I've had a little female puppy for about 2 weeks now; she's 3 and a half months old. She is lovely, VERY sociable and obedient.
I got her from a rescue centre where she was kept with two litters of puppies, and they had been trained to pee on a towel on the floor (not the best idea in the world, but there we go...).
As a result, she started using fabrics, rags or rugs to do her business indoors. Once we removed those, she started urinating in her bed. We're having to wash it every single day! She barely gets the chance to sleep in it because she soils it so quickly. When we take it away, we leave blankets on the floor for her and she pees on those too (we wash everything with water and white vinegar). Yet, she has clearly grasped that it is "her spot", the place she is supposed to go when she's been told off!
She sleeps there often, although she alternates with the sofa. Normally, dogs don't go to the toilet where they sleep, do they?
It’s not a case of not going out enough, as she goes out 6 to 8 times a day, does her business every time and always gets a reward. She has very few accidents elsewhere in the house. I've noticed that these are intentional pees; she goes to her bed or her things on purpose to urinate when she's not using them for sleep.
Just now, while her bed was drying, I moved it to a different spot and she went over to urinate in it, even though we had just come back from a walk 2 minutes earlier.
She's eating well and isn't stressed in the slightest...
I'm not really sure what to do, I have the impression she's associating the "bed" with a litter tray. I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt regarding the blankets for now, perhaps she really couldn't hold it in.
Do you think I should move the bed to where her food bowls are (or even put the bowls in the bed) so she understands the object isn't for going to the toilet?
Does anyone have any other suggestions?
Have a good evening.
Translated from French
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And you’re still not actually helping me. "When we stop her by saying no, moving her and taking her out—though it's less effective than just putting her outside. We send her to her spot when a firm no isn't enough anymore"—granted, there should have been a line break between those sentences. They were two answers to two different questions. I don't see why you think that's such a bad idea; it was recommended to me, anyway. We send her to her basket, which is her own space, so she can calm down a bit when the "no" isn't working anymore. It's basically like giving a child a time-out; it's a non-violent punishment to help them settle. And yes, she is peeing on purpose. In the sense that when you need to go, you go to the loo; you don't just wet yourself on the spot. Well, she goes to her basket; she doesn't just go wherever she happens to be. She goes to her basket intentionally to relieve herself, regardless of where the basket is or if it's in its usual place. That’s what’s bothering me—that she sees it as a toilet and not her bed. If you don't have any solutions to suggest, that's fine. But the guilt-tripping with all the "it's your fault!" and "you're doing it all wrong!" while lecturing me on the puppy training manual, without even answering my basic questions... I have to say, I didn't take it very well.
Hi, did you manage to break this habit? My six-month-old puppy is doing exactly the same thing. I can change the cushion cover three times a day and he'll go on it immediately as soon as I put the clean cushion back. Thanks in advance.
And you’re still not helping me. "When we stop her by saying no, moving her, and taking her out—but that’s less effective than putting her outside. We send her to her spot when a firm no isn't enough." There is actually a line break missing between those sentences; they were answers to two different questions. I don’t see why you think that’s a bad idea—it’s what I was advised to do, anyway. We send her to her bed, which is her own space, so she can calm down a bit when saying "no" doesn't work anymore. It’s like giving a child a time-out; it’s a non-violent punishment aimed at calming them down. And yes, she is peeing on purpose. In the sense that when you need to go, you go to the loo—you don’t just go where you’re standing. Well, she goes to her bed; she doesn't just go right where she is. She goes to her bed intentionally with the aim of relieving herself, and it doesn't matter where the bed is or if it’s in its usual spot. That’s what’s bothering me—that she sees it as a toilet and not as her bed.
If you don’t have any solutions to offer, that’s fine. But the whole guilt-tripping routine with "it’s your fault!" and "you’re doing something very wrong!", while lecturing me with the "puppy-rearing handbook" without even giving me a single answer to my original questions—I’ve got to say, I didn't take it very well.
I’ve read your posts perfectly well and I get the impression you don't like having your methods questioned. Perhaps you’re just not explaining yourself very clearly, no?
