Rescue dog keeps going toilet in the house

corbal_R

Hi, I adopted 2 rescue dogs who were both used as lab research dogs. The girl we have a year and half but we only adopted the male 3 weeks ago.

The girls was relatively good and easy to train. BUT the boy...he was good for the first week with only the odd pee here and there. But now hes started going no.2 in the house aswell and more frequent peeing.

We've used washing powder and white vinegar to clean and remove smells, then bought a urine remover spray but it seems to be getting worse.

We let him out for regular toilet breaks but it seems like now that he doesnt want to go outside. I had him out for a few hours and when he came in, straight away did a no2!!!

He's not your average dog as hes still very much traumatised from growing up in the lab so have to be carefull too how to train him.

Any advise would be much appreciated, TIA!!

Jood10

Were there bangers or anything going off in your area recently. One of ours wont go outside after dark in October not for love nor money. She's very good for the rest of the year but she will go in the house occasionally at this time of year. Last night was the first time shes put her nose outside the door in the dark for about 5 or 6 weeks.

janmaree

Is there any possibility that he might have been upset by the fireworks recently? We've had dogs who took it all in their stride and others who had to be sedated in order to cope. They're still going off around us and it's nearly a week later so maybe you could give the dog a bit of leeway to see if he settles down again. I'm no expert but lack of fireworks and patience generally work for us. Good luck.

janmaree

HA!!! Great minds think alike!

corbal_R

Thanks janmaree & Jood10

Yeah unfortunatley there were alot of fireworks going off in the run up to halloween. We had them out for a walk early one evening way before halloween and fireworks started going off soon after so we had to bring them home straight away because they got so scared We had the radio on for them to drown out the bangs after that.

Makes sense that he could be spooked after them...I never thought of that!

He does go in the house during the day so I dont think its the darkenss that scares him.

I can handle no.1s but no.2s I cant have happening all the time:(

Jood10

It is a nitemare. Our first words to each other in the morning this past while is.. mess or no mess!!

Give him time to settle in, it might be just that he doesn't recognise your place as home yet. I'm sure you know from your previous rescue it takes so long for them to settle properly. The first time we took our two to our holiday home they both went in the house 5 minutes after coming back from the beach. They're used to the place now and it doesn't happen anymore.

corbal_R

Hopefully, thats what I keep telling myself, he just needs time.
Its just because when we got him he was good but seems to be getting worse now but Im not gona give up.

But the fireworks has really made me think now....It could have affected him more that we thought.

Fingers crossed he'll get better

janmaree

He was good before so he can be again, something has just upset him to knock him off course. I had to laugh though as I MUCH prefer to deal with No.2 accidents - pick up, anti-bac spray, good scrub and you're done. It's standing barefoot on boobytraps on the carpet that you didn't see happen that I don't much enjoy! Ah well, it'll all be the same in a 100 years as they say :rolleyes:

aonb

OP you've only had him 3 weeks. Far too short a time to be getting worried
If he was a lab research dog, hes had zero training, handling, and no experience of living in a house with humans/fellow dog.
The fireworks/halloween noise is going to freak a 'normal'/settled dog, never mind your poor guy. The timechange/dark evenings are also going to be a bit of a change.
Diligence on your part and firmness balanced with patience is the thing. As you no doubt know after rescuing your first dog.
Treats and lots of praise, every time, when he goes outside - say NO! when he goes inside. Its a pain when they dont sem to 'get it' - but they always do eventually. What breed/age is he?

L1985

We found confining our pup to a small space worked. She's 12 months now and I still don't trust her in some of the rooms on her own or with the door open from other rooms. She still hasn't the best of bladders and would pee from overexcitment. Confining was the only thing that worked with her as she started associating that space with her space-crate training would possibly work as well but I don't know much about it. One thing I would say is don't let it go on for too long as it gets harder to stop it jn my opinion!

corbal_R

Thanks guys!
They're both beagles and they're both 6.

Yeah I had read about crate training but like that i dont know much either. But I was thinking of maybe confining them in the utility room to see if it helps(but ill give it another few days until I do that), they sleep in the kitchen which if fine for her but might be too big for him just yet. But yeah, I want to tackle this now before it gets harder and harder.
He was very jumpy last night but I brought him out on his own for long walk last night, he was still weary and wouldnt take treats but I gave him loads of praise when he went toilet.
We bought one of the Adaptil Calming collars last night for him, it was reccommended for her a few months back and it did wonders for her so hopefully will do the same for him.

