potty retrainig my dog

Question
i have a shih zu female, 3 yrs old. we recently got a male pug pup. after about a month or so of having him, she began pooping and peeing in the house. i am still letting her out as i always have, but it makes no difference. we put up an invisible fence, but her potty area as she was often pooping in the neighbors yard. i am at my wits end. she is an important part of our family life, but i am starting to consider getting rid of her. what on earth can i do?

Answer
Hi Kathy,

Your problem isn't a house training problem. The sudden regression of house training skills is either caused by stress, or your dog is marking territory in the house. Your original dog is showing her disapproval by means of marking. Whether it's urine or feces, these signals, like handwriting, remain long after the sender has gone, providing a reminder to itinerants that they are now entering a restricted area.

Although male dogs are more likely to mark than females, a dominant female will also mark. Two or more dogs living together in the same house who regard each other as competition are more prone to marking. Marking can be a dominance issue.

Every day, spend some extra time with just your original dog. Take her to a park, or a ride in the car, groom her, whatever she enjoys. Let her know she's still special to you.

In the majority of cases, the marking exists because of a lack of training or other human displays that communicate leadership. Dogs are more likely to mark if they have an exaggerate view of their own importance within the household. Start asking your dogs to preform simple commands before getting their meals, going outside, getting a treat, etc. Any commands will do, "sit", "stay", "down" etc., the point being that you're the one in charge, and must be obeyed.

When you can't be supervising the dog that's marking, she needs to be contained. That means in she needs to either be in your sight, on lead or crated (or otherwise confined to a safe, dog-proofed area). No exceptions, just like when she was a puppy.

Unlike house training mistakes or submissive urination, your dog should be disciplined for urine marking. But this can only be done if you catch her in the act of doing it, not a few seconds later. Just as she's about to urine mark, startle her with a loud "NO, OUTSIDE!" and chase her outside (or take her outside). Continue watching her and the minute she eliminates outside, then praise her warmly.

It is extremely important to get rid of the odor the dog has left with previous markings. Use a specially formulated urine odor eliminator, such as Simple Solution, of Nature's Miracle,  in all areas that have been marked. Remember that urine soaks through carpet to the padding, so try to clean the padding too...or replace as necessary. Do not use ammonia or other standard household cleaners, since some will leave odors that many pets will feel compelled to mark upon.

If your dogs are not spayed and neutered, that can contribute to the problem. Estrus-related urine marking will be abolished in virtually all females once they are spayed, and approximately 60 percent of "altered" male dogs will cease urine marking within weeks or months of castration.

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti