Walk him on a leash in your back yard. I know that you have a doggy door - but I would walk Scooby around the yard on a leash and let him - or make sure - he marks his new territory. Praise him every time he lifts his leg! Let him pee until there is no more - which may take a while. That's why the leash is good - walk him a good long time. This way he is marking where he should pee and should go back to those same places each day.

Keep a set routine for his walks. Try to walk him the same time every day. You want this to be every few hours in the beginning - but you should be able to gradually move to just 2-3 times a day. This lets him know that THIS is when he should go to bathroom. Let him still go in and out the doggy door when he wants to - but walking him in a routine will let him know he supposed to use the bathroom outside.

Feed him once a day. The poop issue should be easily controlled by only feeding him once a day. Also feed him a low-waste food such as Science Diet or Nutro. If you feed him at night he should poop about an hour afterwards and then again in the morning. Twice a day should be it unless he is sick. I know Scooby was not on food that agreed with him - the bad gas - so this may take a week or more. Also he should eat no more than 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups of dry food a day.

Crate him when you cannot watch him closely. The good thing about the diapers is it lets you not worry about what he is doing - the problem is that wearing the diaper is not a deterrent for him marking. You still need to catch him in the act and scold him when he tries to pee in the house. If you catch him in the act scold him or squirt him with the water bottle - then immediately take him outside - just leave the diaper on him. Praise him if he then goes outside.

Crate train him. Diane said that he was not familar with the crate and may not be crate trained. He is old enough that this should be very simple to do. Dogs will almost never go to the bathroom in their crate. If he is peeing in the crate make sure that there is nothing in there with him - no blanket or towel that he can pee on and then move to one end of the crate. Just leave it bare until he figures it out. If he can go all night without going to the bathroom in the crate - he can be housetrained! Crate him during the day whenever he is alone but also to nap. I work out of my home and mine still "nap" during the day in the crate or when I am cleaning house. Spening time during the day in the crate is good for them and he is learning control. Walk him immediately when you let him out of the crate.

Notice where in the house he tries to pee and clean with an enzyme cleaner. If he lifts his leg on something he may be doing it because Maestro or Buddy peed there once. Make sure those areas are cleaned good with an enzyme cleaner and if that doesn't stop him from trying to mark that spot - buy some "Bitter Apple" spray and spray that area every few days until you notice that he no longer goes there.

I hope these tips are helpful. Keep in mind that once Scooby is neutered it will still take a while for the hormones to leave his body. So his behavior may not change overnight. Keep me posted on his progress or any particular problems that you are having with him. Thanks for being so good to him and for helping him to become adoptable!

Pam Hayes
Alabama Boston Terrier Rescue
Birmingham, AL