I have a 15mth old boxer who is still messing indoors when left alone. We have had her since she was 8 mths and thought that if we kept leaving her for an hour or so each day she would get used to being left. She is no better now than she was when we first got her. She is always taken for a walk prior to being left and usually very tired. She occasionally will mess in the house at night but i cannot seem to get her to go when I let her out at night. She will always have a wee but never the other until the middle of the night when she often comes and wakes me to let her out. Sometimes she will just go and do it on the kitchen floor. Please help!

It is unusual for a dog of that age not to be fully housetrained.

Perhaps you need to alter her feeding schedule so that she will feel the need to 'go' at more suitable times?

I would take your boxer for a short walk last thing at night, if you feel it is safe enough where you live.  I find that just letting them out into the garden isn't enough to make them go properly. A walk just before going to bed usually does the job (sorry...no pun intended :-)  )

hello there, i have 2 boxers at the minute, 3 soon carnt wait, anyway the way i dealt with any problems to do with accidents of any type, when i had to leave them alone for any lenghth of time from 5 mins to 2 hours, i invested in my crates, they are brilliant, ideal for the training, some people think its cruel, but it isnt they settle down in there no problem, and even go in themselves just to get away now and then, i wouldnt be without mine, and my dogs never ever messed in the crate with themselves.good luck.

I have thought about getting a crate but keep dismissing the idea. Do you not think she is too old or will she adapt. I just don't want her going mad being confined to a small space. If a crate was to work it would save me a hell of alot of trouble and give me peace of mind. Can you recommend where to buy one from and how big.

hi my crates are 26inches tall, 26inches wide, and 42 inches long, they are a good size, maybe a little bit to big for my boxers, but they have plenty of room to move around and are really comfortable, they even have there beds in them, as for where to buy them, pet shops or even on the net at ebay or just type dog crates in search and you will find them that way, best of luck, but i never looked back after investing in mine, they are brilliant, i just use mine and shut the front up when i have to go out and leave them at home, otherwise they are open and they go in themselves when they want, lola my oldest boxer wasnt keen at first, kicked up quite a fuss, but i used to put her in for 5 mins at a time, and she soon got used to it, they are never left locked in there if im in the house except threw the night, buffy the younger boxer loved hers from day one, i think she found it was her place to chill away from lola. or sometimes threw the day you now find them cuddled up together in the same crate. i would suggest a crate for house training purposes, they are really good, a dog doesnt like to pee or poo in there bed or where they sleep, so when you come in or get up, let them out into the garden straight away and praise like mad, even give treats, you will find problem solved. my crate even solved my chewing problem i had with lola when i was absent from the house and threw the night.
just one more thing if you are planning on getting a crate, shop around because you can get them at very reasonable prices, i paid 50pounds for mine, and they have removable trays in the bottom for cleaning. that was from my local petshop in northumberland, you may even get them cheaper than that, but i thought that was a good price to pay, and really well worth every penny for no chewing of furniture and dry house, lol

hi

I seem to be having the same problem. My bassett will usually go when I take her out but when left alone she will mess. She is 12 mnths old and I too am getting quite concerned. Just yesterday with the back door open she peed in the dining room right in front of me! I think she doesn't like the cold either.
I also think my problem is that she never has asked to go out and I don't know how to each her that.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

1stbasset, does your dog speak when asked? If so go to the door when you no she has to go out with a treat and say speak and when she does treat and say outside go peeeeee. Or you could hang a big cow bell that you teach her to knock with her foot to go out, or one of those motion carpets (like those halloween ones) this way when she steps on it you will hear it and say good girl outside. You have to teach her to ask. I taught Tiva to speak sometimes she will just give you a look but if you ignore her then she will speak, Taz kinda howls and growly type bark, Junior just runs back and forth and jumps on us, T-bone will whine with a barky noise and Dozer just scratches at the door. It all depends on your dog.

For the 15month old Boxer I agree invest in a crate they are great. :)

Im gald i am not the only one with a simialr problem.  Tammy will be dry all night and if I shut her in the living room while i'm out or in the kitchen she is great but as soon as she goes upstairs, even though I have made sure she has been outside before i leave she will go for a poo or a pee on the landing.  I don't know what to do with her.  I will be interested in any help.

Jasper will run to the back door and if we have not followed he will pull my jeans or jumper to let me know.  usually his nudging and going to the livingroom door works.  Tammy will wait till Jasper asks before she goes.