I have had my cocker spaniel for about five years now and she has always been great about holding her bowels and going outside other than the occasional urinating she did when got excited which she has grown out of. I have had my shih tzu for the past two years and she has been decently trained as well. Now all of a sudden they both go in the house constantly. Ill take them outside regularly and my cocker would urinate and poop a little and my shih tzu would just pee and run around for sometimes an hour and then come home and pee/poop inside. It's gotten out of hand. I wake up there's poop ten minutes later there's poop I'll take them out then there's poop go to work come home at midnight there's poop. I bathe them and hour later there's poop. I don't know why there's this sudden change but it's pissing me off I get so flustered and frustrated sometime I just want to hurt them. I just clean it up and go to my room. Btw they are crated all the time now. I don't trust them to wander around the house like they used to because the moment I let them get a little freedom there's pee on the carpet. I can't take it anymore and neither can my roommate. I'm just tired.

" ... I just want to hurt them. I just clean it up and go to my room. Btw they are crated all the time now."


Do everyone a favor - rehome the dogs and don't get any more dogs.

I'm sure you've taken both of them to a Vet and they are both in good health, no problems along those lines, right.

Again - do the dogs a favor. Your cruelty toward dogs have had for two years and five years is shocking.

You are taking out your unhappiness, your personal problems, on helpless animals - https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/relati...me-758922.html. I don't know if I'm more shocked or more sickened.

Rehome them.

Very likely they are being spiteful. Maybe because you don't get them the attention they want, maybe because you are crating them more, maybe because they know you are upset. Dogs sense things. It would be better to leave them outside more than crating them. At least they have more of a sense of freedom.

*leave them outside more often, weather permitting etc

Do you just open the door for them to go out and hope for the best, or do you actually monitor what they do and have a potty word?

I totally disagree with the "spiteful" comment. There is something else going on here. I agree with Judy that your plate is full right now and you really should consider rehoming your dogs. They deserve more attention, training, and care than they are getting. Shutting them up in crates is not a good idea.

And dogs sense anger, let alone rage, and upset.

Of course they are reacting. One of them has loved you for 5 years and is suddenly the target of your dislike.

Rehome them - living in a crate is no fun and corrects absolutely nothing. Of course, it probably does keep you from hurting them.

Sorry to woindergirl for using wrong term spiteful. Meant as spiteful as negative reaction to circumstances beyond dogs control.

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Originally Posted by N0help4u

Sorry to woindergirl for using wrong term spiteful. Meant as spiteful as negative reaction to circumstances beyond dogs control.

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I will accept that. And the owner not being in tune with a dog's bathroom needs (because the owner is so self-involved with personal problems) doesn't help the matter at all.

Dogs certainly don't think like people but I wonder if "people" would live in an area slightly larger than they are, unable to urinate and defacate when they need to, forced to stay in that cubicle with almost no human contact, always being shamed and threatened, realizing that people they love are upset and frustrated and thinking of "hurting them" how they would react - of course, you can always "bathroom" and live in it.

Also note OP gets home from work at Midnight Wonder how much time dogs have off lead, outside, even outside on lead - ?

Why have two dogs when you can't handle one?

Sad all the way around.

I see a lot of changes in your life, and dogs don't do well with change.

The first thing that has to be done is a complete vet check to make sure this sudden lack of potty training isn't a medical issue.

If you plan to keep the dogs, you have to put in the work to keep them. Putting them in a crate so you don't have to deal with their issues, is not the answer. You're harming your dogs.

They need to be retrained (after a clear vet check). If you can't, or won't, do that, they they are better off with someone else.

