Some General Advice / Brainstorming / Ideas :)

[FranVT]

Okay so at the moment I'm at my mum's house in between moving out from the place I had with my ex and moving out by myself somewhere (probably mid-year). There are some little issues with Luuka, my mums are pretty reasonable people so they're not like throwing a tanty or anything but it is their house and I am desperate to not be a hassle for them and I especially don't want Luuka to be a pain in the bum to them as they already have 2 dogs (a collie (escape artist) and a toy poodle (general pain in the arse)).

So Luuka has decided that it is okay to wee upstairs on the polished wood floors because no one ever corrects her up there. I live downstairs on tiles (they are blinding white tiles I literally mop twice a day and it is a huge area, wtf were they thinking!) and when I first moved in I made sure I kept her toilet training consistent and took her outside for wees on the grass (about 2m or less from each entrance (there are 4 entrances into the lower level of the house) all the time, especially in the morning and after food and after a big drink etc but just generally as often as I thought about it with lots and lots of praise when she wees outside. The result is that she has not weed inside downstairs once apart from right at the beginning (late January).

So I told mum that the solution I can see is simply that Luuka is not allowed upstairs if they're not prepared to take her downstairs to wee on the grass (I said this in the nicest, most deferential way possible). They say that that's mean of them because the other dogs are upstairs and they feel mean locking her out (poor Luuka, huuuuge backyard, lovely cool tiles to lie on, lots of toys to chew lol but I do understand what mum is saying). I don't want Luuka to feel that she's being punished and often mum will put Jack and Ruby out with Luuka as well but Ruby jumps the fence (not my problem, and I don't feel right preaching to them but I still don't understand why they won't get an electric fence collar system thingy) so they don't like to do this a lot. Ruby runs up and down the street getting the other dogs barking If the kids across the road didn't call her and whistle to her so often it'd be better.

Am I right to be just banning her from being upstairs unless I'm there to watch her?

I would also like to get some good ideas for keeping her entertained (and not digging holes which she has just started doing!) in the yard and downstairs. I'm thinking a treat ball, frozen iceblocks with sardines in them, a kong with peanut butter etc ... any other (preferably cheap) entertainment ideas?

Thanks DOL

[macka]

If no-one's going to be on toilet training duty while she's up there then she shouldn't be up there, mean or not.

You don't want to end up with a full grown dog who wees inside because they never learned not to!

Tell them it's "mean" to be inconsistent and end up confusing her!

[FranVT]

I totally agree, that is a really good way of putting it!

I think she has a bit of a cry if she's down there alone but that probably means I need to give her more stimulating things to do.

[Bundyburger]

If they aren't going to watch her she shouldn't be up there. If they want her up there then she should go in a pen so she is confined and less likely to pee everywhere.

[W Sibs]

Comes down to: Your Dog. Your Responsibility.

If you aren't able to keep an eye on her, then put her in a place where she will be safe. Crate/pen her when she's upstairs, or just leave her downstairs.

[FranVT]

I could actually crate her, that's not a bad idea when she's upstairs, I guess the only real point to her being up there is to run around with the other dogs though so maybe it's pointless. It is my preference that she stays downstairs, she has a MASSIVE amount of room to run around, I'll try to think up some stuff for her to do to keep her brain occupied. I bought her a treat ball and Cuz toy today, and I want to start taking her just for a 20 min walk in the morning instead of just in the afternoon. Hopefully that'll entertain/tire her out for a part of the morning at least while the other dogs are still in bed (I start earlier than the mums).

Thanks heaps for the advice everyone I totally take all responsibility for her, this has been one crazy week it'll be great when things go back to 'normal' (no more big shocks please) and I can spend the usual amount of time with her She'll be sick of me by the end of this weekend, day off and a vet visit tomorrow then taking her to a show (not entered just looking) on Sat/Sun.