Housebreaking turned optional?

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Miss Molly has suddenly decided that housebreaking has become optional. She'll just go from playing to peeing in half a second, no sniffing, no signals...she's almost a year old. She knows to go outside, I keep her tethered most of the time when she's with me or I keep the patio door open so she can just go out there, which she's usually pretty good at. But tonight, we just came in the apartment from doing some training and while I set my keys down, she just nonchalantly squatted and peed right next to me!! And it's peeing, not dribbling, not submissive urination...

We've had her checked for a UTI this week already, which came back clear, she goes out every couple of hours anyway and we make sure she pees outside and praise her for it, etc, all the normal stuff. But in the past couple weeks it's like she's suddenly decided that holding it is optional. She's crate-trained and keeps a clean crate during the day. Does this sound like an incontinence issue? Should we ask the vet about Proin? Or is it still a training issue? She doesn't have an issue going outside, she loves the cold...it's just like she quit caring.

 

[blue]

Whats Proin?

I had that issue with Verde, she still isnt 100%. Its the reason theyre getting boarded rather than going with me to my parents.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Oh good your dogs are rubbing off on mine Ewwww

Really, I'm having a Smudge issue too.. I've cut access to places down for him. He's also uti clean.. and seems to just nonchalantly do it.

3 weeks ago we had 2 living room poops. So it's gated off for both dogs. I was watching him closer, no issues. 2 weeks ago pee in the family room while I was watching him. I don't think he really squatted.. Last night making dinner on the floor beside the stove while I cooked. Tonight in the family room with me.

So I'm leashing him to me I suppose and going to crate him more. He's peeing at regular intervals and decent quantity. Just seems he doesn't fully get how to ask to go out (we're working on it still).. and it's nice to not have to hold it.. So let it go..

 

[emc]

Do you guys do anything when you catch your dogs in the act? It's seems that they need to be made to understand doing their business in the house is not acceptable.

 

[Zoom]

Oh she knows...I go "MOLLY!" clap my hands and hustle her out the patio door. Then she stands there like "ok, that was wierd, what?" She gets left outside for at least 10 minutes while the mess is cleaned up and tempers cool. Yet it still doesn't seem to make a difference. She just peed up in her house not 20 minutes ago, again, just walked over to a spot not 3 feet away and squatted. Apparently she peed and pooped this morning. I hate to make her spend more time in her crate, but she's proving that even a studio apartment is too much freedom for her. Now we'll have to listen to her holler and carry on because people are in the room and she's crated.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

If I catch him, tonight's I didn't I startle him with his name pick him up and take him out the back door. He finishes peeing. He's known since he got here you go outside actually.. He just doesn't seem to ask to go out, and doesn't care to hold it the 2-3 hours some evenings and just lets it go.

 

[IliamnasQuest]

It's always so frustrating when a dog that seems to be doing really well in the housebreaking suddenly "forgets" where they're supposed to potty. I had some of that happen with Tazer - who is only six months but was doing pretty well - when it first snowed. We would go out and she'd start eating snow and then she'd need to pee as soon as we came in, but I would be thinking "we just came in" and she'd end up peeing inside. Now I know that I have to run her back outside for a quick pee (hopefully in a place without much snow! *L*) not too long after coming in.

The first thing I always think of when a dog suddenly starts to pee in the house is the UTI. Even if they've been checked, if the behavior continues (especially if they're willing to pee right there in front of you) it wouldn't hurt to run in another urine sample a week or so after the first one. Sometimes the infection doesn't show up right away.

I wouldn't think it would be a hormonally-induced incontinence problem in a young dog, but that's certainly possible. Usually that doesn't show up until a dog is older (if it happens at all - none of my girls have ever had it).

I always wonder, when it's a young dog going through the transition to adult, if it's part of their testing of the boundaries. It may be that increasing the rules and being a bit more strict with them will stop the behavior. I have no problems in using a corrective voice/action when I catch my dog peeing inside. I don't smack the dog, but I'll jump up and say "WHAT ARE YOU DOING???" while clapping my hands and running toward them. There's NO doubt that I'm not pleased with what they're doing .. *L* .. I wouldn't do this with a dog that is peeing submissively, but if it's a normal dog that just decides to pee in the house, I'm going to let them know that it's NOT acceptable. And they'll be on restriction for awhile - no freedom until they think the house is a pee-free zone again.

Sometimes, like in all training, we have to take a step backward and do a short bit of re-training when the dog plateaus. So treating the dog like a puppy again for a bit may help them understand that the outdoors is the only acceptable place. That means back to not allowing them to wander around the house unless it's right after they've peed outside and only when you can watch them 100%. It's no fun to have to take a step backwards but it usually doesn't take long for the dog to remember the training and to go back into the proper habits.

Melanie and the gang in Alaska

 

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She was put on a round of antibiotics just to make sure...the vet said her urine was pretty dilute though?

Does the fact that even as she's being dragged or carried outside, she's STILL peeing mean anything special? Or just that she figures "I'm already going, no reason to stop now..."

This dog is sooooo frustrating...we're FINALLY making noticable progress on her leash walking skills and it seems like she has some internal behavior balance she needs to keep. So to make up for not pulling like a cart horse all the time, she starts pottying in the house. Occassionally she'll go poop as well, though since being switched to Innova this hasn't happened as often.

 

[Taylor&Me]

My dog is almost 10 months old and does the same thing. I'm glad I'm not alone in this... and I hope consistency will reinforce outside potty behavior!

 

[Spirit2010]

Who's Molly? I'm confused. Good luck with housetraining Zoom!

 

[Zoom]

Molly is my friend's dog and Sawyer and Virgo's bestest friend.

 

[Spirit2010]

Ohhhh, lol. Good luck though Zoom!

 

[noludoru]

I've been having this in the last week and a half or so, too. I'm blaming it on his tummy upset.. but *sigh* So far it's only been twice, but the second time (night before last) it happened Middie had been taken out every two hours.

 

[showpug]

I don't think Proin will do the trick in your situation. It's for urinary incontience which is more of urine leaking out while a dog sleeps etc. It sounds like Molly has voluntary control because she is squating to urinate.

I don't have much advice, but good luck!

 

[Barb04]

I'm wondering if she's doing this since the weather by you has gotten really cold and she's feeling the urge to pee more than when the weather was warmer. Just a thought.

 

[Zoom]

Anything is possible I guess. We started giving her some cranberry pills and that has seemed to help somehow?

 

[Kirbysmom]

Omgosh, I joined this forum just today because our almost 5 month old labradoodle JUST started doing this yesterday and is driving us bonkers!!! He's been doing so well since we got him on November 11th.

I'm going to do the reinforcing with the treats when he goes to the door to the garage (where he eliminates on a pee-pee pad in a box).

I'm just concerned that he's going to figure out that is the way to get treats and go to the door more often than necessary.

Stilll, better that than peeing all over the house.

 

[BRTLover]

I did not read all the posts so guilty if this is already covered!

Do you think weather has anything to do with it?

My 6 month old BRT is house trained and the 2 month was doing great.

When that cold freezing weather set in both do their business inside yet when I put them outside they will play almost like it does not bother them.

My husband says they just do not want to get their bums cold.:lol-sign:

I just keep with the routine and know eventually they will get the hint. Perhaps in spring.