I have a 6 year old mini doxie that marks the house. She'll come in from outside and mark. It is very fustrating, but this is what I've learned.
She only does it as a reaction to something that has upset or excited her. For example; if my sister or neice brings in one of their dogs - she'll potty. If I'm gone away from her over night and she hangs with hubby, she'll potty. If the stereo is too loud, she'll potty. If the horses get excited and run around the pasture making all the dogs bark and get crazy - she'll come in and potty. The list goes on and on.
It is almost like she feels the need to punish herself for getting excited. In my head I can see her past owners potty training her and when she went on the floor they caused such a scene when they punished her that she associates this feeling with marking on the floor. I know this sounds insane, but I think that is what triggers her to mark. And I truly call her my potty machine. When she does, she comes to me and tells on herself. Slinks up to me like she knows the punishment is coming. I just pick her up and take her outside. Not a word.
So, what I've been doing is after she gets excited or has a major reaction to something in the house - I'll take her out on the leash to potty in the front yard. This way I know that she has emptied her bladder and attempting to teach her that she still has to potty in the grass. I don't know if I'm right or wrong, but I've had her for a few months now, and her 'accidents' are getting fewer and fewer. Although her last owners claimed she was potty trained, I learned afterwards that she never was.
She only does it as a reaction to something that has upset or excited her. For example; if my sister or neice brings in one of their dogs - she'll potty. If I'm gone away from her over night and she hangs with hubby, she'll potty. If the stereo is too loud, she'll potty. If the horses get excited and run around the pasture making all the dogs bark and get crazy - she'll come in and potty. The list goes on and on.
It is almost like she feels the need to punish herself for getting excited. In my head I can see her past owners potty training her and when she went on the floor they caused such a scene when they punished her that she associates this feeling with marking on the floor. I know this sounds insane, but I think that is what triggers her to mark. And I truly call her my potty machine. When she does, she comes to me and tells on herself. Slinks up to me like she knows the punishment is coming. I just pick her up and take her outside. Not a word.
So, what I've been doing is after she gets excited or has a major reaction to something in the house - I'll take her out on the leash to potty in the front yard. This way I know that she has emptied her bladder and attempting to teach her that she still has to potty in the grass. I don't know if I'm right or wrong, but I've had her for a few months now, and her 'accidents' are getting fewer and fewer. Although her last owners claimed she was potty trained, I learned afterwards that she never was.