I have been breeding Miniature and Toy Schnauzers for years, have 12 of them in the house and I have only had this problem twice, with other dog breeds. The first was a mini-Dachshund who eventually grew out of it, the current one is a Bichon-a-Poo.
They go to the bathroom on the furniture. They know it's bad, because they make sure I'm not around to see them do it.I wash spreads and covers in vinegar or enzyme odor removers and keep a vinyl tablecloth under the spread or furniture covers, but I'm changing and washing the covers every day.
We have a doggie door. The little Doxy was killed last year, but I'm trying to deal with the Bichon-a-Poo. I bred her on purpose in an attempt to grow her up but that has not worked. Her puppies are only 2 weeks old, so I can't just get rid of her. Who would want her anyway? I will say that in her case, she was kept in a filthy cage until she was 4 months old, 24-7. I had to pay $250 for her, but I still consider her a rescue.
However, she didn't do this until I had her for several months. Does anyone know why she is doing this or what to do about it?
By JoAnn Dibeler from Livingston, TX
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I guess my first action would be not to let the dog have access to the furniture when I am not looking. Use a crate if you are in another room, taking a shower etc. There are also devices (scat Mat, used by the dog whisperer) and a collar with a movable sensor) that can make certain areas "off limits" I used these to keep several of our dogs out of the cat's litter box.
Anyway good luck.
Thanks Merlene. I'm about ready to crate her but I'll have to buy another crate so she's not with the puppies too much. I've had 2 bad experiences with eclampsia with moms who stayed with the puppies all the time.
I didn't know Scat Mats could be confined to only one dog getting zapped. That is a great idea. I'm not about to punish the dogs who have slept on the furniture all their lives and never did anything wrong.
I'm going to look up Scat Mats on the internet right now.
Don't have advice but Bichons are notoriously hard to potty train completely. I have 1 and he does OK wth urinating outdoorsin my house, but will poop anywhere, often my bathroom, if he has been scolded or whatever, but will pee on anything outdoors, so if I take him to a street faire or cafe he will pee on tables, displays, etc.
1) Add a sprinkling of Cinnamon to her strongest smelling food and if she eats it keep doing this until the peeing stops. This means that her bladder is weakened by her food. You might want to try a little more tuna/ fresh meats, less canned that is full of chemicals and unneeded things. Try sprinkling a little powered milk on top of the cinnamon before giving up..for two reasons. It will help conceal the cinnamon fragrance, and it will add a little calcium to their urine, preventing them from needing to go so often. Make sure the dog gets about 10-15 min. of direct sunlight per day, but not at the hottest times of the day nor on hot cement or brick which can burn.
2) Focus on the flooring, the cracks, the caulking, the inside cushioning to whatever she's peeing on. Likely it's got the scent from some older pee, her's or some other pet. They do not like WD-40, which is refined fish oil mixed with something else. Because it's oil, it can't be used except on a non-porous surface for obvious reasons, so save it for the tiles, washable rugs, linoleum, and Pergo areas only. Also, keep in mind that all aerosols contain propellants that might not harm your family, but could be killing your animals, bladder first!
In starting over with training, I'd place the dog in one room only, regardless of the whining, but make certain the room is a good temp for the animal, and that there is a clean warm or cool spot to sleep in/on that has NO chemicals used in it, not cleaners, hairspray, spray deodorant, or strong soaps, toothpastes. Think what it would be like if you were very tiny around these things.
Place plenty of shredded newspaper in there, which can go two days without replacement, and absorbs odors very well. Then after about two weeks of this, see if the dog is using the 2-3"shallow plastic large cake pan-sized pee/poo-box exclusively.
If so, allow the dog out for 5 min. 'changes of scenery 'every three-four hours. If no peeing on the usual old places, you may have re-trained the dog.
Praise the dog every time it does not pee on the floor or furniture, by saying something like, "Good dog, no pee on furniture...or," no pee on carpet!" patting and rubbing a second or so.
If any peeing, make the changes of scenery for only 2-3 mins until no peeing. If the dog pees, gently say, "Bad dog pee on furniture" or "pee on carpet." and do NOT pat or rub, but place it back inside the confinement, until it's next trial. Do not grab the dog in a panic. It's like a fast horrible, scary roller- coaster ride without warning for a tiny animal!
Animals learn English best if the words are short, simple, and used the same way for the same things.
Because an animal seems to respond or looks at you does not mean they fully understand. Keep all commands simple, not loud, and appropriate.
When the dog uses the paper in the confinement room,praise with the words, "Good dog, go on paper, or "go in box." w/ pat and rub a short time.
Should the dog have routine messes all around the room it's confined in, keep cleaning the spots with only simple white bar soap and water, tossing the dirty paper into the doo/pee box. They usually get the idea. Do not expect them to lay in their excrement or on a dirty floor. Try to keep it reasonably clean with plain soap/water.
Important:Do not ever yell, jerk, act irritated or show anger because they pick up on that first and will not do as you want because they are afraid. Remember too that any distraction such as a guest or children, another animal, vehicle noise, or music/TV can interfere with their learning and obeying. Wait until the coast is clear to train, even if after everyone else has gone to sleep.
Also go to "clicker-training a dog" on line to see if you could try this method that seems to be the rage. "Clickers" are fairly cheap.
Also, give your dog only water that has set in a clean glass , not ceramic (leads in clays can seep out into the water ) container for about 24 hrs. to see if the dog is allergic to chlorine. Fluoride is a salt, and can only be avoided by buying filtered water,(never buy bottled water unless you can use your own GLASS bottle to get it with, per Mercola.com)
These are ideas that we don't always think to try. I do hope one of them works for you. Remember that the smaller the dog, the louder ANY sound seems to them and the stronger all of your movements of them are, like a swift elevator that makes your stomach go up to your throat!
Speak softly and slowly, reassuringly and consistently, not one way and then another, so that they can relax and be more likely to learn what you are trying to teach them.
Do not repeat over and over if they do not obey, such as "out, Out, out", when trying to get them to leave. Say it no more than two times in succession and only twice IF they might not have heard well the first time. Otherwise, I am told that it teaches them that the command is not "Out", but "out, Out, OUT!" and that only confuses them and will frustrate you. Good luck. God bless you and your little ones. : )
Wow!! I've never had a dog do this. Have you asked your vet? That's a tough one. And the problem is you have to scold them while they are "in the act." I don't know what I would do if my animals went to the bathroom on my furniture. Oh my, maybe you should phone the vet and they can tell you what might be the problem or call a trainer and they can tell you. When I had questions concerning my Shepherd pup, I called a good trainer and he answered all of my questions I had.
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