My family adopted a male Shih Tzu when he was 6 months old. I was informed that Chewy was potty trained, but learned very quickly that he wasn't at all trained. So I started the process right then, but didn't have very good luck with it. About 2 weeks after adopting him he started pooping worms and became very ill. I rushed him to the vet to find out he had whip worms, and didn't have a good chance of living. The vet gave him meds but was unsure if he would pull through. About the 4th day he started feeling well enough to go outside without me carrying him. Unfortunately this silly dog loves to eat earth worms and before he even got completely over the whip worms he got Parvo. So all potty training was on hold again. By the grace of God he lived, and is a wonder, thriving, and healthy spoiled doggy, but I can't seem to get him potty trained. I take him out several times a day and he does okay with #1 but he thinks his poo place in my game room. My vet recommended that we have Chewy fixed, and told us that would help, but it didn't. Now I have a lot of time and money invested in him, but I hate him pooing in the house.. What can I do? FYI he does have a crate that he sleeps in, and when he poos in my floor, I rub his nose in it, take him out, then put him in his crate.

Rubbing his nose in it is doing nothing for training. It's out dated information and in my opinion constitutes as abuse. He can smell the poop from miles away, so no need to rub his face in it. He isn't doing it to make you mad, it sounds like it is more of a behavioral problem. You're just confusing and perhaps even frightening him, so in the end you will not only have an un-house broken dog, but a fearful dog.

This is going to sound frustrating, but unless you catch him pooping red pawed, you do not react. You clean the poop up and take your dog out side. Make sure to use an enzyme cleaner. A simple vinegar and water solution works great.

Treat Chewy like he is a brand new puppy. Every time he eats or drinks, he goes out side. You may need to stand out there with him until he relieves himself, when he does, you praise like mad. Offer a small treat. Exercise him as often as possible. Walking and playing will got his "pipes working" so to speak and he will relieve himself more times, lessening the likely hood of him needing to go when he is back at home inside.

He is going to have accidents, by the sounds of things he has had a rough start, and is lucky to be alive. Don't loose hope, he will catch on. Just like kids, dogs learn at different rates.

Also, don't use the crate as punishment. This needs to be a safe happy place, not a place used as a time out. Crating at night or during the day can be very comforting to dogs, especially if they suffer from separation anxiety, so don't take his safe place away from him.

If you take a look at the other posts on house breaking here on AMHD, you will get some great advice. Our other dogs expert Shazamataz has written some excellent stickies at the top of the dog forum. Take a look, you won't be disappointed at the amazing information you will find.

DO NOT RUB HIS NOSE IN IT!! Whatever you do just don't do that, dogs don't remember what they did wrong. When you catch him in the act give him a firm no and growl to show that you're the alpha.I know it sounds silly but it works. Then take him to the place you want him to go in and watch him to see if he has any left.If you don't catch him in the act then spray the area he went in with febreeze, cleaner, etc. This will show that it is your scent and it is not his area to go in. If it is doo doo that you find then shovel it up and take it to the area that you want him to go in and spray the area he went in. After being placed in the area and seeing his doo doo there he will get the idea.

The way I trained my shih tzu is that I made a list of activities me and my dog do together that helps him gets lots of exersise and raises his IQ.The same happened to me too. That's why I made the list. And when your dog DOES go potty outside reward him with a treat. This will make the dog want to go to the bathroom outside. And another thing that will make your dog go #2 outside is by giving him a lot of exercise outside and by letting him explore the surrondings. And never rub the dogs face in his own business, that will make him lose trust and bonding between you and him and he won't listen to you. I know you feel a little stupid and mean about what you did to your dog, but don't give up and keep training him.You didn't know what you were doing, its OK. Also, before you start training him, start with the basics that will make him more obedient and friendly like sit or roll over.


P.S. Don't think of me as a dog expert, Im only ten , but because I'm that age don't think of me as stupid,either. Im very intelligent. Oh, I hope these steps work
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Originally Posted by bla333

DO NOT RUB HIS NOSE IN IT! Whatever you do just don't do that, dogs don't remember what they did wrong. When you catch him in the act give him a firm no and growl to show that your the alpha.I know it sounds silly but it works. Then take him to the place you want him to go in and watch him to see if he has any left.If you don't catch him in the act then spray the area he went in with febreeze, cleaner, etc. This will show that it is your scent and it is not his area to go in. If it is doo doo that you find then shovel it up and take it to the area that you want him to go in and spray the area he went in. After being placed in the area and seeing his doo doo there he will get the idea.

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I agree dude you shouldn't. Dogs can easily gain trust and lose it. That just doesn't help. If you read my comment you'll know what he is talking about