New member and at my witts end

frugalsoup · 11-01-2010

Hello everyone. I am new to the site and if I could work it out, I would have posted a pic of my 4 gorgeous Chorkie/chihuahuas.
My problem concerns house training...and its getting worse...and I feel like a complete failure.
Here's the story so far: Maisie (2y Chorkie) and Ted (11m Chihuahua) got together so to speak, due to my ignorance of Teds mating ability at that age. So 9weeks later, after a traumatic birth, I had Poppy and Rosie too! All fab and wonderful, would and could never part with them as I was at their births. Before they came, both Ted & Maisie were housetrained, after the pups were born I sort of expected the occasional accident indoors. However I have never been able to fully housetrain the pups, If one has a poop or pea, then the others do also, AND ITS GETTING WORSE, since "the twins" were spayed last month. So Maisie is now 3+y, Ted 2+y and the girls Poppy & Rosie nearly 15m. I cant keep up with the mess in the house. I rarely catch which one it is, but from the quantity alone, it has to be all of them. Im at my witts end, Please help if any of you can??

CorkyMax · 11-01-2010

First off---Are you getting all the urine smell out from their peeing in the house? If they can smell it--They will continue to pee there! I am giving you some comments from another thread in here:DoggieVouge and Lara's Mom had a couple previous posts-----are you using an enzyme cleaner to erase all traces of the smell of urine and feces? Regular household cleanersaren't the same thing- dogs can smell past those. His nose is much, much stronger than yours and if he can smell urine and feces, he will continue to go in the house. That smell tells him that it is okay to go there.
__________________
DoggieVogue

White vinegar also works to get rid of the smell and is inexpensive.
Lara's mom

Corky/Max--
But there is something you shouldn't use too because it smell like urine to the dog! Think it is ammonia!---Don't use cleaners with ammonia in them!
Here is another quote from a previous thread:You need to clean the areas where has marked very thoroughly - if you google "clean dog urine" you will find lots of inexpensive solutions you can mix yourself which will neutralise the odour. Make sure you don't use anything with ammonia as that will just encourage him to continue to mark there.

If you go to top of page(s) in this forum--see the blue strip that goes across the page with the white words---Find the word Search--click on it and put words like dog peeing in house in the search box (keep the green dot on the threads) You will see many threads that might have some answers for you.

Just checked out your album. Cuties all and lol, like that you call them The Motley Crew!

frugalsoup · 11-01-2010

Thank you Corky/Max.
I had completely lost sight of the urine/ammonia thing. I will certainly give that a go.
I have tried the citronella smell, to put them off, which probably hasn't worked because of all those other smells!!
As I type this, Rosie has just squatted in front of me!! First time ive caught one of them in the act!

Lunareclipse · 11-01-2010

It is not too late to start crate training. Keep them in a crate when you can't keep an eye on them. And when you let them out, let them out in a small space. When they can be trusted to not go in that space, widen the space a little. I would not allow them to have free run of the house until they can be trusted not to use it for a toilet.

frugalsoup · 11-01-2010

Yes, Thank you Lunareclipse.
I dont think I have the fortitude to crate them now, even if had one big enough. I appreciate its my choice not to take your good advice, but my circumstances don't allow for full time watching or buying crates. I have to find another way,but I'm not trying to be dificult, resistant or precious.

angiesample · 11-02-2010

what about putting them in a small room, like a bathroom when u are unable to watch them?