Expert: Delores Beck Date: 5/21/2008 Subject: 3 year old cocker still poops in the house
Question QUESTION: Hi, Delores. I am hoping you can help me solve my cocker's housebreaking issue before I strongly consider placing him with a rescue group. C.J. is 3 years old and still having some issues holding himself at night (9 to 10 pm is the last potty time for him). I got him from a lady when he was 4 months old and I am assuming that this is the reason she gave him up. She also worked 12 hour nursing shifts which meant he was crated half the day. He has been crate free since March last year. I am on pins and needles almost every night listening for any activity. He is on a consistent schedule as far as feeding (He eats Iams dry) and potty time. When he was crated I would come home on occassion and found a mess in his cage. I've been told that this breed is VERY hard to completely housebreak. Does he just need to be crated for a longer period of time? Please help me with this. I cannot take it any longer.
ANSWER: I need more information.
Is he urinating or pooping at night?
Does he have accidents during the day?
What is his walk schedule?
When do you feed him? How many times a day?
(I see you feed Iams - not good)
Where is he at night?
Is he alone all day?
And most importantly, how have you been attempting to housebreak him?
And has he had general training?
Delores
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: C.J. is mostly a late night pooper. I can't catch him in the act then because I am asleep but I know when he's done something if I just happen to turn over in bed and SMELL it. I live in a small apt. He has urinated at times but nowhere near as much as defecating. He has had a few accidents during the day. For example I came home from work at about 4pm and took him out as I normally do, fed him and took a nap. At 6:30pm when I woke up there was a stack in the floor. We walk on occassion and it takes about 20 minutes to get around the block. He gets fed twice a day about a half cup around 6:30 am and again around 4:30 pm. At night he sleeps in the kitchen between the table and a wall. My work day is from 7am to 4pm so he's alone during that time. My housebreaking attempts: In the beginning, crate during work and at night. I've cut back on food (Iams recommended 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups, I give approx. 1 cup/day). A trainer said to tie him to something sturdy in different parts of the house for about an hour each. Twice a day feedings to once a day. And with these, admittedly, rubbing his nose in accident and physical punishment. No general training.
Answer Well, you haven't done any training at all and I don't wonder why he's not housebroken.
He's isolated - unexercised and now on starvation rations of a bad food. The so-called trainer's advice is the worst I've ever heard.
What he needs is a minimum of two half-hour walks a day and to be "taught" with praise & rewards. Walking him "on occassion" isn't
good enough for his physical or mental health. And punishment for something he hasn't been taught is just cruel.
This dog could be housebroken in a week with the proper attention.
As it stands now, he's neglected, untrained, starved and would be better off at a Rescue.
Delores
