Desperate for Any Advice

I don't know how you're doing financially, but you might want to try a session or two with a trainer. At the very least they can show you how to properly train the dogs not to do that anymore.

They are probably marking the area to protect your daughter from other animals. Not that there are any, but as a way to protect her.
You should talk to your vet. about it.
For the smell and to help detract them from that area, clean the area with a mixture of vinegar and water. It will help take the smell out and make them not want to go there. Their noses are so sensitive and they won't like the smell of it.
Good luck

Tell your husband he is going to have to get used to the gate anyway as your daughter will be mobile and this will be good practice for him!! Also you can look into an easier gate to open or if you have a landing at the top, place it a little in, not right at the top of the stairs so you don't have to open coming up the stairs.

Good luck!

yOU DON'T NEED TO GIVE THE DOGS AWAY, BUT REALLY GOLDEN RETREIVERS, BELONG IN A PATIO, NOT INSIDE YOUR HOUSE, THEY ARE WAY TO BIG FOR INSIDE, INVEST ON ANY KIND OF COMFORT FOR THEM FOR THE PATIO, A SHELTERED KENNEL OR DIVIDE THE PATIO, ONE SIDE FOR YOU AND THE OTHER FOR THEM. I KNOW HOW MUCH ONE GETS TO LOVE OUR PETS, THEY ARE LIKE FAMILY, BUT YOU MUST DRAW THE LINE SOMEWHERE!!!!!

Jennifer,

I don't have any experience with dogs, but I totally understand about the gate. We have a swinging gate on a hinge. They even make some that you can step on a pedal to open, so no hands are required. It just opens like a door. Maybe if you install one of those, your husband will be less inclined to tear it down. ;)

Good luck!

-T.

This may be a behavioral problem being in a new place. (Maybe a delayed reaction. I would definately clean it very well maybe even rent a steam cleaner. I would talk to your Vet and maybe even have them checked for intestinal parasites. If it is behavioral there are meds the vet may be able to put them on. Dont give up on them. I would definately keep them out of the area. If you need a vet in the area, I suggest Dr. Bauman at Village Animal. ###-###-####.

I had the same problem for a few weeks with my dog. The problem is they're doing it for 1 main reason. Your daughter. They are jealous and need to learn how to cope with having a baby. When you are with your daughter do you shoo them away? Try to bring them into some of the activities you do like changing and feeding her. Talk to them and Her. LEt them know you still love them. It worked with mine. Now my son is almost 2 and our dog is his best friend

Hi , Jennifer ...
You need to buy dog crates for both of them that are JUST big enough for them to sleep in. When it's time to let them out , take them outside immediately ... if they don't poo and pee outside , they must go right back inside their crates. This teaches them that they do not poo and pee in your space , and eventually , they'll get it.
Dogs can also smell when babies poop , and sometimes it triggers them to go. I suggest a good steam cleaning of the affected room(s) along with the crates. I tell you , they are a must ... it was the *only* thing that worked with our dog.
Hope this helped ...
~ A.

One thing is a spray called Nature's Miracle which usually works. After cleaning the area well, spray it on. The other reason for dogs to do this is the attention being give to the child, I have 2 dogs and their behavior changed after she was born. Not right away but if we shut the door on both of them the bigger dog goes to her room finds stuffed animal and tears it apart. The other thing is your husband sticking to keeping that gate up, maybe putting note where his hand would go to take it out saying put it back to remind him. Like kids sticking to a routine with dogs helps. If you haven't watched the Dog Whisper on National Geographic channel, it's time you do. He also has a website that might help: http://www9.nationalgeographic.com/channel/dogwhisperer/
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/

Hi! I am sorry for the trouble, I had trouble with my dog marking his territory on my curtins for a while. I went to my local vets office with my concern (I had to wash them every few days!) and they gave me this spray that gets rid of the 3 things that stay where an animal goes to the bathroom even if you clean it. It has worked so far. It is exprensive kinda, but I found it to be worth it.

It sounds like their are marking their territory, maybe to protect your baby. One of my old dogs used to do the same thing in front of my baby brothers room when we were little, and he was very protective of him. Sorry for you. Maybe your husband will stop taking the gate down if he has to clean up the mess more often :)

They make kiddie gate that you step on the pedal and push with your knee and they open right up. No hands required. Your husband will see how easy it is and you will never need to take it down. Move the gate to the bottom of the steps and the dogs can't even go up the stairs.
We have 4 large dogs and my son absolutely loves them and they love him. It is such a wonderful experience for children to grow up with animals - don't take that away from her. Your daughter will grow up to be a better person from having lived with animals.

Try Oxiclean. It works great. You will never know that the dogs pooped there. Tell your husband to get over the gate issue real fast!! I sit our gate at the stairs and that works fine. Even my 2 year old can move it to the side to get by. Try actually walking the dogs. I would set a schedule for this. We walk your 2 dogs every morning and again at about 6-7 pm. They sometimes poop in the house, but only once in a great while. I never let my dogs go upstairs. I need to have some dog free space. My dogs shed. Also, I recently switched to food by Merrick. I get it at Pet Supermarket. Since I switched, they shed less and poop at both walkings. Before they would only poop once and that is when they pooped in the house.

I hope this helps!!

Hi Jennifer ~ club soda works great on odors. Just spray (use a spray bottle) or pour (in your case since it's probably a lot of stains). Use a brand new sponge and rub & dab. Once the stain dissapears, vacuum and let dry. You shouldn't see or smell any odors afterwards or until they poop (lol) again. Years ago before hubby #2, I had a cat wonder on my doorstep and took her in since she looked so skinny. Found out a couple weeks later, she was actually preggo and she ended up having 3 kittens behind my waterbed headboard. We couldn't get back there for 2 years and when we took the bed apart, there was much blood on the wall and carpet. Realize it was over 2 years since she had the babies and that stain was really set in. A friend turned me on to the club soda thing and can you believe it all came out, blood and smell. I'm a firm believer in club soda and don't use any of the products on the market. They either leave a worse smell or stain than we started with. I hope this helps. Please let me know if it does or doesn't. B.

hello, could they be doing it out of spite for the move? my older cat did that once. i was a manager at pet supermarket and i always recommended getting a crate for a little bit and when they do that, take them outside with the zip lock of poop then put them in the crate for a little bit of time.

you could try vinager and water on the spot. soak it for a bit and then dab it up. it might take a couple of times but it worked for cat spray.
good luck

Have you tried having the carpets cleaned professionally? The company I use CSS will spray your carpets with enzymes that pull out the odor completely...My dog made a huge mess on one of our rugs and the same day my 22 month old threw up ALL OVER his bedroom and rocking chair...it worked GREAT!! Best Wishes.