Bathroom issues with SO's dog (long)

[Awkward]

Hopefully you guys can help me with this. I did not grow up with pets and have zero idea how to deal with potty training issues. SO has two dogs, a 12 year old female fixed Sheltie and a 5 year old male intact "Sheltie." SO claims he's pure Sheltie, but judging by size and coloring I'm thinking there's Aussie in there too. Not important.

I've been staying with SO off and on for a few weeks, staying home with the dogs while he's at work. Up until the past few months, there were zero problems with either of them. If he wasn't home, they able to make it the whole day without having an accident.

Around Thanksgiving the older one started having bladder issues. She's been to the vet and is now on medication and rx food, but she can no longer hold it all day. He arranged for his mother to stop by during the day and let them out on days I'm not here.

When I am here, I try and take them out as much as possible, probably every 2-3 hours. He has a small fenced in yard, we go out, they run around, do their business, probably takes about 10 minutes. I did notice that the male dog has a weird habit of peeing on top of where ever the female dog peed.

This brings us to our problem. Sometimes the female dog lets out a tiny dribble even when we've just been outside. The male dog still insists on peeing on top of it, though his spot is a lot bigger. I feel like if I'm not following the little dog around all day wiping up her dribbles, I'm mopping up where the bigger dog went. Sometimes he pees in a corner when the little dog hasn't even been there. Am I really not taking them outside enough?

SO's answer for the problem is the old forcing his nose into it bit, but that's not the solution and it's not working. I'm tired of the apartment smelling like dog piss. :@

[patches31709]

Have you/will you consider a diaper on the female? Definitely don't rub the male's nose in it - that won't solve anything. But if the male is peeing in places where you know the female hasn't peed, what about tethering him to you and rewarding him when he goes outside? Basically housetrain him all over again?

Also, as a sheltie mom, pictures please?

[sparrowgreen]

Not to be nosy, but is there any reason the male isn't fixed? It can help with housetraining. I think the diaper suggestion for the older girl is an excellent suggestion as well as going back to pottytraining 101 with the male. Yes, it is a pain, but if you can consistently prevent him from going in the house by crating/tethering for a few weeks it should refresh his training and stop being an issue. The most effective method is to prevent him from going in the first place or at least catch him in the act, interrupt with a firm "No" and take him outside where you praise him for going.

Also, be sure you are cleaning up accidents with an enzymatic cleaner like nature's miracle so that he won't keep smelling the pee and think it's ok to go. Hope that helps!

[chalupabatman]

The male dog is marking because he isn't neutered.

Is the female dog on proin?

[patches31709]

Jan 9, 2013 16:22:46 GMT -5 chalupabatman said:

The male dog is marking because he isn't neutered.

I don't think that's fair, as it isn't necessarily true. I'm not saying it's not that, but I know quite a few intact males that don't mark.

[Awkward]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I've brought up the diaper suggestion to SO, and he's a little hesitant about it but I think he's going to end up doing it. Suggesting I treat the male dog like he's potty training again has worked really well, and in the past three days we've had one accident, and I caught him in the act! Yay! I think he's getting the picture.

Not sure what the older dog is on, I forgot to ask SO this morning and I can't find the bottle. Proin sounds familiar?

Getting the male dog fixed is a continuing argument. Its complicated by the fact that his mother breeds Shelties as her main source of income (do not get me started). I have told him upfront that when we move in together, his dog WILL be fixed.

Aaaand for those asking for pics, I give you Phantom, the biggest (and most mellow) "Sheltie" I've ever met.

[Awkward]

And here's Autumn, or as I call her, the Old Lady.

[calico]

Awww- both look very sweet. Phantom totally looks like an Aussie mix.

[patches31709]

Jan 11, 2013 11:37:49 GMT -5 calico said:

Awww- both look very sweet. Phantom totally looks like an Aussie mix.

Yes he does, and I actually know a dog named Phantom who looks just like that! They're both very cute!

[sparrowgreen]

Phantom is so handsome! And Autumn reminds my of grandparents' beloved Lady, who passed away several years ago.

[runs4qs]

I doubt Aussie mix. Just poor breeding with the to much white on the bit.

[patches31709]

Jan 11, 2013 20:46:03 GMT -5 runs4qs said:

I doubt Aussie mix. Just poor breeding with the to much white on the bit.

Oh I'm sure it's a sheltie since OP said SO's mother breeds them, I was just agreeing it kind of looks like an Aussie. But yes, way too much white.

[Awkward]

Jan 12, 2013 10:06:42 GMT -5 patches31709 said:

Jan 11, 2013 20:46:03 GMT -5 runs4qs said:

I doubt Aussie mix. Just poor breeding with the to much white on the bit.

Oh I'm sure it's a sheltie since OP said SO's mother breeds them, I was just agreeing it kind of looks like an Aussie. But yes, way too much white.

I should clarify he was a "rescue," he wasn't the result of one of his mom's litters.

Here's a pic that shows more of his black.

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