How to stop my boston terrier from peeing inside
I have a 1 year old Boston Terrier named Papi (poppy phonetically) hes a great dog that I rescued from a coworker that had him crated for the first 10 months of his life. He started peeing in the kitchen while we were at work. We crated him but he would pee and poop in there. He has access to our basement and is going to the bathroom down there. He does not do it during the weekends while we’re home. I really want to stop him from doing this…any suggestions We have baby gated him in just one room, that doesnt work, crating him doesnt work, letting him out at regular times doesnt work either. Hes completely healthy, so we know this is a psychological issue. Im wondering if I should take all food and water away during the eight hours that we are gone. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
kelly cardona
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It sounds like Papi may be suffering some separation anxiety while you’re gone. Here are a few things you can try to alleviate his anxiety:
1) Get up early enough so you can spend some active play time with him outside. If you can get him tired before you leave, he’ll be more likely to relax and nap once you’re gone.
2) Confine him to just one room - the kitchen, if that’s convenient - and cut off his access to the basement and other areas while you’re gone.
3) Set up a TV where he can watch and hear it. The sights and sounds will comfort him and make him feel less alone.
4) Leave lights on if you’re gone when it’s dark outside.
5) Turn off the phone ringers and lower the volume on your answering machine so they won’t startle him if someone calls.
6) Provide his favorite toys. A Kong filled with peanut butter and frozen will keep him busy for quite a while.
7) Give him one of your old t-shirts or an old blanket with your scent on it (unwashed) to snuggle up with.
Don’t make a fuss when you leave in the morning. If you make a big deal out of saying goodbye to him, he’ll associate it with your leaving for the day. Instead of setting him up for that sort of anxiety, just slip out the door quietly.
If all else fails, you might want to consider getting a second dog - perhaps an older dog who is used to being left alone all day and has no separation anxiety. Such a companion may help calm your Boston and resolve the house soiling problem.
Oh, and it’s not healthy to withhold water for 8 hrs at a time. He should have access to water all day. He really doesn’t need access to food while you’re gone, but those frozen Kongs might prove to be useful distractions when you’re gone.
Good luck with the little guy,
Tempest
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I raised Bostons for many years before getting my Jack Russell. I love em’. In fact I love terriers in general and the energy they have. What I did for Sonny, Sam and Missy, was put in a doggie door. They loved it and when I would come home from work, would all be out in the back yard sunning themselves (of course, bad weather they were not doing that). Make going outside for him alot of fun. In fact, play with him out there, so he looks forward to going outside. Make water available to him at all times like Tempest said.
Beachbaby
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I think you have three problems here:
1 - his size, he’s a little guy with a very small bladder
2 - the fact that he comes from a neglect, borderline abuse situation
3 - the anxiety he must feel whenever you leave him by himself (does he cry or howl when left alone?).
I would relax about the whole thing, give him more time to get used to things and buy him wee-wee pads for during the day. If he cries or howls, then you are dealing with separation anxiety disorder and that takes a long, long time to fix (if ever -it depends on each dog). I have a cocker spaniel (Josh) who was starved and abused by his owner on a regular basis and, to put the icing on the cake, abandoned in an empty apartment without food or water where he stayed for, at least, six days by himself so he ended up with a severe case of SAD. It took me 18 months to get him physically healthy (he had gangrene in one leg, very serious infections in his eyes and ears and weighted half his normal weight) but almost three years to cure him of his SAD and, even now, every once in a blue moon, he would still revert and howl when he thinks he was left alone. Psicologically, it’s extremely hard on dogs when their owners mistreat them, it does things to their heads, you know? …and even when you ‘rescue’ them, and give them all your love, it still takes a long time for them to feel secure again. Be patient, you might be asking too much of him too soon, give him time to adjust and to learn what you want out of him at his own pace. If you do, he’ll be the best friend you’ll ever have.
Good luck!
Bibi