Ok Max and Daisy are coming on wonderfully! As most of you know we had a bit of trouble with them when we got them...but thanks to some great advice on this forum we got sorted

They are great at recall, great with other dogs and so friendly to people, are good with commands, good walking on the leads etc. If we are in the lounge, they will ask to go out at the door if they need to go....so we give lots of praise if they go to the toilet outside etc.

The only problem we have is....at night they can not hold their wee or poo! We bring their water up at around 8 o clock after they have had a good drink. They usually go to for a poo in the evening and a good few wee's. But they are put in the kitchen at night and sleep in their cage (not locked in) paper is down by the back door (we have to do this because otherwise they just mess at the backdoor) - they go to the toilet before they are locked in....but most mornings we come down to mess on the paper....and the floor. I am 99% sure that its Max who messes on the floor as we have caught him a few times

In the day my o/h mum comes in at lunch time so they are only left for 4 hours in the morning and 4 in the afternoon and they do the same thing! Wee and poo everywhere!

We really dont want to lock them in their cage - as they love playing with their toys together.

They do have the odd days when they are good - but less and less!!

We arent really sure what to do anymore? HAs anyone got any advice?

Thanks

Sounds like they have not learned bladder/bowl control.

This is best storted with the crate closed though once you feel they can hold it you can leave it open.

You need to get them to increase the amount of time they hold it in by shutting them in as most dogs will not mess in bed.
Then gradually making the time longer until they are used to being left for 4 house without toileting.

It is going to take a while because they think it is acceptable to mess in the hous.
But at the same time, give heaps of praise when they do go outside.

x

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i think you should take away the papers that you are leaving at the door. thats just encouraging them to use them. you may end up with mess on the floor rather than on the paper for a while. but unless you stop putting them down, they will always think is acceptable to go indoors.

i agree with PG, that you just need to go back to basics for a bit and extend the length of time you are leaving them and shutting them in the crate will speed this up as dogs hate being beside their own mess.

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6th Jan 2008 - 22nd July 2009

hello thank you for your posts!

We have tried crating them but they just mess in the crate and then sit in it

we then try again...and the same thing. i hear what your saying about the paper but then they just go on the floor anyway - dont even try and do it in the spot where the paper was... we have tried both of these methods over and over again but they just dont seem to get it - although they are perfect when we are there with them

I agree with that - when Dougal slept in the kitchen, I kept a puppy pad by the door and most mornings there would be a wee on it. Now he sleeps in the bedroom on the bed, he goes through the night without any problem. I guess he just used the pad 'because it was there'.

Other than his first 2 nights, he's never been shut in his crate (he hated it).

ok cool well i will try not putting paper down again and see how they get on!

Its typical because in the night last night - from 10:30 - 6:30 no mess at all!
Then they were left from 8:30 until lunch time - no mess hehe!

How about trying getting up in the night once and taking them out to the toilet. Then putting them back to bed. If the keep clean for a little while doing that, get up in the night a little later and later so they have to hold it a little bit longer until they can be clean through the night.
My Lottie rarely has accidents in her crate. We lock her in it over night and when we are out. Its like her den and she doesn't want to mess her den