Ugh, housebreaking issues

[Lynn]

I feel like I'm backtracking w/ Tikaani now. She was doing soooo well w/ being "housebroken" like I thought. Yesterday morning she had an accident on the livingroom carpet b/c I didn't get her out soon enough (she didn't come get me like she normally does) so I started taking her out every hour like we did from the start...but she wouldn't ever go when we took her out. Instead, all yesterday, she'd go on the floor inside then run and hide...as soon as she disappeared while I was in the middle of something I knew what had happened and I'd just have to go find it....she did it ALL yesterday...and she's done it ALL today. It's like she's completely forgotten everything we've trained her to do w/ going to the bathroom. I take her out every hour on the hour and she would rather just nose around the grass and do nothing so I take her back in and as soon as I turn my back she has an accident. I don't know why she stopped coming and telling me.

It really is frustrating and I want to pull my hair out. I basically have gone back to having to keep her in her crate. But I don't know how I'm going to work that because she won't eat at specific times either...we feed her twice/day but she picks and chooses when she wants to eat it so I have a hard time just letting her out of her crate to eat. I'm still taking her outside to play and go to the bathroom...but I just have no idea why she stopped wanting to go outside and is more "content" going inside. We have terrible stains all over our nice carpet too (some I'm having a heck of a time getting out b/c she's gone in the SAME place several times.) I just don't want the crate to turn into a thing of "punishment" to her...I want her to be excited to go in there when it's bedtime or when we have to go somewhere. HELP!

[opokki]

Take her outside every hour as you have been but only give her about 3 mins to do her business. If she eliminates, allow her free time for about an hour until the next potty break. If she does not go, place her in the crate and try again in 30-60 mins. Keep repeating this sequence and then gradually extend the length of time between potty breaks. Each indoor accident sets you back, so its imperative that you do everything possible to prevent this.

If you feel that she is spending too much time in the crate and you don't want her to view it as punishment, give her a nice stuffed kong to work on while she is in there.

It is more useful to have set potty breaks rather than waiting for her to let you know she has to go. Having set potty breaks prevents accidents and
teaches the dog to "hold it".

As far as meal feeding goes.....
Be consistant. Set feeding times and allow her about 10-15 mins per meal to finish. What she doesn't finish in the set time should be taken away until the next meal. She may miss a meal or two but this will allow her to be hungry for the next meal and allow you to get her on a schedule. After only a few days of this she will be finishing the meals within the set time.

[MrsRottie]

I agree with Opokki - good advice there :)

On the carpet - try using biological washing powder to remove the stain. The enzymes in it break down the urine smell that makes her go back to it again and again....

[Zoes_mama]

I saw on the tv program "Good Dog" with Dr. Stanley Coran, about this subject. What he did was pretty much what Opokki said, and while you're out there, use a command like "Hurry Up" or "Quick" and say it until she goes. When she does, treat her, praise her, until she gets it. For the carpet, he spritzed a light mixture of very watered-down vinegar to mask the smell. When the dog smells it's previous business, it will keep using that same spot. I'm aware you probably don't want your carpet smelling like vinegar, but it's just supposed to be strong enough for the dog to smell. Hope this helps!

[Lynn]

Thank you everyone. I appreciate the advice. I'm not mad at her, just upset w/ the situation because you spend so much time working on one or two behaviors and then something happens and it seems as though you never did any of that training because you're back in square one. I was prepared for stains on the carpet w/ having a puppy though (and I'm more levelheaded this morning than I was last night when it happened because it was a terrible day....my car stopped working and my seahorse has contracted a flesh eating bacteria...along w/ the dog going inside)
She went outside this morning right after I let her out of her crate, but she only went potty. I came back in w/ her and let her get a drink of water, b/c she was licking the grass for water, and she's back in the crate right now. We're going out for a walk with some friends in a bit but when I bring her back and put her in the crate I'll work with the food also.

My other question is this now: Should I leave her crate in our bedroom like it is now, or should I bring it out to the livingroom/kitchen area where I am most of the time during the day?