Update, Questions, Pictures

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Jess04920
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Update, Questions, Pictures

Post by Jess04920 »

Hi all,

I haven't written in a while, but have been keeping up on everyone's posts. Life has been pretty busy around here as we are moving tomorrow into a townhome which we are very excited about. I also managed to break my toe on Monday...which will surely put a hindrance on moving, but hey...that may be a good thing! I'm on light duty :)

Anyways, my question is about our Koda...who is growing rapidly! He has been potty trained since we got him...but only to an extent. In my current apartment, it's all tile, no carpet anywhere. He will always beg at the door when he needs to go out. BUT...when he's in his crate (at night and when we're not home) he pees in it...everytime. He's never left in his crate for more than an hour at a time as my boyfriend and I work right down the road and are able to take him out once an hour, which he doesn't usually even need. So...it's not a matter of him being left for a number of hours or anything like that. Now, we usually put a towel in there for his comfort, but have tried taking that out to see if it would help the peeing, but no...he still goes even if it's bare. The other wierd thing is that the other day while we were packing boxes in the bedroom, we didn't see Koda begging (which I'm assuming he did because he ALWAYS does) and he went right into his crate and peed, and walked out. I know he knows to go outside, but it seems perfectly acceptable for him to go there if he can't go outside. How can I stop this? He's been to the vet and been checked and tested for bladder problems as well. I just can't understand why he doesn't mind laying in pee! He'll NEVER poop in there.

Also, the only time he'll pee in the house (other than in the crate) is on the rare occasion that there is a towel or blanket on the floor...it seems he thinks soft surfaces like that are meant for peeing...if you all remember he used to go on the couch, but we quickly broke him of that. So, I'm really worried because the new house is mostly carpet aside from the bathrooms and kitchen. I'm afraid he'll view this like he does a towel or blanket and pee on it, which I just can't have him doing. I'm hoping he'll still continue to beg even though there's carpet.

The other thing is Bo...he never has accidents in the house because we stay on top of taking him out and everything. But he'll never go to the door and actually beg...how do you train a dog to beg? He's almost a year old now and doesn't have to go as often as Koda, but I still take him out with Koda each time Koda begs...and hope that maybe he'll start to understand how to beg?

Other than that...they're doing great. Having a great time and are just the sweetest guys I could ever ask for . They really are a joy.

Any advice would be wonderful...I know they'll love the new place as they'll have access to come in and out as they please...but I want to make sure they don't have any accidents because it will do a lot more damage than in the old place.

I'm attaching some recent pictures and of course will send some more once we're in the new place. Thanks for any advice you can give and hope you're all well!

These pictures were taken after I took the boys on a walk and they were TIRED! Oddly enough, this is one of the rare occasions they were laying on a blanket...but nobody peed on it!

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b27/J ... orjenn.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b27/J ... rjenn1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b27/J ... rjenn2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>
Last edited by Jess04920 on Tue May 16, 2006 5:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
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kingalls
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Post by kingalls »

Sorry I can't advise on the potty training - just wanted to say I'm glad things are going well and that I love the pictures - especially the one the last one with Koda's racing stripe tongue! :D

Karen, Shiloh, and Mr. N
Jess04920
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Post by Jess04920 »

kingalls wrote:Sorry I can't advise on the potty training - just wanted to say I'm glad things are going well and that I love the pictures - especially the one the last one with Koda's racing stripe tongue! :D

Karen, Shiloh, and Mr. N
Thanks so much! I love his racing stripe tongue as well! :lol:
chowfrnd88
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Post by chowfrnd88 »

I also can't offer any advice :( , but I also love those pics!! They are too cute, looks like they had an amazing walk! :D
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kiwani
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Post by kiwani »

Re: "when he's in his crate (at night and when we're not home) he pees in it...everytime."
---

Since you do come home many times a day to walk him, my guess is that the peeing while he's in the crate is similar to a 'separation anxiety' stress issue.


Re: "he went right into his crate and peed, and walked out. I know he knows to go outside, but it seems perfectly acceptable for him to go there if he can't go outside."
---

Since he pees in there most days while he's confined, I could understand him choosing and being attracted to that area in emergencies too, since the crate must have absorbed his urine scent. He can smell it even though you can't. If you used to leave a towel in there daily for his comfort, I could understand him now associating any towel or any cloth left on the floor with his 'pee towel'. It's a habit he learned, and that's the way he thinks it's supposed to be...unlearning is harder!
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goodas_AU
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Post by goodas_AU »

Hi Jess,

Neat picture of the tongue!

