I have two little dogs, Chipper (my Yorkiepoo), and Tootsie (Heeler-x). Both of them are extremely smart little dogs.
Chipper has learned from the time he was a puppy that when I take him outside to do his chores, he is supposed to find a good spot and do his business.
Tootsie, on the other hand, has no clue what I want her to do !
She has to be left out forever before she takes a notion to go potty. Even though I praise her afterward and let her back in, so far, she just doesn't get the idea.
However, she watches Chipper, and as soon as he goes to the bathroom, she knows I will call him back in.
So, she is smart enough to know why Chipper is out there , and what he does to be told "Good Boy!" and let back inside.
But ,for some reason, she just doesn't comprehend that the same thing would work for her....
Ahhh... I encounter the same problem with our poodle. There are times when he knows what to do. I would take him out for a walk every morning, and we would not have any problems in the potty department. However, there are times when he would be so excited, it would take a long time for him to do his business. Naturally, I cannot stay out too long because I have to prepare for work. So, when I take him back in, what he would do is he would go potty upon going back inside. It is really very frustrating sometimes!
Does Tootsie have a particular place where she relieves herself? It might be worth it to head her off at the pass by putting some newspaper down in her usual spot- then you can put the paper outside to show her where it's supposed to go.
Does she usually go at a specific time of day? You might try writing down exactly when you feed her each day and what times she makes visits to the water bowl each day. It'd also be useful to note the times when she plays vigorously- I know that my dogs sometimes suddenly have to go after playing around for a while. Dogs are usually pretty regular if they're on a feeding schedule. If you can figure out what times of day she usually goes, you can bring her outside a little early and use the timing to your advantage.
Both of those tricks have worked for my dogs- I hope this helps!
The problem is not with her going in the house, it is just that she is smart enough to understand what Chipper is supposed to do, and can't relate it to herself. The best time is when I let them out in the back yard in the morning, and then she will run right out and go to the bathroom, and then I praise her and call her back inside so she knows that she did the right thing.
The problem with that is that my husband usually wakes up ahead of me, and he has already let both dogs outside, left them there for what he thinks is long enough, and then calls them back in.
During the day, I will let the dogs both outside, and then watch. Chipper hurries out to do his business and then stands there and looks at me like "Did you see, Mom; I did it !"
Tootsie just wanders around the yard , sniffs around, rolls in the grass; just about anything but what I want her to do.
But all that time, she is watching Chipper, and as soon as he is done, Tootsie runs for the house.
It is not a big thing; but I wish she would learn, too; and I know she is smart enough, she just can't figure it out.
