Help!!!

United States
February 4, 2008 1:56pm CST
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to deter a dog from peeing on the carpet? My dog was abused as a puppy and still shows signs of that abuse. We put down those "pee pads" they now offer, but half the time she misses or she ignores them completely. Not only does it smell bad, but it looks bad and I am having to use the carpet cleaner almost daily. Does anyone know of anything I can do to stop her from doing this?
2 people like this
4 responses
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
4 Feb 08
Wow, I just found one of your un-replied-to discussions! LOL! This was a hot topic on the Boston Terrier board I was part of a few years ago and everyone agreed that bitter apple spray was a great deterrent. However, I'm all for positive reinforcement rather than unpleasant smells. Do you have time to take her outside when you suspect she's ready and give her a treat or effusive praise when she waters the grass? The praise and love will make her more secure and happy and I think it does a better job than avoidance sprays. My Cookie had this problem (rejected 10 times in 10 different houses) and with the praise method she goes outside all the time and thinks highly of herself. :-)
• United States
4 Feb 08
Where would one find bitter apple spray? Its mostly at night that she does it when I am sleeping. So I know that positive reinforcement is good and we do reward her when she goes on the pee pads, but like I said sometimes shes just ignores them completely.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
4 Feb 08
You can find it at Petsmart or other pet stores. Have you considered a kennel? It's a little dog house you can carry around but a lot of people use it at night or during short trips--some even use it while they're at work but I'm against that, it nearly destroyed Cookie's muscles before I got her--it's good for making a comfy bed at night for the dog and a dog won't soil their own bed so will wait till morning. You could put her in it and let her out a few hours later. You'd have your sleep interrupted for a few nights as you let her out later and later and finally leave the kennel door open but she'd learn to train her bladder to hold longer. Do you have a dog door? If not, they don't cost much and--assuming you have a fenced area for her--it would let her go out when she pleases.
• United States
4 Feb 08
I do have a kennel, but I think she would absolutely freak out if I put her in it. I really will look in Petmart for that spray though and will try walking her before going to bed or at least taking her outside for a few minutes, although we leave the sliding glass door open when we are awake and she is free to come and go.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
4 Feb 08
I have watched a program called How Clean Is Your House. The ladies try to get rid of all the smell of the dog pee from the carpet. The sent is strong and if it smells of pee your dog will probably carry on peeing. One lady's dogs went out on the hour throughout the day and a treat was given when they did their mess and pee outside. The night is long so I suggest a walk late at night. I feed my dogs at 8am and 12 noon then they have a walk at 9pm. Hopefully the floor is dry in the morning. Good luck getting your carpet cleaned and getting rid of the smell of pee and changing your dog's behavior.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Feb 08
Thank you very much for your response and yes, you are right I am definitely going to have to start taking her out at night.
@raghwagh (1527)
• India
5 Feb 08
I have three dogs and was suffering for same problem. We are required to train the dogs properly. Just teach your dog, but it required some time and lots of patience, but it works. As my dogs now never pee inside our house, instead they bark and tell when they have natures call. Thus the best solution I think is that spare some time and train your dog.
• United States
5 Feb 08
Well its my boyfriends dog and he has had her for 7 years. Its just at night that she is doing this, even if we take her out before bed
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
4 Feb 08
I just added a photo of Cookie to the interest section. She looks so confident! I think love is the answer to all pet problems..remember, they don't have problems with their behavior--we do!
• United States
4 Feb 08
I understand. Thanks for your answer.