Sophie's Haven 17,464 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 The side porch of our house where the dogs have an enclosure the hubby built them a set of steps and a deck area and continued on to build a fenched in dog run. The area is 12x24 feet covered with pea gravel. We have been taking the guys out to potty and letting them run the property, but with the coyotes being around at night and stray dogs roaming around it is hard to keep looking over your shoulder and keep an eye on the paws at the same time, This dog run has been a great thing for me.............Bailey took to it right away, then slowly over a week the rest of them got the hang of it.........except SOPHIE!!! She refuses to potty when she is in it. I have tried laying a towel, I even bought the grass box (she uses it as a dog bed) and I have walked her on a leash. I even praised the other guys with treats when they were done going potty, she just stands there. I waited her out one day for 3 hours......as soon as you place her over the fence she goes potty. She is the stubborn one of the crew. Any suggestions or is this a hopeless cause? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vicki 8,173 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 What a GREAT exercise area your Husband has made for your furbabies! Lucky You! Isn't it funny how there is always one that is so stubborn! Maybe Sophie doesn't realize what the new area is for. Since she will use a potty pad inside, maybe place one in the new outside area to give her a hint??? I hope for your sake she eventually figures it out! Vicki 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sophie's Haven 17,464 Posted August 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Vicki........I am sad to report that she does not use a potty pad.........she either holds it or will go into the bathroom and use my clean white throw rug.........and looks at me as to say WELL YOU DID NOT GET ME OUTSIDE FAST ENOUGH, SO DEAL WITH IT!! That was one reason for laying the towel down.......she is not getting the white throw rug!!! I really thought she would have to go really bad in the morning after not being out to potty since 9:30 in evening........but a NO go!! Just pure STUBBORNESS!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vicki 8,173 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 Hmmmmm, maybe sacrafice your white rug WITH the towel on it? Or, since the area is secure, just leave her out there until she goes. Let everyone else back in except her. Vicki 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sophie's Haven 17,464 Posted August 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 I have left her out for 3 hours by herself after she had not been to the potty for over 6 hours. I just now took them out and she just sits there on her behind. Everyone got praised for doing their duty and she just looks on. Bailey sits on the deck and waits for her, and he will go down and walk around her and sniff in her ear and then come back but on the deck and look at me.......IT'S A LOSS CAUSE, GIVE IT UP....WE WANT OUR TREATS!!!! She is a mess!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jo-Anne 6,610 Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 The only thing that I would suggest is catch her urine and poo put it where you want her to do potty and maybe she will follow. But that is what Vicky also suggested. Also I would say does she have a favourite toy? I know it sounds silly but that sometimes does the job too. Put it there for her to get her comfortable, and leave it there. I`ll be thinking about you two, hope you find a way, because my suggestions won`t be of much help I am afraid. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sophie's Haven 17,464 Posted August 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 One thing with Sophie is she leads a very simple life, she does not play with toys, has no favorite spot to lay in the house other than where ever she wants at the time. She is content to play with her sibblings and sleeps, eats and it has to be on a special dish and she does a very good job of being just plain old stubborn. She comes to us when she wants some loving, and she is a daddy's girl unless she is not feeling well or there is a thunderstorm and then she comes to me. Now that I have listed some of her attibutes let me tell what she did today. We were out in the yard this afternoon and she walked over into the flower garden to lay on the patio. At least that is where I thought she was.......she walked around to the back of the garden shed to where I keep my compost tumbler and she was having a ball rolling in the stink of the compost that leaked out onto the gravel. Now she won't potty on the gravel but she will roll on it to make a stinky mess of herself. Makes no sense. The hubby came around from the back of the shed her holding her out and with his nose up in the air and said she is going to have to have a bath she stinks to high heaven. And boy did she!!! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vicki 8,173 Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 You just gotta love them! So did your Hubby give Sophie her bath? Vicki 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jo-Anne 6,610 Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 They are so adorable aren`t they. Did Sophie like her bath? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sophie's Haven 17,464 Posted August 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 The answer to both questions is a big NO. The hubby give the guys a bath he cuts the toe nails that is his contribution to grooming, he probably would do a good job but cleaning up after him would not be worth it. This morning we sat outside with Sophie begging her to potty in the new paw run. I will continue to do this!! This is how we are now hopefully one day we will be That day can not come soon enough!!! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Curvygurl73 197 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 oh man!!! Freya and Sophie seemed cast from the same stubbornness mold!! whoooowee!! I don't have any great advice since I have my own little prissy monster! is there an extra special treat that she loves more than all others...? for my girl, its a local treat called Yummie Chummies....super stinky salmon treats!! I believe they have gone national now, so you should be able to get them anywhere. But those are her favs, and she will just about do anything for them! