It IS a rather nifty thread title, come to think about it. Although I don't think anyone can ever top the one about Happy Butt winning the exhibition honors....... This dog (91# Rottweiler) really has nothing to be so happy about, but he's constantly happy. Everything is a big celebration to him and I just love him so much. People have said that I'm just so wonderful for adopting him at 4 years old with all of his problems and I think to myself "No, I'm not wonderful.....I'm selfish!" This is the best dog I've ever had. He never chews on things that aren't his toys, he never goes to the bathroom in the house. He doesn't howl and annoy neighbors when he's alone at home. He's gentle with children and gentle with me when my arthritis is hurting my fingers. Doesn't pull on his leash. He's just the biggest sweetie. He's only 6.5 years old now and I hope to continue to be his seeing eye person for years and years to come.

We had this problem with a 10 lb. mini Dachshund that we took in. His previous owners kept him in a closet and he learned only to pee inside. No matter how long he stayed out with us, he just wouldn't go. It was heartbreaking because he really tried - actually he succeeded once only because he couldn't hold it and we praised the daylights out of him - and he was happy - but he didn't retain the memory for long. He was fine medically, just scared to go outside - although his 3 Dachshund siblings did go outside and he watched them but just couldn't bring himself to do it. Finally in desperation, we used a metal trough type of thing with newspapers and pee pads. We didn't want to have to do this, but after a couple of years it became a serious problem. A very nice dog, just scared of peeing outdoors - pooping was not a problem - go figure. I hope you get your problem sorted out.

Hi Toomuchglass, Often when a male dog urintes indoors at someone else's home or his own he is trying to stake territory. This is not a house breaking issue, it is a territorial behavior issue. Let us assume he does not do this at his own home. Where does he stand in the pecking order with the other male dog? And even your female? If he is the beta, he might be trying to let your female know she is below him in the pecking order. If he is the Alpha male he is trying to let your female know that he is top dog. Keep in mind he does not know if he is here permanetly or just visiting. In his mind the pack is unstable. There is a new memeber and he wants her to know where he stands. In a wolf pack, the alpha wolf will usually be the dog that marks territory. No other wolf would have the gumption to do this unless they are going to challenge him. They know where they need to eliminate and they do this with respect. This dog does not know who is in charge and may feel he needs to be. From his perspective he is thinking... Who is top dog? Who is the boss? Where do I fit in? I don't want to loose. So lifting to mark an area is his way of saying I am part of this space. He may be setting boundaries to prevent a fight. He may not be a fighting guy but wants everyone to know this is his space. Some ideas that might help are having a crate in your home for him to enter as soon as he arrives. After 1/2 hr let him out of the crate but watch him closely as though he were a tiny puppy. Keep him on a leash attached to his owner or even you. Do not let him out of your site and if he lifts a leg. Be ready to train! As soon as he lifts a leg, shake a can with coin in it. Scream loudly. NO! And rush him outside to do his duty. If you can even mop up his pee with a paper towel and leave it outside where he can smell where he needs to go. Be loving, firm and consistent. He needs to be taught in a loving way that he is not the alpha of the space. That someone else is in charge. He needs to earn your trust which means he either needs to be closely leashed to his owner or you and slowly when he can be trusted not to lift his leg he can roam free. Never reprimand a dog for marking if you do not catch him in the act. This will only confuse him. I hope this helps. ~boxerpups

He has been walked regularly since he came home, if not daily then at least 3-5 times per week. I have three children and he (our dog) is very much a part of our family. He comes to pick up the kids from school, to the park with us when they play, for long walks with the baby in her stroller while the older two are at school. Because of his anxiety, we did work with a trainer when we first got him, and worked with her extensively. Not on this particular issue, but in general, we have worked with multiple trainers actually.... in addition to the animal behaviorist, we also saw someone because he had issues with people coming into our home, and he has also been through beginner, intermediate, and advanced obedience training, as well as receiving his canine good citizen award. Like I said, our dog is a major part of our family and he participates in almost everything we do together. Yes, he does hate his crate, no doubt. But unfortunately for him he has seperaxion anxiety (and he is on meds for it)and if he isn't in his crate when we leave he chews the furniture, knocks over the garbages, and basically destroys what he can do to his anxiety. So hate it though he does, he is also used to it. I understand thinking its cruel to crate him when he needs to go... but that is exactly what one does with a puppy when they are 'crate training' them not to go in the house. I am taking him where I want him to go and giving him ample opportunity to relieve himself before putting him back in for a short time and trying it again. I dont understand saying I am 'not allowing him to go to the bathroom'. Would you say the same to someone who crates their dog because their dog constantly goes in the house? Likely not. This is really no different. I am simply trying to teach him to go somewhere else (other than the yard) and using a method that is pretty standard for housetraining puppies. I don't see how I am not allowing him to go to the bathroom. I am taking him where I want him to eliminate and giving him plenty of time and opportunity to do so. I came here hoping to get some helpful suggestions for how to show him its OK to pee somewhere else, and instead I am being called cruel for not allowing my dog to pee. Seems a bit odd to me...I am not a first time dog owner, I have had dogs for 25 years and have worked with animals in some capacity for a good portion of those years as well. I can guarantee that I am not cruel to any of my animals.