Came down this morning and no messes

aonb

The life your two beagles must have had before you took them on, just doesnt bear thinking about :mad::(
Everyone I know who has crate trained their dog, raves about how brilliant it is, and how much the dog loves their 'safe place' - although given your dogs previous life, would a crate be a good idea?
Give him at least 6 weeks to settle
Hows your other dog finding having a new dog-friend?
Good luck!

bertsmom

corbal_R wrote:

Hi, I adopted 2 rescue dogs who were both used as lab research dogs. The girl we have a year and half but we only adopted the male 3 weeks ago.

Aw I don't have any practical advice to offer I'm afraid but just wanted to wish you well. It is such a lovely thing you have done giving not just one but two dogs a new and loving home after their horrible start to life.
I know the toilet part is stressful my elderly Springer has bowel disease and when I get in from work I haven't even the front door fully open when I'm sniffing to see if it will be a major clean up operation but to be honest he has given me so much love for over a decade it's the least I can do for him.
The very best of luck to ye ( they are already lucky doggies ye have them)

corbal_R

Aww thanks aonb and bertsmom for your well wishes and advise!

I won’t lie, it’s been a challenge, they're not your typical dogs but I wouldn’t change it! I’d never buy a pup again after adopting her, there’s so many poor dogs needing homes:(
Sorry to hear your springer has a bowel disease, hopefully it will ease, it’s horrible seeing them unwell. Our girl had arthritis in her leg when we got her but its progressed into her hips and spine recently. But she’s still in good form with her meds and loves her short walks so fingers crossed.

aonb, good point, maybe crate training mightn’t be the best giving their past. We’d no messes again this morning which is good (2 yesterday during the day but still happy).

She has really settled well with him…not much interaction at the start and sometimes wouldn’t sit on her bed when he’s on it but she loves him now. She’s sniffing and cuddling up to him and all, all good so far thank god.

Flibble

I know that from our point of view, crate training would seem triggering given their past, but from their point of view it's all they've known & possibly would feel safe to them, like a comfort blanket. Especially when you take into account the fact that they've gone from cages to the big wide open world and everything has been turned on its head. It's a big adjustment for any dog. Maybe give him the option of a crate, with the door open? It's possible a little bit of familiar would help settle.

Provided he doesn't show any fear of the crate, of course.

Flibble

Flibble wrote: »

I know that from our point of view, crate training would seem triggering given their past, but from their point of view it's all they've known & possibly would feel safe to them, like a comfort blanket. Especially when you take into account the fact that they've gone from cages to the big wide open world and everything has been turned on its head. It's a big adjustment for any dog. Maybe give him the option of a crate, with the door open? It's possible a little bit of familiar would help settle.

Provided he doesn't show any fear of the crate, of course.

I was just about to write pretty much exactly this!

I think it could either way really. Could be a huge comfort if a small space is all he's known or it could be stressful for him.

Normally with crate training you can try feeding them in there, or encouraging them in with sweets etc. But ...I think if I was in your shoes I would buy a good sized crate and put a cosy bed/blankets in there and leave the door wide open (maybe even tie it open so it doesn't accidentally close and frighten anyone) ,leave it in the busiest room in the house where there's usually someone around..

but maybe don't actively encourage him in.

Let him make the decision by himself if he wants to go in. (Could take ten minutes or a month who knows) but if you do see him in there, throw a sweet in to reinforce it's good.

I'd only ever close the door if he was 100% happy in there and you needed to contain him for some reason (injury, continued house training issues etc)

But I think I absolutely would get the crate as I imagine if it's the former and it's a comfort then it could make a big difference to him.

DBB

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I was just about to write pretty much exactly this!

Me too!

OP, another poster had a not dissimilar problem a couple of weeks ago. Have a read of her thread, as it includes some detail and troubleshooting when it comes to using crates for housetraining...

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057919055/1/#post108323172

Sounds like you're starting to get there, but if you can minimise the chances of those daytime poops, then judicious use of the crate should get you over the line

corbal_R

Thanks guys for all your advice. Good tips for the crate training if we do go down that road, I wouldn’t know much about it so thanks.

Might see how the next few nights go and if we have to, I might try the utility room first and if that’s a no go, I’ll defo try the crate.

It was just no1s in the house yesterday so that was a big improvement…let’s hope no more no2s.

The idea of a crate being a ‘safe place’ makes sense, if I go down that road I might look into one big enough for the 2 of them, might add extra ‘safe’.

DBB, thanks for that thread Ill have a read of it now.