Yea I volunteer at this shelter so they get free regular check ups. Their shots are up to date and everything. I moved recently and my vet said it could be the move and I did change their food. I don't neglect them I let them out regularly we love in an apartment so I have to take them out and walk them we walk for at least an hour I get up at 6 am go for a run with them go home shower leave for work/school at about 8 come home at 3 sometimes earlier take them out they eat wait 30-45 minutes and take them out. I did do a test today I bought another crate and split them up to see which one is eliminating in the house. I found out it was the shih tzu not my cocker spaniel. Which is even more frustrating because the shih tzu is the one that refuses to go outside an poop but then comes home and goes in the house. Yes I crate them because we have carpet and I have a roommate I refuse to give her the full run of the house again if she goes in the house and thinks its OK. She does it the moment I turn my back. The crate is near the kitchen and living room so it's a high volume area in which they're never isolated. During the evenings when I take them out we play I'm the courtyard and everything. So no they are no mistreated. It's crazy when I state how frustrated I get me voicing my frustrations doesn't make me a cruel person there area many people out there judging me but have you ever felt frustrated before. I would never harm them I would surrender them before it ever gets to that point. I'm just showing how fed up I am with the bahavior.

Refuses to go when outside, waits until in the house and you turn your back. That is what I was saying about spite because my pit bull has been with my son and she is pulling the same thing. The other word would be defying his authority. How do your dogs get along? It could be a jealousy thing. Moving may have been the trigger but my guess is it is something deeper.

I don't believe it's spite. This is a dog, not a human being. Dogs don't do things out of spite.

My bet would be the change in location, and all the stress going on in your home at this point.

You're going to have to retrain, and for that you're going to have to be calm, and positive. When the dogs potty outside, lots of praise, a treat, let them know they're doing what they're supposed to be doing. If the go inside, a firm no, and then take them directly outside, use your potty word, and wait for them to potty outside.

Do not use the crate as punishment. The crate is supposed to be their den, their safe place. If it's used as punishment, it will be viewed as a place you go when you're bad, not a safe place.

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Originally Posted by Alty

I don't believe it's spite. This is a dog, not a human being. Dogs don't do things out of spite.

My bet would be the change in location, and all the stress going on in your home at this point.

You're going to have to retrain, and for that you're going to have to be calm, and positive. When the dogs potty outside, lots of praise, a treat, let them know they're doing what they're supposed to be doing. If the go inside, a firm no, and then take them directly outside, use your potty word, and wait for them to potty outside.

Do not use the crate as punishment. The crate is supposed to be their den, their safe place. If it's used as punishment, it will be viewed as a place you go when you're bad, not a safe place.

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Yea that makes sense. I did some research and found that sometimes they get stressed due to changes in location and diet. We moved to a different state from Chicago to where Missouri we loved here for a year and then moved again down the street. Before then I loved alone but then moved with a roommate I also changed their diet from beneful to blue ribbon because their fur started to get dull and dry and the new food has definitely helped their coats A lot. I was thinking maybe that had something to do with the change in their potty issues. I don't know. I did do some positive reinforcement today with them but the shih tzu still did not poop. She enjoyed running around and playing but made no effort to poop. Ten minutes later. She ran into the crate and pooped inside of it came out and played some more. So it can't be constipation. Even though I have to admit I was upset at her we went to this dog park for like two hours and she did nothing but pee but instead of yelling at her I just took her back outside and she just laid in the grass.

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Originally Posted by Flatsouffle

Yea that makes sense. I did some research and found that sometimes they get stressed due to changes in location and diet. We moved to a different state from Chicago to where Missouri we loved here for a year and then moved again down the street. Before then I loved alone but then moved with a roommate I also changed their diet from beneful to blue ribbon because their fur started to get dull and dry and the new food has definetly helped their coats ALOT. I was thinkin maybe that had something to do with the change in their potty issues. I dont know. I did do some positive reinforcement today with them but the shih tzu still did not poop. She enjoyed running around and playing but made no effort to poop. Ten minutes later. She ran into the crate and pooped inside of it came out and played some more. So it can't be constipation. Even though I have to admit I was upset at her we went to this dog park for like two hours and she did nothing but pee but instead of yelling at her I just took her back outside and she just laid in the grass.

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It's not going to be an instant fix. You're basically starting from scratch, potty 101. Treat them the way you treated them when you were first potty training them. They need to relearn.

