Hello folks,

Petie Puddle is living up to his name and leaving puddles everywhere in the house. He mostly uses his puppy pads (and any lino we have - bathroom & kitchen) and occasionally the carpet around the puppy pads. Hmm Lovely.

Anyway we would very much like for him to do his business outside like his super big brother Bailey. We have a catflap and as they are both Shih-tzus they can and do use the catflap to get out and in of the garden, but even when the door is wide open Petie will prefer to come inside do a big wee in the kitchen and then go out again.

He has done his stuff in the garden before but does prefer to come in for a quick wee.

He is now very nearly six months and we really dont know how to help him go outside to wee and poo.

I think that we were rather spoiled with Bailey as he just seemed to decide to himself that he prefered doing his stuff outside and that was that.

HELP please?

I wonder if Bailey's 'scent' is putting him off?

I'm guessing you've tried all the fussing etc when he does get it right? but at 6mths he should know by now.

You could try to teach him to pee on command.
You do have to be patient, and wait with him while he performs, but it does work.
as he performs, give him a command (we use 'go pee').

I do think though that it's him being submissive to your other pooch, and not wanting to use his territory.

That is an interesting point, thank you.

Medusa is there puppy walker and she has had the same problem with Petie going for a long walk and then coming into her house to pee.

:mad:

If you do lots of other training with Petie, you can establish a no reward marker during his normal training - this means that instead of completely ignoring negative behaviour you give a gentle 'oops' which means 'you're getting no reward for that'. Some people use 'wrong' but it should never be a 'NO!'

It isn't punishment it's just telling him that the behaviour he's exhibiting is going to get him nowhere. (be sure to time it right - as the behaviour occurs!)

Once you established this in normal training and he knows what it means you could try bringing it into the housetraining.

If he wees on a puppy pad or lino that's not going to be damaged by leaving it - try just saying 'oops' and leaving the room - don't clear it up while he can see you so that he thinks you've paid no attention to it whatsoever and obviously make sure that any scent is completely gone - otherwise he'll go in the same area.

It may be because of Bailey that he doesn't want to wee in the garden - but I wouldn't have thought he'd feel that way on long walks.

Also, don't be afraid to go back to square one - watch him like a hawk (I know it's harder with boys though) and try to recognise the signs that mean he's about to 'go', then rush him outside and stay with him until he's done it.

One thing you must never do is allow the pup to go outside, do his business and then reward him for doing his business when he gets back to the doorway - be sure to be with him (maybe have him on a lead) while he goes.

Sorry I don't know how much of it you already know so my apologies if any of it comes across as patronising or teaching you to suck eggs :)

That is an interesting point, thank you.

Medusa is there puppy walker and she has had the same problem with Petie going for a long walk and then coming into her house to pee.

:mad:


Both my dogs had a problem peeing on walks, and would rather wait until they returned home too....I do honestly think it's the scent/territory thing though, cos as soon as they matured, they were fine about performing out and about in a field or on the common (Angel still won't do it on a grass verge though...too many smells)

my new dalmatian lottie is doing this too and shes 4 months old she doesnt seem to like to pee pee on concrete just grass and CARPET lol so frustrating just had new carpet put all way through! and i have a concrete yard!

Takara does that! I've come to the conclusion she doesn't like getting her feet wet - hence she won't wee on concrete! She'll only wee on grass or leaves.

Although - I have known dallies who aren't fully housetrained at 4 months and she was a rescue wasn't she?

Perhaps you could put in a patch of leaves or sand or a dig pit of soil, hunni? Then she could get used to going there?

I have to take Takara for a marathon walk every evening to wee because she won't even do it on our grass garden anymore!

yes shes a rescue obv the ppl couldnt train her so that was another reason for her being dumped poor baby