Doggy ladies

mejane123

I read a post on here a few days ago about a girl who's getting rid of her dog because she chewed her shoes, and from the responses she got, it seems a lot of you ladies have dogs that you've trained.  So, I have a training question.  

What's the best way to housetrain a dog that's already housetrained?  I know, weird, but my dog, who is extremely obedient, has recently started going to the bathroom in the house again.  It's always when we're either not here or sleeping, and even if we take him out and make sure he goes before he's left alone, he still does it, almost like he's marking or something.  He did this a little bit when we first brought him home from the shelter 2 years ago, but I think that was more him marking his territory because it stopped pretty quickly.  

Any ideas?  If there's a better place for this, feel free to let me know, I just know this board gets a lot of traffic which is why I'm posting here.

katiewhompus

My first suggestion is to make sure that you are fully cleaning the areas where he is having accidents fully and with a stain and odor remover type cleaner. I highly recommend Nature's Miracle or Simple Solutions. This way the dog won't think it's supposed to go there.

Take him out frequently and give tons of praise for going outside. If you need to consider crating him or confining him to a non-enticing pee area while you are away or asleep.

Have you ruled out health issues? If he has an infection it could cause him to need to go while you are asleep or not be able to hold his bladder as well as before.

[Deleted User]

I cannot stand the phrase "getting rid of" in reference to a pet.

crash2729

There is a pets board on TN. But I think the post is fine here, you can ask over there if yuo want some other opinions as well.

It sounds to me like it's maybe a seperation thing, seeing as how he won't do it when you're at home. 
Have you guys moved recently? Is there any changes that would be causing him stress right now?

I KNOW how inhumane this is but maybe crating him while you are gone or sleeping.

emilyinchile

How is crating inhumane? We don't do it, but I've heard great things about it from friends and professional dog trainers, and considering how much Lola loves being cozied in small places, I think she'd be very happy to have a "house." They don't know it's a cage and that cages have some negative connotations, they think it's a den.

OP, I'd probably check with the vet first and then try crating.

crash2729

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_doggy-ladies?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0136d756-e745-46af-bb6c-affd5bce3e11Post:cd245068-2c9f-41ac-86ab-782759d9177b">Re: Doggy ladies</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>How is crating inhumane?</strong> We don't do it, but I've heard great things about it from friends and professional dog trainers, and considering how much Lola loves being cozied in small places, I think she'd be very happy to have a "house." They don't know it's a cage and that cages have some negative connotations, they think it's a den. OP, I'd probably check with the vet first and then try crating.
Posted by emilyinchile[/QUOTE]

Sarcasm font. :)

From when wiwicat or whatever burst into the threat about staciepoop getting rid of her dog with "ZOMG, CRATING IS SO INHUMANE! How would you like to be put in a cage" and other bs like that.

Brandiewine11

, 1) make sure you clean it up really well, 2) get him checked out at the vet to rule out any infections, 3) make sure you leave plenty of toys, etc so he's not bored.

 If its really not a medical issue, you can consider crate training to get rid of the problem (fyi, crating is not inhumane at all. Dogs are den animals and they feel safe there if you do it correctly, not as punishment). Also, do you leave lots of water accessible? Obviously he should have some, but try leaving ice cubes instead of a bowl of water so he gets it gradually and not all at once. Keep taking him out often. If you feel like it's more separation anxiety, try leaving some items with your scent with him (an old t-shirt, etc) that you don't care if they get destroyed. Sounds crazy, but it works.

mejane123

Katie - we've been cleaning the area as best we can, but the floors are over 80 years old and the finish on the wood is practically gone, so it's seeping in pretty far.  We're still trying to figure out what will work best.  It's been in the same spot, so I'm sure you're right and he's smelling it.  

As for praise, we do that often.  He gets lots of outside time, especially on nice days (he likes to sun bathe), he goes out twice in the morning before we leave for work, the last time is around 7:30, and then again as soon as we get home, around 3 or so, and every few hours until we go to bed.  And he's really good about "letting us know" if he needs to go out (basically he stands at the door at looks at it, then us, then at it again).  

