Community Chat

[hyacinth003]

I wrote last week about our newly acquired dog, a Pomeranian named Rusty. My father adopted him from a shelter, and found he couldn't really handle another dog. He is probably 5 years plus old, and is neutered. He was shipped from another state to a shelter here, my dad took him for about a month, now we have had him about 3 weeks. We also have 6 cats. We weren't looking to have a dog, but now we have him! He's cute with lots of personality, and have had no real problems with him and the cats.

At first, we figured his housetraining issues may have resulted from all the changes in his life. Now, I am not so sure! He urinates every time we take him out, but mostly poops in the house. He also urinates in the house. I believe we take him out enough. He never does it in front of us. I chastise him if I think he has just done it. I think he gets the message! We have tried the reward system for going #2 outside with a biscuit and praise. He will go out, and then come in the house and poop sometimes. We don't have a yard, so we have to leash him and take him out. My husband tends to go for a long walk with him.

Obviously we don't know his past history. But we are getting tired of the messes in the house. He doesn't just do it at night. Every time we take him out now, we praise him for #1 as well. I have bought a crate, and don't really know much else to do. I don't want to confine him to the kitchen, because the cats like to go in there as well. Plus he can mess in there too! Getting really frustrated, cause he's a nice little dog otherwise.

Hyacinth