Doggy damp problem.
Discussion
Hi all.
Having a bit of bother with the dog.
She is coming upto 9 months old now, Belgian Shepherd.
We thought we had the housetraining sorted with her. Through October, November and December she was absolutly fine and made only 1 mistake I can think of.
Since Christmas Eve she has been terrible. With pee and poo. I was putting it down to being knocked completly out of sync with all the family activity around Christmas but even so she was still going to the toilet just before bed time but I think since Christmas Eve we have only had 2 dry nights, some with poo too.
We are back to our work routine now so thought she would have settled back down but she is still doing it. It is rather random too. She won't do it if we are there and awake. But other times vary. A few days ago we left her to visit the my sis in the evening. Dog went to the loo before we left and we were only gone 3 hours and she had peed again. Yet a few nights ago she went for 10 hours overnight without a problem. Last night she managed to pee twice in 8 hours.
She does not appear ill or out of sorts.
The only thing I can think of is she may be coming into season as she is peeing more on her walks and sometimes kicking her back legs after. Other than that I'm at a loss and getting rather frustrated.
Any help much appreciated
Will
Having a bit of bother with the dog.
She is coming upto 9 months old now, Belgian Shepherd.
We thought we had the housetraining sorted with her. Through October, November and December she was absolutly fine and made only 1 mistake I can think of.
Since Christmas Eve she has been terrible. With pee and poo. I was putting it down to being knocked completly out of sync with all the family activity around Christmas but even so she was still going to the toilet just before bed time but I think since Christmas Eve we have only had 2 dry nights, some with poo too.
We are back to our work routine now so thought she would have settled back down but she is still doing it. It is rather random too. She won't do it if we are there and awake. But other times vary. A few days ago we left her to visit the my sis in the evening. Dog went to the loo before we left and we were only gone 3 hours and she had peed again. Yet a few nights ago she went for 10 hours overnight without a problem. Last night she managed to pee twice in 8 hours.
She does not appear ill or out of sorts.
The only thing I can think of is she may be coming into season as she is peeing more on her walks and sometimes kicking her back legs after. Other than that I'm at a loss and getting rather frustrated.
Any help much appreciated
Will
It is possible that she was stressed out by all the Christmas activity and it is taking her a while to de-stress. It happens quite often.
It will not be attention seeking. She is not going in front of you, but at times when she is left alone? Have I got that right? Could it be separation anxiety?
It will not be attention seeking. She is not going in front of you, but at times when she is left alone? Have I got that right? Could it be separation anxiety?
I was thinking if she gets put outside after she has had an 'accident' in the house, maybe she's learned that it is a way of getting let out to play?
Most likely stress from the change of routine and coming into season, combined... two of her sisters have just come into season (one on Christmas Day), so it is quite likely...
Most likely stress from the change of routine and coming into season, combined... two of her sisters have just come into season (one on Christmas Day), so it is quite likely...
RB Will said:
Possibly the separation issue as she hates me leaving her and cries if I shut her away from me. She does not make any noise at night though.
Separation anxiety will cause her to toilet when you are not there and if she is that sensitive then I guess the recent changes in routine will have upset her.Alot of what has been suggested is good sense, and there is probably nothing "medically" wrong as your dog has been able to last for many hours without having to escape for a pee, most important from a vet point of view, would be to rule out any cystitis, which is pretty simple with a urine sample, but most likely is the disturbance to her routine due to season and christmas. Consistency, plenty of chances to pee wherre she should along with reward/praise for getting it right, trying a cage/crate as most dogs hate peeing where they have to sleep, these are probably the best initial approaches. Pm if not settling oir furtherr questions.
Well we had a dry night last night, woop.
I think she may have got the gentle reminder that she needed. At about 10pm after much excitement and playing she squat in the living room at which point she got a b
king (she only managed to get out a couple of drips) and I got her to follow me outside, which she did very willingly and went straight out to her normal area to finish off a large wee. Followed by lots of praise and a piece of chicken.
When we were going to bed at 11 I took her out again to go, she had a poo but would not pee so gave in and left her to sleep.
I got up this morning at 7.45 expecting a puddle but was very pleased to find no mess. She went out for a pee just before I walked her at 8, so that was 10 hours.
Long may it continue.
She had been odd how she has been as she has not made any mess during the day while we have been at work only when left alone in evening or overnight.
I think she may have got the gentle reminder that she needed. At about 10pm after much excitement and playing she squat in the living room at which point she got a b
king (she only managed to get out a couple of drips) and I got her to follow me outside, which she did very willingly and went straight out to her normal area to finish off a large wee. Followed by lots of praise and a piece of chicken. When we were going to bed at 11 I took her out again to go, she had a poo but would not pee so gave in and left her to sleep.
I got up this morning at 7.45 expecting a puddle but was very pleased to find no mess. She went out for a pee just before I walked her at 8, so that was 10 hours.
Long may it continue.
She had been odd how she has been as she has not made any mess during the day while we have been at work only when left alone in evening or overnight.
Hello again all just an update.
We had a mega clean in the kitchen to try getting rid of all smells etc using those cleaners from the pet shop. That night she was fine but the next back to peeing. Since then apart from 1 week where she was perfect she has been on and off with this problem.
I really don't know what to do next. I think part of the problem is she never does it in front of me so I can't tell her off for it.
I have tried playing with her more in the evening to wear her out, playing less so she goes to bed calmer, reducing (not removing) her water intake in the evenings, moving her bed to where she normally pees but she just pees near to the area instead.
