Potty Training a former puppy mill momma

[maggiemoo]

We adopted a rescue bulldog that was a former momma at a puppy mill. She has made tremendous progress as far as socialization, but I am still struggling with one area of potty training. She will not potty randomly in the house when we are home. However, the problem is when we leave the house. We put her in the laundry room and she will potty on the floor in there - but only when left alone. She will potty in her crate - appears she lost all instinct to not "soil her den" when she was confined for so many years - so crate training is not an option. Currently I am leaving puppy pads in the laundry room when we are gone, but I would love to teach her to hold it until we return. Has anyone had success potty training a former mill dog?

 

[cefe13]

I have no experience of this but am so happy that you have taken care of her! And what a cute name - Maggie Moo! As long as she functions well in other respects and doesn't potty in the house when you are home, I would probably just put paper on the floor in the laundry room when she's on her own at home and try to minimize the time she needs to be at home alone.

 

[Lalaloopsie]

It’s amazing progress, in my practice puppy mill dogs never got right, but Maggie made really huge progress! I don’t know if you can beat this last little piece of a problem, but did you ever tried dog toilet with pee pads? I used it like a safety net when Tank was learning toilet and it helped a lot. It prevents dogs from eating pads, looks not too ugly. And cleaning is easy, you just change a pad.

https://www.amazon.com/Richell-Trax...TF8&qid=1512949156&sr=8-5&keywords=dog+toilet

 

[Manydogs]

It sounds like this is an anxiety problem, not a "potty" problem. The suggestion that @Lalaloopsie gave is a good one. My aunt had a very sweet cat, who all of a sudden just freaked out and was unfriendly and terrified. After trying several remedies, her Vet suggested using this

It worked wonders(but one for cats..) and the cat turned completely around and became her sweet self again.This shows a pic. of the refill, but there is a plug-in for it. This may help her anxiety of being alone, and could help with her pottying in the room. I say it's worth a try.

 

[2BullyMama]

I was thinking anxiety as well... try leaving an old t-shirt with your scent on it --- see if it helps


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