Crating is certainly an option, I'm just always so scared that something is going to happen an he won't be able to get out.  Probably silly, but he's like our child and we're both huge worriers when it comes to him.  

He was doing this for about a week, every night/day, then it stopped for about 2 weeks, then the last two days he's been doing it again.  I have a feeling we'll be calling the vet in the next couple of days. 

Dafodil, I didn't mean it offensively, and I completely agree with you.  That was just the general attitude she had, as though her dog were some accessory she didn't find appealing anymore.

emilyinchile

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_doggy-ladies?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0136d756-e745-46af-bb6c-affd5bce3e11Post:4e2c2d56-dbef-4eb0-9a3f-5efbbeb8f1ce">Re: Doggy ladies</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Doggy ladies : Sarcasm font. :) From when wiwicat or whatever burst into the threat about staciepoop getting rid of her dog with "ZOMG, CRATING IS SO INHUMANE! How would you like to be put in a cage" and other bs like that.
Posted by crash2729[/QUOTE]

Oh thank god. I didn't get the sarcasm and thought that you really were saying that it's so awful but sometimes necessary. Nevermind me...

crash2729

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_doggy-ladies?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0136d756-e745-46af-bb6c-affd5bce3e11Post:66de284d-b9ce-41b3-bb2f-cc9831317d72">Re: Doggy ladies</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Doggy ladies : Oh thank god. I didn't get the sarcasm and thought that you really were saying that it's so awful but sometimes necessary. Nevermind me...
Posted by emilyinchile[/QUOTE]

It's okay. Some times I miss the sarcasm fonts too.
I don't mind. lol

Brandiewine11

I know what you mean about the floors being hard to clean - we have the same kind of wood floors. If It's the same place, and its not a medical issue, find something to put on the spot when you leave him that he can't stand on. (Box, chair, etc)

katiewhompus

Oh boo, the wood floors definitely make it tougher. I guess for a quick fix you could toss a pee pad over it. You could also try putting something down there that you don't mind the dog peeing on (by accident). I know with Katie she will not pee on "something" so we could just cover her accidents with paper towel and it would keep her from peeing there again.

Erica1011

Have there been any changes in your house lately?  Dogs will sometimes revert back to "puppy behavior" like chewing things and going to the bathroom in the house if they are stressed out for some reason.

I agree with the PP, if there haven't been any changes in you house, contact the vet. 
It seems bizarre that a dog with start going the bathroom in the house without a physical or emotional stressor.

However, if that is the case... Def crate him/her.  I never used to use it as punishment, just as a training tool.  And also as a reassurance that my little guy was safe when I wasn't around.  I'm a huge fan.  I would also give him a treat when he went in to try to associate the crate with a prize, instead of any negative feelings. 

Good Luck!!

mejane123

I know some people who feel crating is inhumane, but more often than not, they've never had a dog and are basing theire opinion on how they would feel crated up all day, not taking into consideration the whole different species aspect.  My parents have a dog that practically lives in his crate because he likes it, not because he's forced to.  He just likes being in there.  

Crash, we haven't moved lately and nothing has changed, which is why this is so weird.  The first day he did it, he hadn't gone to the bathroom before we left for work.  We took him out to all of his spots, but he didn't go, so we just assumed when we got home and he'd gone in the house, it was because he hadn't gone since the night before.  

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_doggy-ladies?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0136d756-e745-46af-bb6c-affd5bce3e11Post:d2b7adf2-60c2-405f-9590-060f38eba3bb">Re: Doggy ladies</a>:
[QUOTE]Dafodil, I didn't mean it offensively, and I completely agree with you.  That was just the general attitude she had, as though her dog were some accessory she didn't find appealing anymore.
Posted by mejane123[/QUOTE]
Just a general statement. It makes me cringe every time.

Ruf loved his crate. We had to take it away because we couldn't get him to come out and spend time with us.

