House training going in reverse

[Twiggy222]

I've had my yorkie-shih-tzu mix for five months. She's eight-months old now and she's seems to be getting worse rather than better, particularly when it comes to pooping in the house. We had gotten her timed pretty well, but it seems as if she figured that out and switched up the times she has to go. I can walk her twice in the evening around the times she has gone, and she won't do anything except urinate. I take her in the yard and stay with her for as long as she'll linger or sniff around, but it's as if she insists on going in the house. Lately, she will only poop on her early morning walk. All the other times it's in the house, and pretty much in the same spot. I've tried the odor-removal spray, but it hasn't worked. Her behavior seems deliberate, and I'm at my wits end. I tried crating her this evening until it was time to walk her, but even that didn't work. I've heard that both sides of her breed are very difficult to house-break...help!

[KOPcaroline]

Hey Twiggy,

How frustrating for you!

How did you house train her to begin with? Often when trouble like this pops up its a good idea to re-do the training, all the way from step one. So if you kept her in her crate at first or did the room by room method, go back to that.

Do you know when it is that she's toileting inappropriately? Is it in the middle of the day, or at night after you've tried everything to get her to go outside? If its at night, try keeping her shut up somewhere until you feed her, then wait about 10 minutes, and put her straight outside. Try to leave her there until she poos. Most dogs feel the need soon after eating, so incorporating her dinner into the training may help.

You should also block her access to the spot she is using in the house completely. Doggie gates, shut doors, whatever you have to do to block it. Even with some deodorizers, she may now smell that bathroom scent and think its ok to go there.

So my suggestion is to start using her meals as a trigger, and to go back to square one on house training. Some dogs just need a reminder round of training and they'll be fine after

Hope this helps, let us know if its not working (and if it is! )

[oliversmom]

I have the same kind of dog. He is 7 months old. He is adorable, but the potty training issue is getting old! He will go 2 weeks without going in the house, then he goes. So frustrating. We did the crate, then kept him on a leash and totally supervised. He is still restricted to what areas he can roam in. We still crate him when we leave and he sleeps nights in his crate.

[KOPcaroline]

Hey oliversmom,

Just a thought - have you been to the vet lately to get a check up? Theres a small chance your pup has a hormone imbalance or a bladder sphincter problem or some underlying problem thats causing the accidents, especially at 7 months and with such intense training!