I do have to ask, when did you switch the food, how long ago? Also, when you switched the food did you do it instantly, or slowly? When changing foods it's best to do it slowly, start by giving 1/4 new food 3/4 old food for 4 days. If there are no issues, do 1/2 new 1/2 old for 4 days. Still no issues then 3/5 new 1/4 old for 4 days, and then after that switch completely to the new food. Switching suddenly can cause issues. If you just recently switched their food, this may be what's causing the poo issues, but it doesn't explain the peeing in the house. That I would bet is due to all the sudden changes, especially moving.

Patience. I know it's frustrating, and I know it's maddening, especially when you're dealing with dogs that were potty trained before. But be patient, tons of praise when they do what they're supposed to do, go nuts with praise. When they potty in the house, or in their crate, a firm no, and let them know that this is not good behavior (your attitude will let them know you're not pleased with them).

Dogs live to please their owners, that's why praise works so well. Treats don't hurt either.

This may take a while, but if you keep at it, be consistent, they'll be potty trained again in no time.

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Originally Posted by Flatsouffle

She ran into the crate and pooped inside of it came out and played some more.

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I am a cat person, so don't take my words as total truth -- but I know from my cats how much of a difference food makes in how often, how much, and the "quality" of their poop. Also, cats (and dogs) hate change, and your pups have experienced a LOT of change..

I suspect your dog now thinks the crate is her pooping place. She "held it" until she was able to go where she is used to pooping. (She poops in her crate, right?)

I hope Alty comes back (or I will PM her) to tell you how to break the pup of this habit. ***ADDED YAY! Alty was typing while I was!

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Originally Posted by N0help4u

. How do your dogs get along? it could be a jealousy thing. Moving may have been the trigger but my guess is it is something deeper.

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When I first got the shih tzu my cocker didn't like her too much she used to run away from her and growl at her but after a few days she for used to her I do feed them in separate areas because the shih tzu would try to hog all the food and the cocker would turn away and she started to lose weight so during feeding time they're separated. But usually they get along sometimes they fight over toys but nothing too serious I just think of it as sibling rivalry. Lol. They do get jealous Of each other from time to time so I make sure to pet them at the same time. But nothing too extreme

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Originally Posted by Flatsouffle

When I first got the shih tzu my cocker didn't like her too much she used to run away from her and growl at her but after a few days she for used to her I do feed them in separate areas because the shih tzu would try to hog all the food and the cocker would turn away and she started to lose weight so during feeding time theyre separated. But usually they get along sometimes they fight over toys but nothing too serious I just think of it as sibling rivalry. Lol. They do get jealous Of each other from time to time so I make sure to pet them at the same time. But nothing too extreme

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Question, and I'm not sure if you already posted this, so bear with me. Are your dogs spayed?

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Originally Posted by Alty

Question, and I'm not sure if you already posted this, so bear with me. Are your dogs spayed?

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They are not. I planned to breed the cocker before I moved away for college but decided against it. I'm kind of afraid to. At the clinic I see a lot of pet owners come in complaining about how their dogs have changed after being spayed or neutered some dogs came in depressed or lethargic and I'm afraid that'll happen to them.

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Originally Posted by Flatsouffle

They are not. I planned to breed the cocker before I moved away for college but decided against it. I'm kind of afraid to. At the clinic I see a lot of pet owners come in complaining about how their dogs have changed after being spayed or neutered some dogs came in depressed or lethargic and I'm afraid that'll happen to them.

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Spaying an older dog can be hard on them, but the only changes in behavior will be positive ones. The people that complain of depression or lethargy, usually do so immediately after the surgery. It's a major surgery for a female dog, I won't lie and tell you that it's a simple procedure. Surgery isn't easy, and there will be some pain involved (they will give you pain meds for that), but in the long run it's what's best for your dogs. It will prolong their lives by years.

Also, a lot of the behavioral issues you're having with them, fighting over food and toys, should stop once they're spayed.

I would urge you to do some research on spaying, think it over, ask questions. I'm more than willing to post some info on the pros and cons of spaying so you can make an informed decision.

One final question. When did they last have a complete health check done? Not just shots, but a complete physical evaluation?