Housetrained dog issues

[Goldlexus]

I recently got an older (5 years old) Bichon. We've had him for 3 days. He is housetrained BUT doesn't want to go where our
goldens go. We don't have a grassy area but have created an area along side the house that has cider shavings. Right now because of the winter the shavings are kind of ickie.  The goldens are use to it but Charlie is not so he refuses to poop there but has chosen to poop in the house and tonight he decided to pee and poop in the house. He pee'd on the couch where he usually lays!!!!! Then pooped in the little hallway where  he has consistently pooped since we got him. He has pooped outside once but hasn't since that one time. He knows he was bad because he runs to his kennel after he's done it. We've been consistant with taking him outside. What can we do to stop this behavior? Is it just a matter of him adjusting to us and his new surroundings?

[nzbyrd]

I'm not very good with toilet training issues, but I would say that its very early days for Charlie in his new home.

He probably needs to develop some new habits, and patience and consistancy will be key to him being able to develop those.

Just an wee (pardon the pun) example...many years ago I had a puppy that came from the dog pound. He had been born there, so never learnt anything different. For the first few weeks we had him, he could only poop on a concrete floor. He didnt know any different, thats what felt safe for him. In fact if I remember correctly, we ended up taking him outside when we knew he needed to go, and scratching up the grass and earth so he would get the smell and hopefully figure it out.

I'm sure Charlie will figure this out. Go back to basic puppy training. Take him out always after food and after he wakes (immediately). Heaps of praise and treats when he goes appropriately. Thoroughly clean where he has been in the house, cos he will smell that scent and want to go back there.

Whew...I know other members will be along shortly to offer advice and support. Keep up the good work

[Princess Lucy Loulou (Tina)]

I agree with Claire it's early days but i'm sure he will get better,    good luck 

[MattiesMom (MaryEllen)]

Poor Charlie!  He must be so confused and yes, he needs time to adjust to your household.  You must be very watchful and ready to act after meals.  You have to catch Charlie doing the deed, make a sharp noise to stop him, and get him outside fast.  Interrupting him is the most effective way to get into his head that he is doing wrong.  The hiding in the crate and seeming to be worried, is just a reaction to your being annoyed.  He really doesn't know why or what he did to annoy you.  Dogs don't think like that, but they do sense our moods and feelings and react to those and bichons are especially sensitive to our feelings.  You'll need to keep a record of how much time passes between his meal and needing to poop.  My Sassy poops within 10 minutes of eating.  Mattie needs 45 minutes.  They are all different.  Exercise helps, so after a meal try to do a walk around instead of just a visit to the yard.  Praise him and treat for doing his business outside.  If that's not possible, try a game of fetch or at least get him active in some way in the house.  The moment he shows signs of needing to go, get outside fast.  So, you'll have to be very watchful and spend time with Charlie after meals.  A bichon can be easily trained to pee on command.  Both of my girls "potty" when I ask for it.  I always treat for a "potty".  This is great in rainy weather when I want to get back inside fast.  We can go out and potty in less than 2 minutes.  Poop is harder because they really need to have to feel like going.  But timing is everything, so start recording when and how long after meals.  Best of luck,
MaryEllen

[Lin]

I'll share my thoughts and experiences and maybe you can pick something out of them. My first thought is that Charlie may not be fully housebroken and if he was at one time he may have regressed due to being crated for many hours prior to coming to your home, so you need to set up a new routine for him in the manor that your house runs, with set feeding and exercise times, then Charlie's body will better know when it is poop time. Once he has started responding to a schedule you must set him up for success.
I too have my dogs poop in a designated area at the side of the house. When we first got Lia and she started sharing the area with Luigi, he moved out of the area and started pooping at the other end of the side of the yard, which is the front gate entrance!  We had to stop that immediately as we all use the side door as our main entrance in and out of the house.
Repeatedly I picked up the poo, said NO and moved it back to the designated area. Now I notice that Luigi poops at one side of the designated area and Lia at the other, SOOOOOOO I am thinking maybe Charlie doesn't feel welcome pooping in your goldens poop area? Is it possible to extend the area a bit to give Charlie his own space, and when Charlie has an accident pick up the poop and move it to where it belongs to get his scent in those shavings.
Praise and consistancy will work wonders Charlie just has to figure out his place in your family, Good Luck!

