[joanquinn]

Help!
We rescued a 2 yr old llasa mix 2 years ago - went from everything on the carpet (always hiding in the far reaches of the house) through crate training and now we are still having pee on carpet when we are all asleep at night - even though she potties outside in a specific area all day long.

We've narrowed it down to after her dinner until the morning that she is off to pee somewhere - AND it is not happening in the same places. SO: we have tried diapers (worked - she wouldn't pee in them), tie up on leash after her dinner which works only if we keep her WITH us at all times, food and water are pulled up after dinner, walks, cuddle time - and as soon as I try a night without tie up I find a circle of pee somewhere in the house on the carpet. I don't know what else to do! It feels chronic and I am disappointed to know I will have to keep her either diapered or on leash every evening/night. Since she doesn't potty in front of us (previous indoor potty abuse and reason left at pound) there's not much corrective discipline we can do.

She does not tell us when she has to go outside. She is on a schedule for outdoor potty: after twice a day feedings, after being home alone (crated), 2-3 times after dinner and before bed.

I am ready for some new ideas to try.

Joanie

[labman]

I think too heavy of reliance on schedules causes problems including the dog never learning to go out when it needs to. Read through the sticky at https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/i...tml#post251809 including the last part about older dogs.

When you are around you need to keep a close eye on the dog. Use closed doors or gates to keep it in the same room as you are, and perhaps as I do, a short chain fastened to the computer desk. If you catch it in the act, give it a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'' and take it out. When you can't watch it, crate it.

You may also need to give her strong leadership. The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. 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, Letting your dog know you are the boss