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Hello--we adopted a 14-month old shelter dog recently. She had been in a foster home for the last month or two so we know her habits from the foster "mom." Apparently all was fine in her foster home related to housebreaking habits. Things have been pretty good in her new home, until yesterday evening when she piddled in the hall; then tonight she piddled in the hall again.

Both evenings the routine has been the same--a long walk after work (she is unwilling to potty on walks). When we got home, I accompanied her to the back yard where she urinated. Much praise. Brought her in the house and within a very short time (15 minutes?) she walked down the hall and piddled (out of our line of sight). This evening the routine was varied slightly because she was in and out a bit more keeping husband company as he grilled dinner.

She's very crate oriented and loves lolling in her crate with her bones and toys (located in the family room where we spend most of our time). It seems like the problem started when she started to branch out in the house with some confidence (she's a timid dog).

I want to nip this problem in the bud but am stumped. We take her out often; we praise her when she goes outside; she's fine in the crate yet I hesitate to crate her too much just because she *might* have an accident.

As a side note, she has a submissive/excitement urination issue which has greatly improved in the 10 days we have had her. Another idle speculation is one of our cats has her "hostage" in the hall and she piddles in submission.

Any ideas?

>>Hello--we adopted a 14-month old shelter dog recently. She had been in a foster home for the last month or two so we know her habits from the foster "mom." Apparently all was fine in her foster home related to housebreaking habits. Things have been pretty good in her new home, until yesterday evening when she piddled in the hall; then tonight she piddled in the hall again.
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>>Both evenings the routine has been the same--a long walk after work (she is unwilling to potty on walks). When we got home, I accompanied her to the back yard where she urinated. Much praise. Brought her in the house and within a very short time (15 minutes?) she walked down the hall and piddled (out of our line of sight). This evening the routine was varied slightly because she was in and out a bit more keeping husband company as he grilled dinner.
>>
>>She's very crate oriented and loves lolling in her crate with her bones and toys (located in the family room where we spend most of our time). It seems like the problem started when she started to branch out in the house with some confidence (she's a timid dog).
>>
>>I want to nip this problem in the bud but am stumped. We take her out often; we praise her when she goes outside; she's fine in the crate yet I hesitate to crate her too much just because she *might* have an accident.
>>
>>As a side note, she has a submissive/excitement urination issue which has greatly improved in the 10 days we have had her. Another idle speculation is one of our cats has her "hostage" in the hall and she piddles in submission.
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>>Any ideas?
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Could be fear of the cat, could also be that the cat has marked there and it's triggering the dog's instincts. You'll find a lot of how-to info on housetraining at the link under my signature below. Free, of course.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Thanks for the reply--I have read your articles; great reading! I forwarded one to a friend who is having issues with his dog.

The interactions with the cats [note plural!] have gone well so far; I don't notice any fear when I am around them all, but, who knows what torture they are submitting the dog to when our backs are turned. :-o

Tomorrow evening we are going to try to block the door opening between the family room/kitchen area, and the rest of the house. Combine that with trips outside every 30 minutes or so and see if we can break the cycle.

>>Thanks for the reply--I have read your articles; great reading! I forwarded one to a friend who is having issues with his dog.
>>
>>The interactions with the cats [note plural!] have gone well so far; I don't notice any fear when I am around them all, but, who knows what torture they are submitting the dog to when our backs are turned. :-o
>>
>>Tomorrow evening we are going to try to block the door opening between the family room/kitchen area, and the rest of the house. Combine that with trips outside every 30 minutes or so and see if we can break the cycle.

>>>>>>>>>>>>.

Yeah, think of it as helping the dog to not make mistakes and helping the dog to "hit the target." Be a team with your dog. Housetraining is usually the first goal you and your dog get to achieve together. Also, I find my new headlamp a promising tool for the next time I have a dog to housetrain and find myself outside picking up poo in the dark!
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47