The Drama of Housebreaking

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12.27.12I’m not sure why I’mblogging about our housebreaking drama. I guess I wish I had an adult doghousebreaking support group, and this is the next best thing.We had a setbacktonight. Jesse peed in the house again. I was furious with him, and he knew it,although I didn’t yell at him. I stormed and stomped around-the opposite of theneutral tone the articles instruct one to take. Now, Jesse seems afraid of meand is staying in his crate.
I’m trying to piecetogether what went wrong.
1.  I was at the coop and missed the 5pmwalk. Things always go wrong when I miss a walk. Jonathan covered me with twowalks. Possible confusion for Jesse?2.  I noticed Jesse was drinking more waterthan normal. He hadn’t eaten any food all day, but did once I got home. When hefinished the water in his bowl, he went for the toilet- a first to myknowledge. I refilled his bowl. I should have made note.3.  I was eating dinner later than normal andwatching TV. I checked on him just before the bedtime walk time and said, “15minutes, guy. Okay?” Not okay. I should have walked him.4.  Suddenly, I saw him trotting through thehouse, hitting all of the downstairs rooms. I should have stopped eating andtaken him out.5.  He trotted into the hallway and peed onthe rug-same spot as Xmas eve-exactly what the articles say a dog will do. 6.  I showed anger as I put the leash on anddragged Jesse outside. It was too late. After the too-late walk, I knockedstuff over, including water, and made huge messes that dripped into thebasement. The whole accident snowballed into an even bigger mess.

What did I learn?·     I SHOULD have bought the Nature’sMiracle. ·     I should have cleaned the rug better. ·     I should have had newspapers down in thekitchen. ·     I should not have given Jesse access tothe whole house-yet.·     I need to buy baby gates to block off thekitchen.·     I have ordered a new, smaller crate,although the crate has not been the problem right now. It’s just too big forour kitchen.
They say when a dog is accident-free for 6weeks, he’s housebroken. That’s 42 days. We’re back to day 1.