him.  It's not going to help his regime if you forget to take him out - you will really need to concentrate on his needs for a while and not let anything else get in the way of his training.

Also, I would not leave newspaper down for him at any time - that will only confuse the issue unfortunately.

Patience will pay off - plus lots of cleaning up the areas where he's already soiled :P  so he doesn't just follow his nose....

HTH, Teri :) 

When you take Pip into the garden do you stay with him? It is always best to stay and make a huge fuss telling him he is a good boy for going. Use a hurry up or something similar command when he goes so that he understands where and when you want him to go. Give him a yummy treat when he performs for you. When he goes inside just put him outside with someone to keep an eye on him and clean up what he does inside with loads of tissues to soak up the wee and use a spirit vinegar to get rid of the smell. Hope this helps. :-)