Two Year Old With Bad Potty Habit

[Malcolmsmom]

My two year old yellow lab, Winchester, is a super dog, knows his commands, and for the most part obedient. HOWEVER, he has this terrible habit of using our dining room for his indoor bathroom. He can hold it all day, but if he needs to go outside during the night, he will go in the dining room. We have had the carpet replaced with laminated flooring and we have blocked off the room with a gate and furniture, but he moves everything to get in there. My vet is at a loss. Does anyone have any ideas or experience in this? Help :eek:

[juliefurry]

my old pit mix used to have his favorite part of every room to relieve himself in. Did you have him since a young pup, or was he older? You might try crating him during the night and seeing if that helps. Maybe trying feeding him earlier in the day so he won't have to do that so late at night, or LIMIT (not withhold but LIMIT) the amount of water he gets after a certain time.

[Roxy's CD]

Hades has a "spot" too, if we leave him alone for too long sometimes he'll go there. Whether it's pee or poop it will be there, not anywhere else. As juliefurry said, try to crate him at night, and if you get up in the middle of the night you can let him out, although my guys only 10 months old and he can hold it through the night unless there's some type of medical problem, but your vet should've told if there was...

Did you papertrain him? If so in the dining room?

[misticaleclipse]

Sorry if this is an obvious question, but did you clean this complete area with a special cleaner made for dog messes? If not they can smell even a speck and will keep going back to that spot (oh and when you put the cleaner on soak the area very well and let is dry naturally rather than sopping it up)

I also know there is a product called No Mark for cats, but I'm not sure if there is one for dogs?

[RedyreRottweilers]

The simplest answer is to secure this room so that he cannot get to it, or confine the dog in a manner during the night that he cannot get to it.

I would restrict his water consumption, taking up the water by about 9PM, and make SURE it is impossible for him to get to his chosen elimination area.

I would also concentrate on making his last evening outing pleasant, with food rewards for all urination, and the same thing in the morning when he first goes out.