NewGrad09
May 9, 2009, 07:56 AM
Hi, I've had my mini schnauzer for 3 years now, so she is about 8. For those 3 years, she has lived with me and my chihuahua. Up until now she was great with going potty outside. She was on a schedule of twice daily (I figured her previous owners had gotten her used to going like this, once in the morning and once at night). When she came to me, I got her used to staying in the kennel when I am not at home, it's safer for the dogs and it actually seemed to help her acclimate better to her new surroundings. So all that worked out well...
Just recently, she started barking and waking me up at maybe 1 or 2 in the morning. I had tried just ignoring the barks, but didn't want to leave her and she pee in her kennel or something. I didn't want that habit to begin. Turns out, she would go out and drink tons of water and go right back into her kennel. So, I got her a water bottle for her kennel. Now, she has begun peeing willy nilly all over the house. She pees outside, then will come back in and pee about 5 minutes later. I'd like to take the bottle away, but we would never get any sleep that way, she would bark until we wake up.
Over the 3 years that I have had her, I know her personality well. She is very stubborn, and tries to establish herself as the top dog every chance she gets. My poor chihuahua never had a chance with her! So, I find myself constantly reinforcing that I am the boss around here. But with this one, I'm not sure what to do because I never catch her in the act of doing it.
Sorry for the long post, but any advice would be great.
Just recently, she started barking and waking me up at maybe 1 or 2 in the morning. I had tried just ignoring the barks, but didn't want to leave her and she pee in her kennel or something. I didn't want that habit to begin. Turns out, she would go out and drink tons of water and go right back into her kennel. So, I got her a water bottle for her kennel. Now, she has begun peeing willy nilly all over the house. She pees outside, then will come back in and pee about 5 minutes later. I'd like to take the bottle away, but we would never get any sleep that way, she would bark until we wake up.
Over the 3 years that I have had her, I know her personality well. She is very stubborn, and tries to establish herself as the top dog every chance she gets. My poor chihuahua never had a chance with her! So, I find myself constantly reinforcing that I am the boss around here. But with this one, I'm not sure what to do because I never catch her in the act of doing it.
Sorry for the long post, but any advice would be great.