AutumnFair

If your dog has just started doing this out of know where the first things to think are:

1. Health. Urine or other type of abdominal infections that the dog is urinating more frequently. Also age (though I don't think your dog is old enough). But older dogs (kind of like people) don't have the bladder control like they use to.

2. Something new has entered the house that is bothering him. This could be new clothes, plants, furniture, anything recent that has been brought into your home has now put him in the mode to cover up the scent by him peeing everywhere.

3. Stress. If you or your FI have new job hours, or are leaving more frequently, or there is just more commotion in the house, that can really stress out pets (more cats, than dogs) in which they need to relieve themselves. 

Those are the main 3, if you can't think of anything new or causing stress then health is the last thing to check on. If none of them seem right the best thing to do is either exercising the dog more, more walks, and if it is a night problem put up his water no later than 9. 

laurenclaire1386

Re: crating. We only crate trained one of our dogs but HE LOVES IT. We did it initially as a way to keep him from destroying the house or hurting himself while we were gone when he was a puppy. He just randomly hangs out in there now, whenever he feels like it. We hardly latch it anymore. He won't sleep anywhere but the crate.

mejane123

Brandywine, what do you use to clean your floors?  All of the wood floor cleaner I can find is for finished hardwood, but ours is almost unfinished pine, which is soft.  I'm sure if we could get it completely clean, that would help.

mica178

My first thought was bladder infection (consider visiting the vet to make sure).  My second thought was some new doggie anxiety over some sort of change.  I agree with crate training if you can.  My dog freaks out at being in a crate (I have no idea how we're going to get her to Florida without one, though), but I created a "Berkeley den" for her in a corner of the living room between a coffee table, sofa and wall, filled with pillows and blankets.  If she acts up, we tell her to go to her bed, and she goes there to calm down.  It works like a charm.

laurenclaire1386

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_doggy-ladies?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0136d756-e745-46af-bb6c-affd5bce3e11Post:d7c42eb6-b7ea-4f9e-9f24-b652f4d06e2a">Re: Doggy ladies</a>:
[QUOTE]Brandywine, what do you use to clean your floors?  All of the wood floor cleaner I can find is for finished hardwood, but ours is almost unfinished pine, which is soft.  I'm sure if we could get it completely clean, that would help.
Posted by mejane123[/QUOTE]
I haven't read the label on the stuff to know if it's ok for unfinished floors, but I have old hardwood (finished) in my house and I use Murphey's Oil Soap.

mejane123

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_doggy-ladies?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0136d756-e745-46af-bb6c-affd5bce3e11Post:e4bd813f-3770-4600-a410-3503c11e8c2b">Re: Doggy ladies</a>:
[QUOTE]Re: crating. We only crate trained one of our dogs but HE LOVES IT. We did it initially as a way to keep him from destroying the house or hurting himself while we were gone when he was a puppy. He just randomly hangs out in there now, whenever he feels like it. We hardly latch it anymore. He won't sleep anywhere but the crate.
Posted by laurenclaire1386[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>We crated him at first because we wanted him to get used to the house when we were around at first.  That lasted about a week, though, because he didn't show any destructive behavior and it didn't really seem necessary.  Every so often we'll find a stray shoe, glove, tape measure, whatever, in his bed with him, but I think that's more of a separation thing.  He just picks up whatever has our smell on it and brings it to bed with him.  It's pretty adorable, to be honest.</div>

Brandiewine11

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_doggy-ladies?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:0136d756-e745-46af-bb6c-affd5bce3e11Post:d7c42eb6-b7ea-4f9e-9f24-b652f4d06e2a">Re: Doggy ladies</a>:
[QUOTE]Brandywine, what do you use to clean your floors?  All of the wood floor cleaner I can find is for finished hardwood, but ours is almost unfinished pine, which is soft.  I'm sure if we could get it completely clean, that would help.
Posted by mejane123[/QUOTE]

