All of a sudden....going in the house..help!

[Nisehart]

Here I go again asking for advice and suggestions!! We adopted Alfie from DRNA five months ago. He was house broken and never went in the house. Now all of a sudden in the last few weeks he is urinating in the house! Nothing has changed that I can think of. He receives a lot of attention, loves his sissy, Pumpkin. He is feeling very accepted now. He was timid at first, but now he is so loving and sweet. We also have a doggy door, which he has always used and still does. We don't even have to be away from the house and he will go!! I have seen him do it twice. He has done it appx. six times now. What can I do if I do not see him do it? At first I wasn't sure if it was him or not, but then I did see him twice. What do you all think???

[Krista]

Has anything upset alfie??? Sometimes they show insecurity, anger, or dominance by urinating inside.

Another possibility is a UTI or bladder infection. These make them have to go suddenly and more often and are fairly common. Just a thought.

[Wienergal]

Bladder infection was the first thing I thought of too. Have you had Alfie checked for this by your vet? I think I'd start there.

If it is just behavioral, I'd suggest that, instead of relying on the doggy door, you revert to puppy training behavior--take Alfie outside for a walk on a leash several times a day--at the "appropriate" times--and praise him lavishly when he pees outside. Get him back on a schedule, to remind him that there is a time to pee and a time to hold it.... But do check with your vet! Especially if, when he goes inside, it's just a little dribble, as opposed to a complete emptying of the bladder.

Good luck! I know how frustrating this can be! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/eek.gif

[Penny's Aunt]

Here's a little dog that has found a wonderful place to live, & he may be marking it as HIS. If he isn't neutered, you may want to consider it. A lot of people say that won't help, but I know several people that said it DID HELP, but it took about 2 months.

Whatever the cause, going back into housebreaking mode is the thing to do. Don't give him the opportunity of doing it again. You might want to fasten him to short tethers in various parts of the house (where people are -- he's not an outcast) & give him his blankie, toys & chewies. THIS IS NOT DISCIPLINE, this is controlling the situation when no one is paying real attention to him. Sometimes, just breaking the habit is enough.

Even if you catch him doing it again, give him the silent treatment: take him outdoors immediately & WITHOUT A WORD. No spanking, slapping, yelling, etc. Any reaction from you (good or bad) is considered attention, & may reinforce the bad behavior. THEN go back & clean it up. When he comes back in, forget it-- it's over.

Be sure to use a good odor neutralizer on the spots to remove the odor. Any remaining odor can act as a trigger for him to do it again.

[crock]

What's happening for us is revenge! I get home for work and let the boys in and the immediately go to the livingroom and PooP!
As if to say "how dare you leave us home alone."
Any suggestions?<FONT face="Arial">Text</FONT f>

[doxielover]

Crock,

Join the club!http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/confused.gif My Freddie STILL leaves a "present" inside the house too, but only occasionally - which is what baffles me! AND, he makes sure to leave it right by the bedroom door or hallway! Freddie is 2 years old and neutered, and KNOWS better, he has access to his doggy door at all times. If it will make you feel any better, I have learned from others here that their dachsie does the same thing! I think it may be due to their stubborn nature!? 99% of the time he's an angel - and the 1%....well, you know!http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Susan

[Penny's Aunt]

Crock, what do you do when you find the "gift", start yelling, chasing them, & otherwise give them the attention that they haven't been getting all day? If so, someone is training someone, & they are doing a good job!

First, when I get home, I would go OUTSIDE to greet them & play with them a little. I would let them in when they calm down a little. If they still poop, SILENTLY take them outside & leave them there for a half-hour or so. Clean up (& use a good odor neutralizer, too, or the remaining scent is an invitation to do it again) while they are outside. NO RESPONSE to the poop is the best response. Dogs aren't dumb. They do what gets results; if they don't get the results they want, they should stop doing it.

Be sure you DON'T call them to take them outside. Just get them silently. No swats.

[WOTANSMUTTI]

If I came home from work and started finding Wo presents I would confine him to the kitchen area while I was away until the "problem" resolved . The silent but firm treatment, out of the way while clean up is in progress is a good solution.