Housebreaking problems with my JRT!

[Finzean]

We’ve been fortunate enough to have older housetrained dogs with our last couple of puppies (personal pets - not rescue dogs); that and a dog door. The puppies just learn from the older dogs. A good friend of mine used the same sort of method with her JRT, with great success.

We crate trained all of our rescue dogs immediately (from puppies to 6 year old adults) and I have to say that is the most successful method I’ve ever used. It sounds like you are doing what you can, maybe Kryswyn can offer some advice. All of the JRT’s I know (owned by horse people or not) have issues with being “told” what to do! One friend’s JRT uses the pillow on her bed as a toilet…when she’s really mad at her owner, she will poop right on her feet (usually when my friend is sitting down to dinner, watching tv and not paying attention)…the dog is a twit! So just know that you are not alone - and hang in there!

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There is no crying in baseball!!!

[LaurieB]

I’ve never had a JRT but I’ve had plenty of other dogs and my first thought is that Sophie is yanking your chain (assuming there is NO possibility that she might have a bladder or urinary tract infection–more common than you might think in female puppies)

I would do two things:

1. when she does pee outside, make sure to praise her copiously so she knows she’s done something great.
2. until this behavior is cleared up, do not leave her alone for a minute in the house. If you’re not home, put her in a crate. If you are home, have her in the room with you, so that any disobedience is always caught immediately and she’s reprimanded for it. Yes, this is a pain in the butt to do, but total consistency on your part–outside is always good, inside is always bad–is the best way to clear up the problem.