<div>I have a couple of different items, as I have cats and the dog, but, Natures Miracle works, or this:</div><div>
</div><div><a href="http://www.petco.com/product/102476/CLEAN--green-Wood-And-Tile-Cleaner-Odor-Eliminator-And-Stain-Remover.aspx?CoreCat=MM_DogSupplies_StainOdorControl">http://www.petco.com/product/102476/CLEAN--green-Wood-And-Tile-Cleaner-Odor-Eliminator-And-Stain-Remover.aspx?CoreCat=MM_DogSupplies_StainOdorControl</a></div><div>
</div><div>I've never had an issue with either staining the floor. I let them sit for a while to penetrate the floor before cleaning up. Obviously try it on a small area first, but hopefully it works for you!</div>

Beachy730

I ditto ruling out any medical issues, but then definitely recommend crating him again.

Our dog is fully trained, but about a year and a half ago he started pooping in the house again.  He is able to (and sometimes chooses to) hold it for over 12 hours at a time, so we knew it was most likely him being a brat.  He had a regular vet appt scheduled, so we talked to her and she confirmed what we figured, and told us to crate him again when we left.  So we did, and he stopped doing it. 

He has worked his way back to being uncrated again when we leave.  He has had accidents twice when we moved here.  But both times he had eaten something different the night before (wet dog food), and I think it was completely due to that.  

ETA: Our dog loves his crate.  We have it in our bedroom, and just always leave the door open to it for him.  Most nights he chooses to sleep in there instead of in the bed with us.  

marinabreeze

Ditto PPs on many of the possible issues that might be causing the issue. 

Also, have you changed your dog's diet recently?  I had a similar issue with my dog.  I had been feeding him mostly dry dog food with some wet occasionally mixed in, and they were pretty cheap foods (store-brand food).  That's what I fed him because he was originally the family dog and he was almost always fed off-brand food since he was a puppy.  He would prefer people food to his own food, but I thought that was natural for a dog (he's the first dog I've ever taken care of solo).

When he moved in with me, he would occasionally have an accident, and I thought it was either separation anxiety or marking a new space, but it got worse last year.  It was to where he had to sleep in the room with me with the door closed because he would go out and have an accident in my living room or foyer in the middle of the night.  He didn't seem like he was in distress.  I assumed it was because I hadn't cleaned marked spaces thoroughly enough (my apartment is carpeted).  And the vet said he was healthy.

Anyway, I decided to change his dog food to Pet Pride natural dry dog food.  I had briefly had him on a different natural dog brand and he liked it (but it got discontinued), so I saw it at the store and thought I'd try it out on him.  It's a little more expensive than the store brand, though still very reasonable compared to most name brands, and it's so worth it.  He gets excited at mealtimes and he always cleans his bowl, so I don't have to supplement his meals with people food. 

But most relevant to your situation, my dog no longer has accidents.  He hasn't had one since I changed his food, and that was a few months ago.  So if in your case there was a food change, maybe your dog is having issues tolerating it and it might be worth upgrading to something else.

mejane123

Marina - we did have similar issues with our guy getting sick that we remedied by switching his food.  We'd started him on Nutro because that's what the shelter fed their dogs and we didn't want to disrupt that.  But after a little while he started doing this thing where he would obsessively lick the floor for a good half hour before finally getting sick.  We switched him to Blue Buffalo organic food and he seems to be a lot healthier.  

I was joking to FI that he might be sleep-peeing or something, because this is just so out of character for him. We're going to keep an eye on him for the next day or two and see how it goes and if he's still doing it we'll make a vet appt. Thanks for all the help, ladies!

KellyBrian2013

Ditto PP's... so nice to see dog saavy people!

I really have nothing to add, other than to say you've been given great advice. Absolutely rule out a medical reason before all else (we have a rescue who regularly was peeing in the house because she had recuring urinary tract infections, which are now under control)...

And when in doubt: "supervision or confinement". If you can't be there to observe (and you said the dog is not doing it while you are around), confine him. That means reverting to crating again or confining in a small area, such as a kitchen or bathroom (where cleanup would be easy should he have an accident).

Good luck!