soiling

Question
We have two dogs a 4year old male lab/collie cross and a 3 year old female miniature fox terrier both dogs are neutered. During the warmer months they sleep outside in a kennel but when it gets colder they sleep in the laundry of our home. We have no problems with the lab but the foxie soils in the laundry even going so far as to come inside during the day if the door is left open just to defecate.  We cannot separate them at night leaving the foxie in the kennel because our lab howls and cries all night but we do not want to have to leave them outside in the kennel in cold weather. We are at our wits end as the NZ weather is getting colder we have tried about every toilet training method the training books suggest to no avail.

Answer
Its not a toilet training problem, its a behavior problem. Get two crates and place them side by side so the dogs can be with each other but not loose to do naughty. The proximity should keepthe lab/collie quiet and the foxies from causing trouble. Use a standard potty routine as you have. One issue is the dog going potty when you leave the door open. The dog should go potty on a lead outside so you can reward it for going outside, and not reward it when it goes on its own.

Regards,

Henry Ruhwiedel
www.dogkennel.org