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vicki 8,173 Posted August 7, 2014 Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 The answer to both questions is a big NO. The hubby give the guys a bath he cuts the toe nails that is his contribution to grooming, he probably would do a good job but cleaning up after him would not be worth it. This morning we sat outside with Sophie begging her to potty in the new paw run. I will continue to do this!! This is how we are now hopefully one day we will be That day can not come soon enough!!! I figured as much and why I was ROFL. You're lucky he will even do the toe nails! In the past five years, my DH has only groomed (and that was just a slight brush out) one streak for 4 days in a row when I went to a four day dog show last year too far away to come home daily. I fully understand about the cleaning up after too (and that doesn't just pertain to dog grooming)! Vicki Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sophie's Haven 17,464 Posted October 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2014 (edited) Sophie Update: Just so you all know that nothing has changed since I first posted my problem on Aug. 1st. of this year. In all honesty I think I have the most and I say the most stubborn Shih Tzu that has been put on this earth. Our new potty area that the hubby built for the guys and what was to be a blessing for me to be able to just let them out to potty without a hassle has been a total nightmare. Every day it is COME ON GUYS......TIME TO POTTY.......GET GOING......POTTY......COME ON......POTTY. Everyone was doing really good except for Sophie who's name now is Ms. Mule Head........until this past week and one by one they looked at me as if to say NO WAY WE ARE NOT DOING THIS ANYMORE........so yesterday we layed down a indoor/outdoor grass pad to see if that would make a difference before we invest in astro terf...........all took to it after while........all but Sophie, excuse me Ms. Mule Head. Posting some pictures to give you all an idea........Bailey even has his own peeing post and tire. Ms. Mule Head still refuses to potty in the what we now call the HELL HOLE. Edited October 12, 2014 by Sophie's Haven 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marlen 5,860 Posted October 12, 2014 Report Share Posted October 12, 2014 Ummm, maybe she's thinking "Oh goodness, it's so beautiful out here, why potty and ruin it?" >_< I know, I know, it's not funny but... honestly, I don't know what's holding hr back from going potty there...As you said, stubborn they all are! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vicki 8,173 Posted October 12, 2014 Report Share Posted October 12, 2014 Very nice! Sure makes you wonder what goes through out furbabies minds. Maybe it's too nice? Ms Mule Head! I like that! Vicki 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sophie's Haven 17,464 Posted October 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2014 Just so you know Ms Mule Head was the nice version of what I really call her!!! I would be deleted from this site if I really told you what I do call her when she pulls her stubborn streak. Love them to death but she of all of them can push my buttons. The hubby put so much work into this project but I quess I should be grateful she is the only one that gets put over the fence at potty time. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Missysmom 24,975 Posted October 12, 2014 Report Share Posted October 12, 2014 OMG this is soo funny, you have me laughing so hard I'm crying! I know it's not really funny, but it reminds me so much of what we are going through with Missy. We've bought her the grass box, the potty pad holder, made her an area, etc and she walks right past them all and goes on the doormat.. Then she can't figure out how to get back in the house without walking through it.. :/ Guess maybe my tears aren't from laughing but the reality this may never end?!?! AHhhh! ;) 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Annabellerose 664 Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 That really is a lovely area...to go potty! I wouldn't mind that as my back yard! Good job by your DH :-) 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vicki 8,173 Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 What does Ms Mule Head (or whatever you're calling her today) do when you just leave her out and don't put her over the fence? Could this be just one of those moments it's time for tuff love? Tuff love usually backfires on me though. Vicki Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sophie's Haven 17,464 Posted October 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 Well it is like this..............the longest wait time was 3 hours........but once over the fence..........Ms Mule Head squats and PEES!!!!!!!! My Tuff Love on her has backfired big time.........I even had the hubby sit with her and he be the one that puts her over the fence when he got tired of waiting on her, so then she would look at me and think if pappy is gone I am DOOMED........Did not work. We had rain this morning and she could care less.........OVER THE FENCE OR NO DEAL. That is my SOPHIE!!!!! 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Curvygurl73 197 Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Do you crate them at all? Maybe crating her until she finally goes in the fenced area. Freya (Sophie's kindred spirit) had a terrible time with transitioning to the covered dog run for winter (it is cement blocks for the floor with a large woodchip area at one end). She would stand and stand and glare and glare....but wouldn't go!!! Even first thing in the morning. But, walk her onto the grass...and tada! instanta-pee! Little #%&*@$!!! So, one Saturday...i waited her out. We woke and went to the covered area, she refused and was put back into her crate. Tried again every 30 minutes for 8 HOURS!!!! That means she held her pee (and poo) for almost 18 hours (from bedtime till almost 5pm the next day)!!! And was crated that long too!! SHE IS SUCH A BRAT!!!! I felt like the meanest mom in the world crating her that long, and I had to remind myself all that day that she was making a choice!!! She knows "go potty" as her command, so knew what was expected and was refusing to do it. It was a complete face off and I knew that I had to win because I'm just not going to stand in a blizzard to have her go potty for the next 8 months!! And honestly, she doesn't realize it yet as this will be her first winter...but she isn't going to want to do that either!! No way she would be able to tromp through 20 inches of new snow that can often come overnight up here!! Since then, she goes potty in the covered dog run!!! It was painful, but perhaps if you crate, then trying something like this....? I don't know....I hope ya'll don't think terrible of me for doing this process...I still cringe as I type this, but I didn't see another way to "win" with my very own Ms. Mule Head. And up here, it was a necessity. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sophie's Haven 17,464 Posted October 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2014 The crate suggestion sounds like a great idea but......Sophie is 6 years old and has not been in a crate since the day that I purchased her.....at 3 months old. She has had the freedom of going potty where she prefers to plus I don't think she would put two and two together at this point in her life. She is the big sister of the guys and I know for a fact that Winnie and Bailey would not aprove of her being locked up. They would drive me crazy with their carrying on. Sophie can go outside on the porch by herself as she does not go up down the steps, Bailey will stand watch by the door and when she comes back and sits on the matt he will let out a little bark to let me know she wants back in. Winnie has to be where ever Sophie is, and if Sophie is in the crate Winnie would be scratching at the door to get in with her. I think it is great that the crate idea worked for you...... Sophie, Ms Mule Head is the winner of this issue and will go over the fence, she has to wait until everyone else is done with there business .....I am thinking maybe watching everybody else do there thing she will break down and give in........I can only hope. Thanks for the suggestion!! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GMA 981 Posted October 24, 2014 Report Share Posted October 24, 2014 Even though she is older, it is never too late to start training 101. She will get the message even at this age. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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