[Freedom (Sandie)]

I think you have some great advice already.  I also agree with Lin, he doesn't feel he CAN use the goldens' area, it has their smell and none of his smell.

Best wishes!

[Alison]

You've had great advice.I'd just add he might not like the shavings as you say they are a bit messy after Winter.Is there another area he could use,maybe concrete? Abby is very fussy and likes to go in the yard.I've never seen her use the garden.Alison

[Goldlexus]

Thanks for all the advice!! I have been putting his poop in the area where we want him to go. He did manage to poop outside this morning but this afternoon he didn't   I also give him tons of praise when he potty's outside along with a treat. I think one problem is he doesn't know how to tell us he needs to go. His previous owner said he would stand by the door when he needed out and if they didn't notice in time he would do his business by the door. Since we can't even see him by the door to our yard I decided to try to bell train him. Hopefully, he will catch on and we will know when he needs to go outside. I suppose just need to give him time to adjust to his new home.

[Goldlexus]

arrrggg. Charlie pooped in his kennel last night! He is also very resistant to going potty in the area where the goldens go. He use to at least quickly pee there but now he wont. It really is the only place for him to go. How do we get him to go there? We are replacing all the cedar shavings this weekend in hopes that will make a difference. We are also going to encourage the goldens to use one end of the run and Charlie the other end. We are a little frustrated right now. BTW he also pee'd on the couch yesterday....Peeing on the couch kinda put hubby over the edge.

[Lin]

I'm so sorry you are having resistance from Charlie, and even sorrier to hear that hubby is over the edge, as from what I know about Bichons they can be very stubborn (my two) and they really only cooperate with lots of love and praise and then fall into good habits. I feel Charlie may have been marking on the sofa too, not really needing to pee.
Try really hard to ignore the bad behaviour and concentrate on when you think he actually needs to go. No two dogs or Bichons are alike. My Luigi is part camel and only really needs to pee about 3x per day, morning, late afternoon and 8pm at night, I try to put him out for last call before bed but he usually refuses to go, he has 2 bowel movements per day, within 15 minutes of his feedings. Lia is younger and smaller in structure so probably has a smaller bladder and needs to pee about 6x per day, she like Charlie doesn't bark, nor does she give much of a signal or sound, but I am tuned into her times and when I see her circle or pace I ask if she has to go potty, she then gives a little whine and she runs to the door, but if I miss that signal I am sure she would still go at the back door.
How are the Goldens getting on with Charlie, do they accept him, do they play with him, does Charlie follow them around? Are your Goldens male or female? Has he blitzed for you yet? I hope for all concerned they build a rapour and develop a routine that you all can live with, in the meantime try to focus on the reasons you wanted to rescue Charlie.

[Alison]

I couldn't cope with pee on the settee so I'd get a belly band to be honest.At least it'll protect the furniture until you're sorted.Or how about restricting where he can go ? Alison

[Goldlexus]

Charlie isn't getting much better with going outside He even went in his kennel! We've had him a week and I think he has pooped only about 3 times outside! Each time he has I've rewarded him on the spot with a bit of turkey meat. He doesn't really seem impressed that I am pleased with him. He doesn't even acknowledge the treat much. My goldens are very treat oriented. When they know they've done what is expected and they come right to me for their treat. Not Charlie..he even knows I have the treat but doesn't seem to care. We've stopped insisting he use the goldens area, although he will when he gets the whole pooping outside thing down, he has picked an area in the yard. He will go there to pee and has pooped there twice. He hasn't pee'd in the house at all but once (on the couch).
As far as getting along with the goldens. Well, I wouldn't say they are 'friends' but they certainly aren't enemies. There just isn't much of acknowledgement between them. Sometimes Charlie will follow one of them around, they never really play together.
Charlie hasn't warmed up to hubby at all. In fact he gets quite growlie and nippy with him. NOT good.
I know he is still adjusting but we need to start seeing some progress towards desirable behavior.