A huge mess! - Orchid Board

Optimist · #1 10-08-2017, 04:09 PM

I have 2 little dogs, neither is very well "potty trained." I tried, but my living situation changed so many times. My chihuahua is now 14, my IG is 12, and I suspect that they will not change much. I moved into my brother's house. It is an old house and has been a construction site for about 10 years. He put in a nasty 70's style brown carpet, and over the 5 years I have been here the dogs have totally messed it up. I continued to clean with a steam cleaner. Eventually, the carpet or the pad under it never became dry, and all the soap on them made a sticky mess. I asked him for years to get rid of the carpet, (I hate carpet), and finally, I was given the go-ahead. So, I am pulling the first part up, It is nasty, somewhat damp, and the wood floor beneath will take tons of work to look like something that is not on the floor of a haunted house! I am so glad that I am pulling it up, but the floor is not in great condition. Although I am regretting it slightly, I am happy that it is finally going to be dry, clean, and re-finished in some way. (Not sure which way-- obviously scraping, sanding and bleaching will be involved). Oh well!!!!!

jkofferdahl · #2 10-08-2017, 04:15 PM

Dogs.

Orchid Whisperer · #3 10-08-2017, 04:49 PM

Are you buying him some new flooring?

For your dogs, I highly recommend either "male wraps", or diapers for female dogs. You can use disposable pads, but I found that using folded white shop cloths are more effective as pads, and can then be rinsed outdoors then laundered. A much better alternative to further wreckage of the floor. We maintained 2 dogs over the last 2 years of their life using the diapers / wraps. (Sadly, we recently lost both dogs, one at age 14, only a month after the oldest one died at age 17).

Optimist · #4 10-08-2017, 06:18 PM

Yes, sad to say, I like the dogs, but never again! My main problem is that when I am asleep, they slink out from their hiding places and pee on the carpet. I think overnighting in diapers may be a good idea. I tried before on the male dog. For a while, I thought they were holding it in all night. Nope!

jkofferdahl · #5 10-09-2017, 11:05 PM

I have three dogs. Two are a mess, too. In fact, one took a bad scare outside and now won't poop outside, so I'm constantly cleaning my floors.

Sully (my avatar) is different. For example, last night I let him out at about 9:00pm. A visiting friend kept me up until about 3:00am, and I slept until about noon. As his usual, he was ready to go out when I got up and yet left no messes. If all dogs were Sully, everyone would have a dog. My sig line says it all, though.

Leafmite · #6 10-10-2017, 12:16 AM

Our beloved, wonderful, fourteen-year-old American Eskimo seems to have developed dementia and has been doing all kinds of crazy things lately. We finally bought a lightweight tie-out for indoors and keep her on it so that she does not get into anything harmful or hurt herself. If we go away, we take her off and contain her in the bathroom with water, food and some dingo bones. We tried blocking off rooms but she is pretty clever and manages to unlock gates or get around barriers. The lightweight 'tie-out' has really been working well. Maybe this might work for you and your dogs.

greenpassion · #7 10-10-2017, 02:02 PM

I have to rescue dogs. One from Illinois, and another from Arkansas. I've had them now for about 6 years. They are two small dogs, one is a black and tan Chihuahua, the other is a miniature pinscher. The black and tan Chihuahua came from a puppy mill, was unsocialized, not housebroken, and afraid of everything in the world but me. This is why I found Loki the miniature pinscher. I thought it would teach Obie how to be a dog. But it didn't work. Over the years I've had a lot of problems with them especially OB using the bathroom in the house, but I eventually got a dog door, and I have a deck that leads down into the yard. I have not had a mess in the house in over 3 years. The dog door saved me. It took me about 15 minutes to teach them. Well it took Obie a little longer because he's so timid. But he's such a stickler, he'll sneak out and go to the bathroom on the deck instead of have to go down the six steps to the yard.Grrrrr.

katrina · #8 10-11-2017, 09:14 AM

Crate training! Worse case scenario...it will at least contain the messes.

I've never had a problem with any of our dogs...even one that wasn't completely house broken when we rescued him at age 4. Crate training works for young and old alike. Not counting age-related medical problems, of course.

greenpassion · #9 10-11-2017, 09:50 AM

Yeah that's true. I did go out and buy a very large crate that they can both comfortably be and when they were first brought to the house. But now they use it as a hangout spot. I have a memory foam pad in there and it's covered with a blanket so it's like a little Den for them. Whatever works!

Leafmite · #10 10-11-2017, 12:56 PM

Crates work well but keeping the new dog nearby (in a room with a door closed/baby gate or on a leash) so that you can notice when they are in need to eliminate also works. A new dog is like a child and needs quite a bit of attention at first but, if you put the work into the dog's training in the beginning, they are very rewarding later. I kept telling myself that when the American Eskimo came into our home. Yeah, I kind of dread ever getting a new dog.