Q: I have a house training problem. My 2 year old, spayed female Cocker Spaniel won't go to the bathroom outside. She uses the carpet and has since I got her 1 1/2 years ago. I've given up. I used to take her outside at regular times (first thing in the morning, after eating, in the evening, before going to bed) but she just stands there, looking around at everything with great interest until either I have to go to the bathroom myself or have to go to work.

I tried newspapers and wee wee pads, but she tore them to shreds as soon as they hit the floor. If she starts to go and I interrupt her and take her outside, she doesn't start again, she just waits with me, legs crossed. I didn't hear about crate training until just recently and I have serious doubts about whether I can do it. I work and feel guilty enough as it is leaving her alone during the day. If I had her in a crate while I was at home, I know I'd let her out with the first whimper. Any suggestions? I've called a couple of trainers, but they don't think this is something they can help with.

A: I can understand why the trainers are reluctant to take on the case, because you've kind of given up! What you might try at this point is confining her to a fairly small room, with the entire floor covered with newspapers. She's older now, and may not chew them, especially if you provide her with tastier things to chew. When she starts relieving herself on the papers, you may be able to work this into paper training.

Four times a day probably wasn't often enough for her to relieve herself. Paper training might be an answer that both you and she could live with. At least it might get you both started in a good direction.

When you want to have her out of her training area to interact with her, you might put a diaper on her during that time. Don't leave a soiled diaper on, or even a clean one for too long at a time, because it could breed vaginal or urinary tract infection. Hopefully it wouldn't take long of using the confinement area until she'd decide the papers were a good place to relieve herself.

The carpet needs to be treated with a bacterial enzyme odor eliminator such as Nature's Miracle. If you have not been doing this, the carpet smells to her like a proper dog bathroom. That stimulates her instincts to keep returning to use it again.

I hope this helps. You may also find a local trainer who is willing and able to help you sort it out, if you keep checking around. It does sound like the trainers you have talked to are at least honest, though, not just taking your money when they don't think they can help. Once you have her paper-trained, they may see more promise!