multiple dogs peeing in the house

Question
Dear Dr. Conner,
I am an animal lover and have a small farmette on which I am raising my children and many animals. I have five dogs: a black lab, two schitzu's and two yorkies (both yorkies acquired through yorkie rescue). I got both of my yorkie's first (male was first, female second). Both were under a year old when I got them and I had the male about 2 years when I got the female. No problems housetraining them although when they firt came they had some major problems due to being mistreated. I was told their previous owners could not get them housetrained. Both house trained very quickly here with us. A year or tow later I got my male schitzu puppy..he house trained quickly also. Then my lab puppy (female) who was the easiest of all to house train. Lastly I took in a very small and sickly female schitzu that I was worried would not have a chance of making it if I did not take her and give it all I had. She weighed just over a pound when I got her at 12 weeks and had no hair under her chin, on her belly, and down all four legs. She was not socialized and my heart went out to her. I brought her home and I am pleased to say that she is now fine and healthy and happy (still small weighing about 3 1/2 pounds at 2 yrs old). That is when my trouble started and has not ended! This little girl pees on my floor all the time (a couple of tablespoons of course)..but all over. She is good about going outside, but no matter how many times she is let out or how long she stays out, or how many times we see her pee outside, she still goes in the house. Now...ALL OF THE SMALL DOGS ARE PEEING IN MY HOUSE!!! The boys pee on my cupboards and dining room chairs and the girls in the middle of my dining room floor (I confined them to the dining room area since this all started). I have a good idea who pees where, but never seem to be able to catch anybody in action! I clean up my dining room floor 10 or more times a day and just can't keep up anymore. I love all of them very much and am not willing to get rid of any of them...they are all part of our family. What can I do and why are all of the little ones peeing in the house when they were all doing great before the last member was added? Please let me know if you have any suggestions. I have tried observing to see if I can catch them, but have had minimal success with that. I don't feel I can scold them unless I can do it immediately after it happens. They are let out on a regular basis, are on quality food, are exercised, etc. Please give me any advise or suggestions you may have. I would love to walk into my dining room again and not have to step in or clean up dog pee. I would also love to be able to have them share and cuddle with us in our living room area again, but I am not willing to have them peeing on the carpet and living room furniture. Thanks so much, can't wait to hear from you!!!


Answer
WOW!  First, congratulations on being part of the SOLUTION!  You've provided an excellent home to so many little souls who desperately needed it.

Now, your problem: confining all to an area heavily marked with urine (despite all your cleaning, dogs can ALWAYS smell dog urine, no matter what you use to clean it up) is definitely the crux of this problem.  The "omega" stature of your 3 lb. Shih Tzu may have contributed; higher ranking members of her pack (yes, domestic dogs in such numbers are definitely a pack) MUST (compelled by rank) mark over her urine.  This has become habitual for all (or at least some).  They need to be removed from this area and you need to bring in a professional cleaning service (even with hardwood flooring, which would require refinishing) to thoroughly extinguish as much scent as you can in that area.  Such a large number of dogs notwithstanding, you need to recondition each one (to the best of your ability) by going outside with them as a group, observing appropriate elimination, and rewarding each one for performance, and you need to do this several times a day for at least 3 weeks.  Dogs learn from observation of one another (learning is actually accelerated between and among dogs through observation), so this won't be as difficult as it seems.  For every single successful "performance" outdoors, praise and reward (very small tidbit of food).  Although all dogs will initially approach you for the treat, only the one who has just eliminated should get one; they will catch on faster than you think.

To extinguish free urination indoors, you can initially use doggie diapers, belly bands or bitch britches (with heavy duty pads.)  These devices contain urination close to the dog's body should the dog eliminate inappropriately, something all dogs prefer to avoid.  Expensive at first (with such a large group), dogs quickly associate inappropriate urination with its result and the use of these devices accelerates house training.  Punishing in any way (even if you catch the dog in the act, because multiple dog households such reaction will affect the "innocent" as well as the "guilty") is not an option (and doesn't work anyway.)  If your dogs are physically restrained from inappropriate urination, they can then rejoin your family (and separation from humans is a huge contributory factor to marking.)  Prevention, reconditioning and changing environmental cues (the room itself) should do it.  If you have any further questions as things progress, please don't hesitate to repost.