HOUSE TRAINING PROBLEMS
Hi, I am the mom of a beautiful ESS named Emma. She will be 1 on 9-22. We got her on Christmas Day from a breeder who didn't want her because she is missing a toe on her back foot. I wasn't really concerned about her breed, I just fell in love with her. The more I read about ESS's, the more I love them. My problem with Emma is, she can't seem to grasp housetraining. I have tried everything-crating her, walking her...treats, praise. She won't stay outside by herself, so I stay with her, but sometimes, she will actually come right beck in and poo on the floor! She isn't stupid-she knows each toy by name and color, can do anything else I have taught her. I almost ( just couldn't) gave her to a rescue as my home smells like a kennel. she stays home with the cat during the day, and get this-she NEVER goes while I am gone. What is up with this? Is she "mad" at me? Or am I doing something wrong? Someone once said that ESS's are a bit harder to housetrain, but golly! she doesn't do this all the time, now that she is almost 1, she is doing it less, maybe 2-3 x per week, and it is rarely peeing, always poo. Any suggestions? By the way, she is the sweetest animal I have ever met. So loving and always at my side. I understand they are all like this. If Icould get her fully trained, I would love to get a sibling to keep her company during the day...
Thanks, Linda
Re House training problems
I would suggest a thorough clean of carpets/flooring (by a professional or use of a Bissell - they are great). I would even go as far as suggesting replacing carpets as the smell can linger in the underlay too.
Without doing this it would be difficult to retrain where to go to the toilet.
She needs to go right back to basics with toilet training. The dog probably still goes inside because the 'scent' of 'toileting' is still there. Suggest that she take the dog outside/for a walk as soon as she gets home, just before diner, just after dinner, after exercise or excitement - generally this is when most need to 'go'. I would advise that she capture and 'names' the behaviour as the dog does it outside. So as soon as dog performs, name the behaviour 'poops' then praise like mad 
Kelly