I have a 4.5 year old beagle that we adopted from the Humane Society last spring. We know nothing of her life before us, but it was pretty evident that she wasn't taken care of and was probably a strictly outside dog. To house train her, we tried the crate training (following all the guidelines), using treats, spanking when caught in the act, rubbing her nose in the pee, not spanking when caught in the act but sent outside to "go potty," etc. We didn't try all the different methods at once- when it was clear one method didn't work, we tried another after a reasonable period of time. She still has accidents. She knows the command "go potty" and will pee outside when given this command. She knows that she shouldn't pee in the house and always does it secretly when we're not around (ex- We both go to the bedroom for 5 minutes to hang up clothes, she pees in the kitchen). Are there any other things we can try that might work? My husband is extremely frustrated with her.
Answers:
As someone who is currently owned by a beagle, I can tell you that beagles are VERY smart dogs and a breed which can learn new behaviors no matter what their age and what their prior history was. They want nothing more than to please their "people" and the reason your dog is going potty indoors when you are not looking is because she is afraid of you, afraid of not pleasing you, afraid of being punished, and afraid of having her nose rubbed in her excrements and afraid of being hit. You can correct all of this very easily, and since beagles are food driven, they respond very well to positive reinforcement. First, tie some bells to the door you normally take her outside by and show her how to touch them either with her nose or her paws, which teaches her how to alert you that she needs to go outside. Put her leash on and as she (or you) rings the bells say, "Yes! Go potty" or "Yes! Go hurry up" or what ever word you want to use to signify going potty and immediately take her outside but stay with her until she goes potty, but do not stay outside any longer than 10-15 minutes if she hasn't gone either pee or poop. The minute she does either, in a very excited voice say, "Yes! Good hurry up, or good potty," and immediately give her a good quality treat. But make a real fool of yourself showing her how excited you are by her pleasing you. Beagles want nothing more than pleasing you and since they are food driven, giving her a treat and praising her like crazy quickly shows her what the right thing to do is to please you and she'll want to continue to please you! If she hasn't gone potty during the time you are outside, do not scold her or tell her she is a bad girl, but bring her back inside and put her in her crate. Be sure she is in the correct size crate though. The crate should only be big enough for her to stand up and turn around in. If it is any larger, she will soil in it, which you don't want. Also, do not put paper, newspaper, blankets, pillows, or sheets in the crate as her bedding, but get a bed which exactly fits the bottom of the crate. Leave her in the crate until she either whines or barks to go outside again and the second you hear her, take her outside again. Until you have her system regulated and know her potty routine, take her outside to go potty every 30-60 minutes until she goes potty. Feed her at the same time every day, which will help regulate her system and monitor the amount of water she is drinking. If you've seen her drinking water, take her outside to go pee as soon as she finishes drinking. Give her plenty of praise and plenty of treats when she has gone potty outside and in a short amount of time, you will have successfully house trained your beagle girl. There is a very good beagle forum which I am a member of which is made up of either beagle trainers, rescuers, or owners and has been very helpful to me when ever I have had a problem or a question about my beagle. I would be happy to give you that site if you email me directly. I will tell you that using the method I described to you, I was able to completely housebreak my beagle within 10-14 days and he has never had an accident indoors. Beagles need to be part of your pack and want to be with you and desperately want to make you happy with them. Praise, treats, and positive reinforcement is the way to a beagle's heart and in a very short time, you will have a dog which is happy with you and you with her. Good luck and if I can help you in any other way with your beagle, I will be more than happy to if you'll email me directly.
unfortunately, unless a dog is started housetraining before they are 16 weeks, it is very difficult, if not nearly impossible to train them to go outside. Especially if it came from a breeder who did not keep the nest clean (read spotless!).
I would just say live with it or put her back in the shelter, remember, she is there for a REASON, which could very well be her lack of potty training.
I am not trying to be harsh, I personally could NEVER live with a dog that goes inside our home.
You have to get rid of the smell, find a janitorial supply buy a Qt of liquid enzyme. Use this were ever they may have been a accident before, It will eat the urea in the urine. Then get you a shaker of cayenne pepper and sprinkle it liberally where she usually goes. She will not like the smell of this but she differently will remember not to be smelling for a place to take a leak.
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