I have a 7 month old male great dane that I got when he was 4 months. When I got him the breeder told me she hadn't houstrained him and would just put him outside a lot. He caught on very quickly to go to the door thanks to biscuits ;) Then winter really set it and it got very cold. He's not a fan of very cold weather but I was still able to get him out 2x day for a good long run and then for a long walk in the evening. Then the rain started and he absolutely hates it. I have the hardest time getting him to go in the rain. He will not go for a walk and just stubbornly stands there and refuses to play ball or run around he just tries to run back inside! Of course the weather is just not normal and it's been raining A LOT so I haven't been able to take him out to run/play ball or take him on his evening walk. During this time I have 'accidents' in the house. ( I use that word loosely because it might have only been an hour since he was out and he knows he is wrong since his tail will go between his leg. I had his urine tested 2x for bacteria and it came back negative both times.) The vet also thinks this is beahiour and told me that when he goes to the door to put him in his cage for 10-15 minutes and then take him out. He seems to think that because of the first 4 months he was just out whenever and he's mad that I'm trying to put him on a schedule. The weather got better and we are back outside everyday and he goes to the door maybe 2x the whole day! Again a reason we believe it's behaviour he's mad that he can't go outside but won't go out because of the rain so I'm kind of stuck. I don't mind taking him for a walk in the rain, I don't mind the cold - he does :confused:! So of course now it's raining again and I tried to take him out yesterday and he refused to play or do anything except stand there and stare at the house. I tried several times and finally there was a break in the rain and we were able to play outside for a half hour. Then at dinner time I blocked him out of the kitchen so we could eat ( I have done this since I had him and he even knows the routine as he'll leave voluntary when I say go Einstein) and he walked out to our dining room and left a trail of poop through the room, in the living room and at the bottom of the steps and then ran upstairs. He was just out 30 minutes before that. So it seems that whenever the weather is bad - he's bad. When the weather is fine - he's fine. How do I stop this?? Otherwise he's an excellent dog. Very obedient for only being 7 months (other than the messing in the house) He's healthy... but these are some big poops and some rivers of pee! Oh and FYI - whenever he has an 'accident' I firmly tell him no and take him outside and then I leave it at that. I don't yell or hit or anything like that. Can someone please help me?? Thanks!

annaid

I am going to take a short cut by pasting in part of what I do with a 7 week old. I think you can see the parts you need.

Choose a command and spot you want it to use. When you bring it home, take it
To the spot and give it the command in a firm, but friendly voice. Keep
Repeating the command and let the puppy sniff around. If it does anything,
Praise it. Really let it know what a good dog it is and how much you love it,
And maybe a treat. If it doesn't go, take it
Inside and give it a drink and any meals scheduled. A young puppy will need to
Go out immediately afterward. Go to the spot and follow the above routine.
Praising it if it goes is extremely important. If it doesn't go, take it back
Inside and put it in its crate and try again soon. Do not let it loose in the
House until it does go.

At first it is your responsibility to know and take the puppy out when it
Needs to go. It needs to go out the first thing in the morning, after eating,
Drinking, and sleeping. If it quits playing, and starts running around
Sniffing, it is looking for a place to go. Take it out quickly. You will just
Have to be what I call puppy broke until it is a little older.

With a 7 month old, it is much harder to know when to take them out. Morning and when you return will still be good times. Otherwise, you will need to learn to read him. He may also pick up that he gets what he wants, back in, when he produces. It is also very importing to make him move. Use a treat if you have to. Suddenly, he won't be able to hold it any more. Just allow him to stop and sniff.

Maybe the weather will improve. It poured rain all day yesterday where I was and I got wet taking my 3 month Lab out. It turned to snow just before we got back and was about 20 this morning. A small Lab's accident is bad enough. At 7 months, he has most of his adult size and volume.

See I do all that. I pretty much carry biscuits in my pocket 24/7. In fact when he goes potty he immediately comes and sits at my feet waiting for it. I have him on a leash and I keep him moving and I say over and over "go to the bathroom". He does have a normal spot too. I can pretty much tell when he needs to go out because he will get 'antsy' and he seems to need to kind of run in order to go so I let him do that as well. But it's more the him throwing a fit that I need to stop - and now! I know he can hold it, I know there is no physical problem. But when I do something he doesn't like, or he doesn't get to go out because of weather he goes in the house - it's a blatant - I'm mad so this is what I'm going to do! Thanks for you help!

Sounds like you have a pack status problem too.
Having a good pack structure reduces such problems. The dogs see all the
People and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in
The pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members
Outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by
Reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class
Or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with
A treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/.