Dog Peeing in House, But Won't on a Walk

[Karen]

The trick here is to out-stubborn her, which, for a husky, takes some doing! An hour is nothing to a determined dog! How much exercise is she getting? Can you take her for a run, or even ride a bike and have her beside you?

[Karen]

And do consider crate-training her, if you don't have a crate, this can still be accomplished by designating and blocking off an area to be her "crate. If all else fails, the bathroom can work, though my brother's dog's "crate" was the space under the kitchen table, blocked off with a child' playpen/baby gate. Put a nice dog bed in there (a pile of old blankets will do nicely), a couple of toys, and make it her place to be when you aren't there to supervise ...

She is still new to your home and family, and this is a big adjustment, it may take more time, so please don't give up on her, okay?

[carrie]

Sorry, Karen, but please do not try to crate train this dog. This animal is confused and scared and one of the outcomes is a lot more pee and poo!! If the dog does not understand where to put this then this creates more stress which create more pee and poo with nowhere to put it! You need to take a very deep breath (outside) and be very careful with your next step. This dog needs understanding and you need to forget behaviour you saw at the kennel - start again, this is a puppy who has no house training. It is also a very frightened soul and does not know what to do so naturally goes to the loo where it is less likely to be seen. This is not a marking issue. This is an everybody has always got really upset when I can't hold it in any more issue. Assume this dog has no idea what you want, start from scratch.

[Freedom]

Please do not restrict her water intake; this will only lead to health issues down the road.

I agree with Carrie, the poor pup is so scared and confused she can hardly think. Goodness knows what her background is, but she definitely needs to build a trust in people, and to live in a calm setting. Start potty training from scratch.

Keep a baggie of high value treats in the fridge. Cut up a hot dog ( a hot dog will make 78 training treats, but I've only ever managed to get 62. Point is, SMALL pieces) Or use cheese, or boiled boneless skinless chicken breast.

Work with the dog regularly on other skills like sit, down, shake hands. A few minutes multiple times a day. Yes, this is important to potty training! This dog needs to learn to bond with you, and to want to please you.

Outside, don't just leave her there; and don't sit there watching her. Take her for a walk. Give her a treat every 10 steps. After a bit, stop and try a sit, which ever commands she has learned. Then walk more.

When she does go outside, it is PARTY time. Jump up and down, clap and laugh, praise her lots, give her lots of treats, pet her. If your neighbors and your dog are looking at you like you are crazy, you are doing it right; anything less, you are not celebrating enough.

When she goes inside, just clean it up. Do not make eye contact with her, and do not scold her. It is OK to make noises of disgust (yuck, icky) while looking at the mess, but do not direct any of this to her. You can use baby gates, and keep her in one room -- the kitchen is usually good, as that floor is easy clean up. Have her bed in there, and her water bowl. Feed her in there if you don't already. (This is instead of crating her.) She will have to earn the right to be in other parts of the house.

She can be out with you when you can keep watch on her, and get her right out when she starts to go. Learn her "signs" - circling, sniffing to find a good place. You may find it easier to keep her collar on and a leash attached during this time, so you can get her out quickly and easily. Make sure to use a happy cheerful tone with her as you rush her out, so this is fun, not punishment. You should have the baggie in your pocket any time she is out of her restricted area, so you have it with you outdoors.

Good luck! Please don't give up on her, or leave her abandoned outdoors, she needs time to relax and be OK with you, her humans.

[Asiel]

If your dog does go inside again try picking some up on a paper towel, same as pee, soak it up with a paper towel or better yet try to spoon some in a container. Bring the all outside to the spot you want her to use and put her mess in that spot, dogs are very smart at recognizing their own scent. Then take her out (on leash) and bring her to that spot, keep her on leash until she goes. Prepare for a long time outside as huskies are pretty hard to train. No scolding, harsh words or punishments for accident but the minute she does anything outside be ready with the treat immediately so she gets the message. If you don't want to crate her I would keep her in the kitchen as mentioned until she is completely safe to wander around, this could take a few months so I think a crate might be handy if she has to be left. Don't think I would bring her back to that shelter, this dog needs love and understanding. Good luck..

[Cataholic]

I hope you have ruled out a UTI, too....that was what it seemed to me, initially. Poor girl.

[wolf_Q]

I have three huskies, my one female husky, Keva, rarely goes potty on walks. She will hold it until we get home. She's really hard to get to go potty on trips and stuff too she doesn't like to do her business anywhere but in the backyard. Do you have a fenced backyard or is she just out on a leash/tie-out when outside? It's possible she doesn't feel comfortable going when she's on a leash. I'd check for the UTI too Keva has had a UTI a couple of times and she peed in the house when she had them...only by the back door but she was peeing so frequently I didn't always get to let her out in time. This is a silly question I'm sure, but when you take her on walks do you take her to the grass? Most dogs won't go on concrete/rocks/etc. at least mine won't unless they really have to go.

Also I don't see that crate training would necessarily be a bad thing. My dogs do great in their crates, they see it as their own "rooms" kind of...their dens. Unless the dog really freaks out being a crate I don't see how it would make the problem worse. The dog needs to be confined somehow when they aren't home, and she needs constant supervision when they are home. Definitely do not rub her nose in it, that will not teach the dog not to pee in the house it will teach her when she pees she gets punished and then she's more likely to go hide from you in different rooms to pee. She needs to learn that going potty is fine, she just needs to go outside. Keep her on a leash with you at all times in the house don't let her wander around, if she sniffs, take her outside immediately. Confine her somehow when you aren't there to watch her. If you catch her in the act immediately take her outside.

Huskies LOVE food they are very motivated by it so make sure you have lots of yummy treats handy to give her when she does go potty outside. They are also extremely intelligent, I didn't find mine terribly hard to train, all I had to do was involve food. Using a clicker worked well for them to you might look into clicker training as well. Best of luck to you hope it works out give her another chance huskies can be wonderful dogs.

[Clay]

Sorry, Karen, but please do not try to crate train this dog. This animal is confused and scared and one of the outcomes is a lot more pee and poo!! If the dog does not understand where to put this then this creates more stress which create more pee and poo with nowhere to put it! You need to take a very deep breath (outside) and be very careful with your next step. This dog needs understanding and you need to forget behaviour you saw at the kennel - start again, this is a puppy who has no house training. It is also a very frightened soul and does not know what to do so naturally goes to the loo where it is less likely to be seen. This is not a marking issue. This is an everybody has always got really upset when I can't hold it in any more issue. Assume this dog has no idea what you want, start from scratch.

Carrie, You chastised. But provided no help!