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Carole0444 · Jan 10, 2010, 08:20 AM

I have two four and a half year old male chihuahuas who are brothers and they have been neutered. I have to keep them in a separate room with a gate up since they ruined my couches. I use potty pads and sometimes they use them and sometimes they do not. At night I put them in their crates and in the a.m. they do bark and I bring them straight out to the backyard and they do do their duty. Howevever, this morning I took the little one in on a leash and he picked up his leg and urinated on my new couch before I could put him in the room. In the room, when they are not in their crates they pee all over. I tried to find a new home for them, but cannot find someone who wants to deal with this. What can I do?

shazamataz · Jan 10, 2010, 08:46 AM

I would do away with the potty pads... in most cases it just confuses the dogs as to whether they are allowed to urinate inside.
The biggest problem with potty pads is that they do feel squishy and soft, just like carpet or furniture.

You are pretty much going to have to start from square one I think.
Get rid of the pads and make sure you take them outside every hour on the hour.
If you can get them outside on the grass and walk them around (don't just take them out) then it will hopefully get them to urinate before they actually get the urge to inside.

Do they have constant access to the backyard or do you leave the door closed?

Carole0444 · Jan 10, 2010, 08:57 AM

Thanks for your advice. No, they cannot access the yard by themselves. I recently had surgery and cannot carry them so I take each one individually on a leash and put them out in the yard for about a half an hour. Then again, individually take them back in and put them in their crates, give them each a treat, let them out in the room and put the gate. I really feel bad because of this I do not give them enough attention. Right now, it is very hard for me to take them out every hour because of the surgery but do take them out a few times a day.
I have been home the last two weeks because of surgery, but have to go back to work soon. That is why I always left them in the room with the pad because I felt bad about keeping them in the crates all day.

shazamataz · Jan 10, 2010, 09:10 AM

My back door is usually closed too but I have made a habit out of taking them out regularly.

I used to come home to urine all through my house when we went out so I also bought a baby gate and confined them to the kitchen... then I came home to scratches all over my dining room table plus urine on the floor... so then I moved the gate and confined them to the hallway... it seemed like it would never end! Then one day they seemed to just 'click' and stopped going inside, I don't know if it was because they realised that the area they were being left in was getting smaller or it was because of how vigilant I was about taking them out and making sure they peed before we left them alone.

There isn't a magic answer for this sort of problem but there are a few things you can try.

Do you have good cleaning products.
I use enzyme cleaners as it removes every little trace of urine from whatever you are cleaning. Regular cleaning products mask the scent to us but the dogs still smell faint traces of urine and want to mark over that spot again.

New furniture can be a pee magnet as you have found out. This is going to sound silly but I usually try to touch or rub my hands over any new furniture I buy to try and get my scent on it so they don't think it is 'new'

I hope you feel better soon and I hope you can get this puppy problem sorted out!

Carole0444 · Jan 10, 2010, 09:16 AM

Thanks again for your advice. Please recommend an enzyne cleaner. Once I feel better I can also put them in my hallway. However, when they did have the run of the house they peed on the walls and I had to remove the floor boards and had most replaced with tiles. I'm afraid they will pee on the walls in the hallway.

shazamataz · Jan 10, 2010, 06:33 PM

Sounds like they are right little terrors :p
Have you considered using belly bands?
They are a wide elastic band that goes around the dogs waist with a pad at the bottom.
A friend of mine uses them on her Shih Tzus because they are dirty in the house and they are show dogs so they can't be neutered.
She makes her own, it's just a wide band with a women's sanitary pad sitting underneath. You could even use some old stretchy clothes cut up instead of buying elastic.

Unfortunately I can't recommend any specific cleaners as I'm in Australia and we have a lot of different products. Hopefully someone else will come on and give you some suggestions though :)

Carole0444 · Jan 10, 2010, 06:56 PM

Thanks again. I have heard about the bands and will consider trying it. Hopefullly, they won't chew them up. I am impressed that you are in Australia--such a beautiful country!
I live in Florida, USA. Thanks again and Happy New Year!

shazamataz · Jan 10, 2010, 10:57 PM

No problem, if you do try it let me know how it goes.
A little bit of vicks vapor rub or something else smelly might deter them from chewing them, just rub a little on the edges of the band. ;)

I admit I don't know much about the USA, but would love to go there one day!

Carole0444 · Jan 11, 2010, 07:10 AM

Thanks for all the advice. As soon as I can get to a pet store, I will purchase the belly bands and, hopefully, it will help.

My friend, Nancy, has been corresponding with a man in Australia. Of course, Australia, is a huge country and I'm not sure which city he resides. Hope to get there one day too!
Florida is in the southeastern part of the U.S. On the east it borders the Atlantic Ocean, and the west the Gulf of Mexico. However, I'm originally from New York but living here since 1973.

Once again, thanks again for all your help and I will keep you posted on how the belly bands work.

shazamataz · Jan 11, 2010, 03:17 PM

The only thing I know about Florida is that the weather is supposed to be great! Haha

I'm in Tasmania, the triangle shaped island down the bottom of Australia ;)

Carole0444 · Jan 11, 2010, 05:00 PM

Wednesday, I go to the Doctor and on my way back I will stop off at the pet store and purchase the bellybands and keep you informed how they worked.
I'll ask my friend Nancy what city her friend lives in too!

Have a super day! Thanks again, Carole