You could try this!
First make sure you thoroughly clean the crate out! Twice if nesessary!

Then throw in a small handful of his food ( 5-6 Pieces)
Tell him "Crate" and let him go in and eat them! Then let him come out and praise him! Then take him outside to go potty, if he does again praise him big time!

Do that a few times a day for a couple of days!

Then next time Throw the food in and lock the door behind him, let him eat it, then let him out. praise him .then take him out to potty again, and praise big time!!

After a while of doing this sucessfully leave him in longer and longer, but just a few minutes at a time, at first!

Then if you suceed with that try putting in a clean towel or blanket and throw the food in and on and under the towel, let eat! then let him out and follow the same protcol as above!

It may take awhile but it's worth it if it works for him!

Don't rush it, try to avoid letting him make mistakes!

Good Luck

Leigh :D
In Loving Memory of my best friend in the world "BEAR" 1987-2002

Here's to new beginnings "Tucker"
Jess04920
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Post by Jess04920 »

kiwani wrote:Re: "when he's in his crate (at night and when we're not home) he pees in it...everytime."
---

Since you do come home many times a day to walk him, my guess is that the peeing while he's in the crate is similar to a 'separation anxiety' stress issue.


Re: "he went right into his crate and peed, and walked out. I know he knows to go outside, but it seems perfectly acceptable for him to go there if he can't go outside."
---

Since he pees in there most days while he's confined, I could understand him choosing and being attracted to that area in emergencies too, since the crate must have absorbed his urine scent. He can smell it even though you can't. If you used to leave a towel in there daily for his comfort, I could understand him now associating any towel or any cloth left on the floor with his 'pee towel'. It's a habit he learned, and that's the way he thinks it's supposed to be...unlearning is harder!
Kiwani, thanks for the reply! The seperation anxiety is a great point because he really does have it rather badly. He grunts and carries on each time we put him in his crate and when he's loose in the house, he just follows me around so close that his nose is usually touching my leg. He's very attached, yet has no problem cuddling and giving kisses and attention to anyone else that comes along. He's a very loving, people oriented little guy...or should I say big guy! We moved into the new place last Friday and since then have decided to put both Koda and Bo in the same crate. It's the biggest crate they sell at the local Petsmart and one of those Life Stages things...we got it so Koda wouldn't outgrow it. It is plenty big for both dogs and they absolutely love being in there together. There is no crying or whining when they go in there...only when they have to go out. AND...the great news is that Koda doesn't pee in his cage when he is with Bo in there. They have the opportunity to come in and out now and so far, no accidents on the rugs or carpet...which is what I was afraid of. It's been working out great and hopefully things will continue to do so.
Jess04920
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Post by Jess04920 »

goodas_AU wrote:Hi Jess,

Neat picture of the tongue!

You could try this!
First make sure you thoroughly clean the crate out! Twice if nesessary!

Then throw in a small handful of his food ( 5-6 Pieces)
Tell him "Crate" and let him go in and eat them! Then let him come out and praise him! Then take him outside to go potty, if he does again praise him big time!

Do that a few times a day for a couple of days!

Then next time Throw the food in and lock the door behind him, let him eat it, then let him out. praise him .then take him out to potty again, and praise big time!!

After a while of doing this sucessfully leave him in longer and longer, but just a few minutes at a time, at first!

Then if you suceed with that try putting in a clean towel or blanket and throw the food in and on and under the towel, let eat! then let him out and follow the same protcol as above!

It may take awhile but it's worth it if it works for him!

Don't rush it, try to avoid letting him make mistakes!

Good Luck

Leigh :D
Leigh...thanks so much for the advice. Sounds like a great idea and I will definitely try it with him tonight. Anytime I notice that Koda has gone in the crate, I take the towel out immediately and clean and disinfect the crate tray. I can't stand the thought of him sitting in there with it...not to mention I don't want it smelling up my house. Thanks to this...many of our towels are now deemed "dog towels" and we have more of those than "people towels" haha. Like I told Kiwani, things have been better now that him and Bo are in the same place, but it's possible that he'll start again once the "new" of having Bo in there wears off. I'm still going to try your advice...thanks again!!
Jess04920
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Post by Jess04920 »

chowfrnd88 wrote:I also can't offer any advice :( , but I also love those pics!! They are too cute, looks like they had an amazing walk! :D
Thanks so much! He did have a great walk...he absolutely loves walks and even more so now since we live right on a big lake now. He loves to stand by the edge and let the wind blow his ears every which way! It's hysterical!
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