Because from the way you’ve put it, it really does sound like you’re punishing him. For example, you said this:
"When we stop her by saying 'no', moving her and taking her out, it’s less effective than just putting her outside. We send her to her bed when a firm 'no' is no longer enough."
You’re clearly talking about her peeing in that first sentence, and then you follow up with "We send her to her bed when a firm 'no' is no longer enough" without adding any further detail.
Forgive me for not guessing that you were talking about something else. And sorry, but in my book, that is called a punishment. Sending them to their bed when a firm "no" doesn't work, even as a general rule, isn't a good idea.
You say you knew all that already; well, forgive me again but I’m not a mind reader—how was I supposed to know? I'm just trying to help you.
You say you’ve done your research, yet you still go as far as imagining that he's doing it on purpose, saying it's "deliberate", to go where he sleeps. Unless, of course, I’ve misread you there as well...
Hi there,
We take her out every two, two and a half, or three hours, mixing it up so she doesn’t get set like a clock. At night, she goes six hours without going out, and there’s rarely a wee when she wakes up—never any poo.
I never said I was punishing my puppy. Likewise, I never said I was sending her to her bed right after she’d urinated in it; I’m not stupid. I was clarifying that we send her to her spot when "no" isn’t enough, IN GENERAL. Just to say that she’s understood where her place is in the house.
Please read my messages properly; I’m explaining that I want her to stop treating her bed like a toilet, I’m not saying that she absolutely must stop having accidents in the house altogether.
That’s what I meant by "deliberate" peeing. She can’t hold it, so she purposefully goes to her bed to urinate. Replacing the "toilet-bed" with a towel would be counterproductive, though.
Once again, I’m not stupid; I did my research before getting a puppy and I know she’ll keep having accidents for a while yet. And honestly, having to mop up a few wees is the least of my worries.
And yes, it’s the absolute basics: you don’t scold a dog if you don’t catch them in the act.
Actually, Jean Yves, unfortunately you’re not really telling me anything new, and you aren’t being very helpful either. Thanks anyway.
And most importantly, if he’s already had an accident on the floor by the time you get home or get up in the morning, you mustn’t say a word. Just gently take the pup into another room and clean it up. A firm 'no' is only for when he’s caught in the act; shouting or punishing him after the event won't do any good and will actually be counter-productive.
What breed is he?
You say you’re sending him to his bed, but how on earth do you get him to stay there without moving for even two minutes? And what I don’t get is, if he’s had an accident in his bed, are you actually leaving him right in the mess he’s made as a punishment?
Firstly, you don’t punish a puppy for peeing; it’s never "on purpose", that’s just impossible. Why would it be on purpose? Like he’s doing it to spite you or get revenge for something? What do you even mean by a "deliberate" wee? He’s still a baby; he’s not capable of that kind of reasoning and he doesn’t choose when he needs to go.
If he’s going where he shouldn't, that’s on you, not him. You’re clearly doing something wrong and you need to rethink your approach instead of blaming him. Punishing him is completely counterproductive—you wouldn't punish a child for wetting the bed, would you? ^^
A puppy has very little bladder control, and at 3 and a half months old, it’s perfectly normal for him to still be having accidents in the house. He needs to be taken out every three hours at the very least, plus after every nap, every meal, and every play session.
But you never, ever punish a puppy for peeing indoors. Give a firm "no", but without shouting, and never use punishment for this. Just pick him up and take him outside the flat, even if it’s a bit of a trek, and never clean up the mess while he’s watching.
Thanks for your replies. I live in a flat, so I don't have a garden. When we catch her in the act, we stop her by saying "no", move her and take her outside, but it’s not as effective as just being able to put her out. We send her to her "place" when a firm "no" isn't enough. In those instances, she goes there on her own and we don't let her leave her bed for at least 2 minutes. Regardless, I’m going to try changing the material of the bed as a first step.
First of all, what breed is your dog?
Otherwise, when you catch her peeing where she shouldn’t, you need to pick her up – even if she hasn’t finished yet – give her a firm ‘no’, and take her outside. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t shout at her or hit her. The main thing is not to wait until she’s finished before moving her.
When you say you send her to her bed when you’re telling her off, what kind of misbehaviour is it for, at what point do you do it, and for how long?
