Hi,

I have a Westie who is 3 years and 4 months old. She's been house trained since she was a puppy to pee outside. She been walked 2 times a day for an hour each.

Since the last few months, she's started peeing a lot in the house and also been behaving very naughty. She's not as obidient as she used to be. :(

There have been some changes as my mom stayed with me for 6 months and now my BF's moved in. I understand that reasons for her doing this can be change, different commands from different people. Even though I'v tried to explain to everyone in the house about her training and commands, its not consistent.

I would like to find solutions for her peeing habits and her bad behaviour specially when she's out of the house.

I love my dog very much, she's loving and playfull. I would her to be the way she was before... trained, clean in the house and not crazy when she's out.

Cheers!
Angie

I am sure your mother and boy friend coming is a big part of the problem. The root of the problem is her not accepting you as her leader. 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 Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete For more on being top dog, see Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position

If there is no doubt in her mind you outrank her, there will be less problems with other people failing to use the same commands as you. It still would be a big help if they did.

As for the urination in the house, it calls for careful supervision when you can, using doors or gates to keep her in sight. When you can't, crate her. Other dogs may
Not be as bad as the young Labs I am plagued with. Still your house and dog
Will be much safer with the dog in a crate when you are away. The dog may be
Happier in its den than loose in the house. It relaxes, it feels safe in its
Den. It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving
Its self. Dogs that have been crated all along do very well. Many of them
Will rest in their crates even when the door is open. I think the plastic
Ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling. They are harder for
Dogs to open too. Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with
Something the dog can't pull in and chew. Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys. Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter. Don't leave
Anything in the crate the dog might chew up. It will do fine without even any
Bedding. You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

Accidents are the fault of whoever was watching the dog. If somebody fails to follow your procedures, it is their responsibility to clean up after the dog. When anybody catches her marking in the house, give her a sharp ''UT, ut, ut!'' and take her out.


A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work.
Start just putting its toys and treats in the crate. Praise it for going
in. If you have been able to trust it with any bedding, put that in the crate.
Feed it in the crate. This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding
Time for more than one dog.

Spay her if not already. It is no cure all, but essential in solving such problems.

If you gave more details on the misbehavior outside, I might have more ideas on it.