Adopted 12 Month Old Female Housetraining Issues

[Oskar & Zsa Zsa]

hi all, I have recently adopted a 12 month old (they think) female German Shorthaired Pointer from a shelter. Initially when she came home, she had a dhouse mate and apart from one or two little misshaps early on when she was disoriented at night trying to find the escape route, she was really good and went outside everytime. (All be it on the pavers, not on the grass, but we were getting her out of that one too and realise it is a result of being in a shelter living on concrete for 5 months)

Recently, being the last few mornings, I have woken to find a little wet patch on the carpet out in the lounge room, right near the doggy door. Then last night, at some point while playing with Oskar, she let a tiny little puddle go in my bedroom? Then this morning there was another puddle out in the lounge room near the doggy door??

Up till this point, I have been using the same method I had with Oskar when he made a mistake. I mopped it up with a tissue, took the tissue and her outside onto the grass, made her sniff it and praised her.

But, this seems to not be working. I am making sure I take her outside prior to going to bed to pee, as well as after exercise, eating, drinking sleeping or about every hour. She also went outside at some point last night while I was asleep and did a No2. So she does know where to go??? I am at a loss. I have never had a dog this difficult to toilet train and wonder how much of an effect living in the shelter has had?

[tlc]

Is she actually doing a full wee or is it just a little bit! Have you had her vet checked? Just to rule out UTI. Other than that it sounds like your doing everything right.

[persephone]

it may be that she has an infection ... perhaps consider a vet check .

[Oskar & Zsa Zsa]

It all smells normal, but perhaps you both might be right and it could be prudent to let Leo have a look at her.

I will keep up with the current format and see what the Vet says.....

P.S. Booked her in for 3.00pm this afternoon.

Edited June 28, 2011 by Oskar & Zsa Zsa

[Oskar & Zsa Zsa]

Just returned from the Vet. Thanks for the tip on the bladder infection, he agreed and popped her on a short course of antibiotics. Other than that, she is in perfect health and he was very happy with her physical condition. She is 22.3kgs, which is up a couple of kgs on when we got her which is nice to see. She was a little too thin when she arrived home. She is perhaps just a touch too heavy now, but I have altered her diet to compensate. I guess with a new dog, it's trial and error on the feeding requirements. I always find they are all different in what they need. I know they all want more than what you give them , but what they want and what they need are usually different things...

While on the vet subject, I hope it's OK, but I must say I am impressed with the Vet I took her too. This vet came recommended from my best friend's wife who is in the industry. she said he is an old school vet who charges too little and doesn't do stuff just for the sake of the money. My first impressions are warm. The bill for the treatment, including the check and antibiotics was less than 1/3 of the vet i had been taking Oskar to. Let me know if I am allowed to say the name and I will. The service was excellent, with the staff at the front counter sincerely interested in Zsa Zsa. No waiting, straight in. No fuss or bother, the vet was fantastic, gentle, warm and Zsa Zsa loved him He just went about his checks with no fuss and Zsa Zsa responded accordingly. Which was nice, as she did not want to go into the building and actually slipped her collar coming in the front door. then when the vet called us into the rooms, I ended up having to pick her up to take her in, she was not having a bar of it!!!! :( Poor thing, I think the smells were very much like the shelter and she really wasn't happy... So, when the vet was so calm and placid, she relaxed and wagged her tail and let him do whatever he wanted to her. She was such a good girl once in there. Didn't fidget, sat when told, stood when told. But, she did gibe him the dirtiest of looks when he rather rudely took her temperature!!! I asked if there was surely not a more dignified way to take a girls temperature in this day and age.....the vet laughed too!!

[Oskar & Zsa Zsa]

Pleased to report we have had two full days and nights of no accidents inside the house. But best of all, we have also turned the corner outside as well. Not one little wet spot or poo on the pavers for the last few days either!!! She's a very good little girl!!

[persephone]

Good news Thanks for the update .

