Plea for help from DU dog experts

[BaltoLefty]

I have a 3 1/2 year old pit bull/goldem retriever mix (maybe a little something else mixed in as well). She was fairly easily housebroken and trained to "go" outside. Rather than crating her all day, I kept her out on my back porch, which is enclosed. Occasionally, she would have an "accident" on the porch, but almost never in the house.

Because this past winter was so cold, I started leaving her inside the house, and everything was fine. Until last week, when I came home to a puddle in front of the door and sometimes a pile as well. So she has spent this past week out on the porch.

I really want to get her back to the point where I can leave her in the house when I'm not home, but I'm at a loss what to do.

My only idea has been to crate her in the house, then let her out at increasingly long intervals (e.g., 3:00 Tuesday, 1:00 Wednesday, working up to a whole day). I can do this next week because it's Spring Break and my work hours are a little more flexible than usual.

Has anyone else had this problem? What was your solution?

Thanks.

Cindy

[Richardo]

1. You got to give her credit - she's getting as close as she can to outdoors

So the knows the right thing to do. She just needs a door key and some thumbs. :-)

Seriously, I think the crating idea sounds good. Be sure you are letting her go immediately before you leave so she can hold it.

[Red State Rebel]

2. Do you have a fenced yard where you can use a dog door?

That has been our solution...

[MISSDem]

3. First take her to the vet and make sure there

is no medical problem. Then take her for a good walk before you leave and don't leave any food out for her. If she is truly housebroken (she doesn't have accidents when you are there) she should be fine. She may be suffering from separation anxiety. Give her something that smells like you before you leave. My three dogs stay in the house, loose, every day and never have an accident unless they get sick, ie, eat something that they shouldn't or I don't get home in a realistic time frame.

[OneBlueSky]

4. sometimes dogs will do this to get your attention . . .

or to let you know that they're pissed about something . . . maybe she doesn't like the arrangements . . .

[LuLu550]

5. I crate my dog

but I think a key thing is, when you clean up after her, make sure you use a product that is formulated to get the "this is an OK place to go to the bathroom" smell out of the floor!

[BaltoLefty]

6. Thanks to all!

I asked at the vet's and they thought (as I do) that it's a behavioral problem.

She sleeps in the crate, goes outside while I feed the cats, comes back in and eats, then goes outside for another 10-15 minutes. An a.m. walk would be ideal, but my mornings are too hectic.

Dog door's not an option, as she's an escape artist and I haven't had her microchipped yet. I hate crating her all day, but really hate coming home to that kind of mess. And she did it every day, for a week, in the same place. After 3 1/4 years of being really, really good.

Someone also mentioned that I should try the Bach "rescue remedy," does anyone know if this works?

Cindy