OK, new to the forums. Glad to be here. Need some help! =)
I just adopted a five year old Boxer/Am. Bulldog mix. She's super sweet, super cute, and DEAF. She was on her third shelter stay and very close to being put down, I wanted to bring home a buddy for my other boxer (11 month old pup) who's a little older etc., etc. They seem to get on OK so far, though they're being kept separate from one another when I'm not home and will for a while.
Any rate, Dolly, the new addition to our little family has some serious issues. She's had NO training and though she's obviously pretty smart, she's got the attention span of a gnat. We're working on that and I think with some patience she's going to do just fine with basic obedience stuff.
Where I'm stumped is that she absolutely REFUSES to go potty outside the house. She'll hold it through hour long walks and then the second we get into the house and I give her ANY freedom, she'll go potty on the floor and I don't know what to do. I did some reading and the articles I read suggested I "gain her trust" and all of that because, obviously something's happened that's taught her that doing her business inside and trying to hide it is the thing to do so I'm working on the trust thing. That will just take time, I'm sure. But, these same articles tell you to reward the dog after you "make them go outside" and tell them they're a good dog. I can't really do that other than with a pat on the head or a treat and that... well, it doesn't seem to be working too well.
Anyone have any suggestions? I see a really great dog in the rough here. She's been through some stuff, that's obvious; but I believe she deserves as many chances as I can give her. However, I have to think about myself and my other dog, Arthur, too. Neither of us is too keen on living in doody-ville! It's pretty darn gross!
