House Breaking/training Issues - Possible Scent Marking?!

[Guest Fudgetastic]

Morning all!

 

We've only had Fudge for 5 days now so I'm well aware that it is super early days, but I want to try and correct bad habits as quickly as possible.

 

He has come straight from racing kennels and has never lived in a home - although you would never guess while he currently sleeps on my sofa, legs akimbo. We haven't had many toileting issues, the back doors are left open most of the day and we are taking regular short walks, praising for good toileting habits etc.

 

However, he is urinating on the corners of the sofa that he has claimed as his! Even with the back doors open, with me taking him out there and praising him for 'going' out there, he can walk straight back in the house and straight away be cocking his leg against the sofa. It only appears to be this spot - he did have a thing for the corner of the fridge on the first day but that has completely stopped.

 

Any tips and tricks to break this habit before it becomes a major battle ground for us?!

[Guest normaandburrell]

Try a belly band with a poise incontinent pad inside. The trick is not to change the pad right away after he marks. You want him to walk around for a while with the wet pad against his belly so that he decides he doesn't like that. You can take it off when he goes out, praise him for going pee out, and put the pad back on again when he comes inside. Once he quits marking, you can stop using the belly band.

[Batmom]

Keep him attached to you by leash after he comes in. If he starts to lift a leg or look interested in a spot, push his leg back down and cheerful "Let's go out!" Whisk him right back outside and lots of "Good boy!" when he goes out there.

[Guest Fudgetastic]

Try a belly band with a poise incontinent pad inside. The trick is not to change the pad right away after he marks. You want him to walk around for a while with the wet pad against his belly so that he decides he doesn't like that. You can take it off when he goes out, praise him for going pee out, and put the pad back on again when he comes inside. Once he quits marking, you can stop using the belly band.

 

This feels a little cruel... Maybe it's just my view!

 

Keep him attached to you by leash after he comes in. If he starts to lift a leg or look interested in a spot, push his leg back down and cheerful "Let's go out!" Whisk him right back outside and lots of "Good boy!" when he goes out there.

 

I will try this, but it's not always just after we've come in. Can be any time he's just passing the sofa!!

[Batmom]

FWIW, I mostly keep a very close eye on a new dog. May be hard to coordinate if you have a dog door or similar (letting dog go in and out open door), so you may have to do some pondering . For example, if I'm going to take a shower and no one else can watch the dog, I'll either crate or take the dog in the bathroom with me . Usually for the first week or so I'll gate the dog into whatever room I'm hanging out in so I can see if they're up on their feet, looking for a place to squirt. Here our newest is very reliable potty wise but not as reliable chewing wise; she has a bit more freedom but not the run of the whole house unless someone can kinda follow her and supervise a bit.

[Guest Erytheia3]

Batmom -

What a great idea to take the dog into the bathroom with you! I honestly dont know why that hasnt occured to me before.

 

Also - I dont think the belly band is cruel - its a good training technique. Our old foster wore one for a couple days and caught on real quick about 'marking; things that are not (100%) his!

[turbotaina]

Get a new sofa? On a serious note though, have you been able to get the sofa cleaned of the smell? At this point, he may be getting a chemical signal to keep using it, so you want to clean it very well.

 

Also, Batmom's advise is spot on

 

 

FWIW, I mostly keep a very close eye on a new dog. May be hard to coordinate if you have a dog door or similar (letting dog go in and out open door), so you may have to do some pondering . For example, if I'm going to take a shower and no one else can watch the dog, I'll either crate or take the dog in the bathroom with me . Usually for the first week or so I'll gate the dog into whatever room I'm hanging out in so I can see if they're up on their feet, looking for a place to squirt. Here our newest is very reliable potty wise but not as reliable chewing wise; she has a bit more freedom but not the run of the whole house unless someone can kinda follow her and supervise a bit.