Is it worth taking her to the vets to have a urine/blood test to see if there is a problem?
twice this week she went 10 hours overnight no problems then after that she could not go for 7 hours. She still has never let me down when I have been at work or left her in the day yet on Saturday she was left for 15 mins when I nipped to the local shop (at about 7.45pm) and in those 15 mins she had peed(this was only about 2 hours after her walk where she peed last).
I dont understand that if its a medical thing that some nights she can hold on forever yet other times not 30 mins or a few hours yet manages to hold on all day no problems. She is not peeing more on walks and does not seem to have a problem peeing although I used to be able to get her to go on command every 2 hours or so but she won't anymore unless she really needs it.
The same reasons confuse me if it is an anxiety problem too. Why would she only do it at night? She does not howl or whine or bang at the door and what could have brought it on so suddenly?
The only other option I expect is getting a crate for her. I just worry this might traumatise her a bit as she has not been in one before.
She has still not come into season (from what I can tell, not seen any blood and her ladybits have not swolen up and she is still showing no interest in boys).
Any ideas?
We had a mega clean in the kitchen to try getting rid of all smells etc using those cleaners from the pet shop. That night she was fine but the next back to peeing. Since then apart from 1 week where she was perfect she has been on and off with this problem.
I really don't know what to do next. I think part of the problem is she never does it in front of me so I can't tell her off for it.
I have tried playing with her more in the evening to wear her out, playing less so she goes to bed calmer, reducing (not removing) her water intake in the evenings, moving her bed to where she normally pees but she just pees near to the area instead.
Is it worth taking her to the vets to have a urine/blood test to see if there is a problem?
twice this week she went 10 hours overnight no problems then after that she could not go for 7 hours. She still has never let me down when I have been at work or left her in the day yet on Saturday she was left for 15 mins when I nipped to the local shop (at about 7.45pm) and in those 15 mins she had peed(this was only about 2 hours after her walk where she peed last).
I dont understand that if its a medical thing that some nights she can hold on forever yet other times not 30 mins or a few hours yet manages to hold on all day no problems. She is not peeing more on walks and does not seem to have a problem peeing although I used to be able to get her to go on command every 2 hours or so but she won't anymore unless she really needs it.
The same reasons confuse me if it is an anxiety problem too. Why would she only do it at night? She does not howl or whine or bang at the door and what could have brought it on so suddenly?
The only other option I expect is getting a crate for her. I just worry this might traumatise her a bit as she has not been in one before.
She has still not come into season (from what I can tell, not seen any blood and her ladybits have not swolen up and she is still showing no interest in boys).
Any ideas?
I would just go right back to basics with her. Take her outside ever hour or so. Go outside with her. Every time she performs give a load of positive reinforcement - verbal praise and a treat are what I use.
Telling her off will not make her get the connection that she needs to pee outdoors. She will have been told off for peeing. Full stop. This is probably why she doesn't go in front of you as she may now think peeing is bad. Dogs can make negative connections really easily.
http://dogstrust.org.uk/_resources/resources/facts...
http://www.apdt.co.uk/documents/Toilettraining.pdf
Telling her off will not make her get the connection that she needs to pee outdoors. She will have been told off for peeing. Full stop. This is probably why she doesn't go in front of you as she may now think peeing is bad. Dogs can make negative connections really easily.
http://dogstrust.org.uk/_resources/resources/facts...
http://www.apdt.co.uk/documents/Toilettraining.pdf
^^This^^
Also remember that she is still 'only' 9 months, old. Still very much a pup still and can easily regress. Training never ends.
On another note, ours started doing this but she was diagnosed with incontinence by the vets, controllable with medicine and water intake. Although I doubt this is your problem.
Also remember that she is still 'only' 9 months, old. Still very much a pup still and can easily regress. Training never ends.
On another note, ours started doing this but she was diagnosed with incontinence by the vets, controllable with medicine and water intake. Although I doubt this is your problem.
Edited by PaulG40 on Monday 7th February 12:14
Mrs Grumpy said:
I would just go right back to basics with her. Take her outside ever hour or so. Go outside with her. Every time she performs give a load of positive reinforcement - verbal praise and a treat are what I use.
Telling her off will not make her get the connection that she needs to pee outdoors. She will have been told off for peeing. Full stop. This is probably why she doesn't go in front of you as she may now think peeing is bad. Dogs can make negative connections really easily.
http://dogstrust.org.uk/_resources/resources/facts...
http://www.apdt.co.uk/documents/Toilettraining.pdf
We do this with her, every time she goes outside and has a pee/ poo she gets praise and a treat and will happily go in front of me in the garden or on walks. Although I don't do this every hour or so. Telling her off will not make her get the connection that she needs to pee outdoors. She will have been told off for peeing. Full stop. This is probably why she doesn't go in front of you as she may now think peeing is bad. Dogs can make negative connections really easily.
http://dogstrust.org.uk/_resources/resources/facts...
http://www.apdt.co.uk/documents/Toilettraining.pdf
She knows to go outside as she will go to the back door and stand there for a bit if she needs to go, if I don't come to her she comes back to me and stands staring at me until I get up and let her out. When she does go in the house it is always right by the back door.
The husky sounds like fun. I have been considering a crate for her I'm just not sure she will take to it now. She does not like being isolated or alone.
When we first got her we had a pen for her to sleep in. She took all of 1 night to climb out then did it a couple more times, so I gave up with that before she hurt herself.
I will take her to the vets just to get their opinion before I got a crate as I don't want to confine her to her bed so she has to pee on it if she has a problem.
When we first got her we had a pen for her to sleep in. She took all of 1 night to climb out then did it a couple more times, so I gave up with that before she hurt herself.
I will take her to the vets just to get their opinion before I got a crate as I don't want to confine her to her bed so she has to pee on it if she has a problem.
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