[Chezy]

this place is a fountain of knowledge , isn't it :D

glad to hear she seems sorted

[Oskar & Zsa Zsa]

To be honest, although the advice was correct in having her checked for a bladder infection, I don't think it was the reason she did it. If I think back carefully, it started the last time Oskar came over. So perhaps it was her re scenting her house? She has been a model dog since and I don't think anti-biotics react instantly, so am not putting it down to that. We will see, as Oskar is coming over again this afternoon. If I have the same problem again after he goes, I will know what is causing it. If it doesn't happen again, we might chalk it up to bladder infection and amazing antibiotics.

[poodlefan]

To be honest, although the advice was correct in having her checked for a bladder infection, I don't think it was the reason she did it. If I think back carefully, it started the last time Oskar came over. So perhaps it was her re scenting her house? She has been a model dog since and I don't think anti-biotics react instantly, so am not putting it down to that. We will see, as Oskar is coming over again this afternoon. If I have the same problem again after he goes, I will know what is causing it. If it doesn't happen again, we might chalk it up to bladder infection and amazing antibiotics.

Before you jump to conclusions about 'marking' also consider the possibility of excitement and submissive wetting. I'd recommed you do the greeting with Oscar outside and keep the dogs out of the house until they calm down.

[DobieMum]

To be honest, although the advice was correct in having her checked for a bladder infection, I don't think it was the reason she did it. If I think back carefully, it started the last time Oskar came over. So perhaps it was her re scenting her house? She has been a model dog since and I don't think anti-biotics react instantly, so am not putting it down to that. We will see, as Oskar is coming over again this afternoon. If I have the same problem again after he goes, I will know what is causing it. If it doesn't happen again, we might chalk it up to bladder infection and amazing antibiotics.

[/quote

Your probably correct in what you say, I'm not arguing with you, but personally, I have had UTI's before and the first antibiotic can take away alot of the pain in the first 1/2 hour. I still remember my first UTI and the doctor telling me this, me not believing him (and feeling like I was dying) and being absolutly shocked and relieved when it did. Keflex (the human antibiotic) is a wonderful thing to UTI's. :D

[Alkhe]

Just returned from the Vet. Thanks for the tip on the bladder infection, he agreed and popped her on a short course of antibiotics. Other than that, she is in perfect health and he was very happy with her physical condition. She is 22.3kgs, which is up a couple of kgs on when we got her which is nice to see. She was a little too thin when she arrived home. She is perhaps just a touch too heavy now, but I have altered her diet to compensate. I guess with a new dog, it's trial and error on the feeding requirements. I always find they are all different in what they need. I know they all want more than what you give them , but what they want and what they need are usually different things...

While on the vet subject, I hope it's OK, but I must say I am impressed with the Vet I took her too. This vet came recommended from my best friend's wife who is in the industry. she said he is an old school vet who charges too little and doesn't do stuff just for the sake of the money. My first impressions are warm. The bill for the treatment, including the check and antibiotics was less than 1/3 of the vet i had been taking Oskar to. Let me know if I am allowed to say the name and I will. The service was excellent, with the staff at the front counter sincerely interested in Zsa Zsa. No waiting, straight in. No fuss or bother, the vet was fantastic, gentle, warm and Zsa Zsa loved him He just went about his checks with no fuss and Zsa Zsa responded accordingly. Which was nice, as she did not want to go into the building and actually slipped her collar coming in the front door. then when the vet called us into the rooms, I ended up having to pick her up to take her in, she was not having a bar of it!!!! :( Poor thing, I think the smells were very much like the shelter and she really wasn't happy... So, when the vet was so calm and placid, she relaxed and wagged her tail and let him do whatever he wanted to her. She was such a good girl once in there. Didn't fidget, sat when told, stood when told. But, she did gibe him the dirtiest of looks when he rather rudely took her temperature!!! I asked if there was surely not a more dignified way to take a girls temperature in this day and age.....the vet laughed too!!

Not sure about the protocols on naming vets, but surely if it's only positive feedback there's nothing wrong with it?

I'm really interested in knowing who it was - while I'm really happy with my current vet, it's nice to have options in the event that something happened (I'm in Melbourne too)