i don't know what to say about Belle. Zack had long been housetrained. He would hold it all night, for more than 8 hours, more than 9, he just laid on the loveseat all night in the living room, quietly. I would come in from the bedroom and we would cuddle on the couch, he didn't act in a hurry to go out. He wanted to play. then i'd say 'wanna go outside?' and he'd jump down, pick up a toy and run to the door, and i'd let him out, and he'd run around a little and then go pee, usually a long one.
Almost always I come home from work at lunch time and let him out, but on rare occasions, i have not made it home for 9 hours or so, and he has been fine, no pees, no poops.
Belle is another story. She has been staying with me for several seeks while Lisa and Joe are staying with my mom and looking for an apartment. Belle will be two years old in June.
Belle was fine for the first three weeks. There was one pee in the kitchen, otherwise, she just waited for me to let them out in the morning or at lunch or after work. I left her free in the house when i wasn't there, with Zack. No problem, i made sure to come home and let them out at lunch because Belle was inconsistent about going in the house with Lisa and Joe, but they didn't come home during the day to let her out.
But one day they were going to be here at my place, so i figured they would let the dogs out so i didnt' come home to do it. When i did get home, Lisa and Joe had left, and i found poo strewn across the hall and living room and a pee right by the door to outside. Clearly the dogs hadn't been let out. It was a long cleaning job.
Since then, Belle has been inconsistent and at first, zack started peeing in the house too, one time, while i sat a few feet from him. so then, i started separating them when i wasn't home or during the night, so i could tell who was doing what. I leave belle in the kitchen. No more pees or poos from Zack. bElle has peed in the kitchen once or twice.
The other night, i came home from a short trip, an hour or so, they had not been kept in for more than that. When i got home, i didn't go right to the door and let them out. I sat down and took the thing i bought out of the bag. I heard Zack scratching on the door, after about 5 minutes or less, and i got up and let them out, there was a pee on the rug next to the door, from Belle. Zack peed outside when i let him out.
poor belle doesn't know how to ask to go out and isn't clear that she's supposed to go out. One problem with her is, she doesn't want to go out when i come home or get up in the morning, she wants to be with. She wants to cuddle, she wants to not separate. So, i of course now go outside with them, to encourage her, whereas i didn't need to before, the first three weeks she was here, and never did with zack. and i always cuddled with them first and the let them out, and she was ok with that. But now, she doesn't want to go out.
Last night took the cake. I came home, let her out of the kitchen, went to open the door to the outside in the living room, Zack ran out but Belle as she usuallly does, got up on the loveseat and wanted to be petted. I petted her a bit, but the way things have been, i wanted to get her outside ASAP, i would go out with her, and then wait until she goes, which has worked ok, when we go out, i casually walk around and she loses interest in me and goes and pees.
But this time, i opened the door and then came to get her to bring her outside, she moved away from me to avoid going outside, and just before i reached to pick her up she squatted and started to pee on the living room rug--as i was reaching for her! I was right by her and quickly picked her up, and put her out, and came back to wipe up the pee, there only just a drop because i caught it quick. But she seems to be showing that she has no clue about inside/outside for peeing.
The night before, i had felt really soft hearted and was considering letting her stay out in the living room wiht Zack over night, since there hadn't been a pee in a while in the kitchen, but my better judgement won out. This will take a lot of patience.
I had given my daughter the Shirlee Kalstone book months ago. I had gotten the book because the otherwise dependable housetrained Zack had peed on the bathroom rug (solved by now keeping the bathroom door closed) and also had peed in the same spot he lifted his leg the other day, while i sat nearby. But he didn't do it anymore after that so i didn't use the book and i gave it to Lisa. she never read it and i asked for it back but Lisa didnt' know where it was, and now everything is packed and she doesn't know where it is. So yesterday, i ordered myself another one on Amazon.
:?