Housebroken dog housebroken no more. Help! - Page 1

I haven't posted in a while...I usually just hop on and read...but now I'm at my wit's end. My dog is 3.5 years old; he has been perfectly housebroken since the age of 12 weeks.  I went out of town in August for five days and left him home with my husband. While I was gone, he peed in the dining room. Either he didn't get let out in time, or he was upset that I was gone. Regardless, I was back in a few days but the behavior hasn't stopped. Sometimes it's just pee, sometimes it's accompanied by a pile or two. He'll refuse to go when he's outside and then pee on the carpet as soon as I go upstairs. Sometimes it's twice in a day, sometimes he'll go three or four days without doing it. We have no other dogs, no cats, no reason to scent-mark. We've ruled out medical reasons...plus it's pretty obvious that he's holding it outside and peeing indoors on purpose. He used to whack the patio door when he needed to go out. He doesn't do that any more.

I've blocked off the target room, I've scolded him, I've shampooed the carpet twice and gone through a gallon of Nature's Miracle (which isn't cutting the mustard), and I've gone back to the potty-training strategies of letting him out frequently, praising him when he goes, and crating him when he's alone. I thought it was working, until five minutes ago when he peed in the family room. He's never peed there before. I feel like the top of my head is literally about to blow off. Has this happened to you? Any strategies to solve it? 

You're literally going to have to go back to square one with him.  He isn't housebroken anymore.

On a leash or in a crate inside the house, until you're certain he's housebroken again.
100% supervision, or you'll never get this repaired.

If I had to guess, I would say that someone was lax with letting him out in a timely manner while you were gone, and on top of that, he may be expressing his displeasure--stranger things have happened. I agree completely with Mudwick--you need to keep him on a leash and take him everywhere you go inside the house---he goes where you go. Until he is trustworthy again, FREEDOM IS EARNED, NOT A RIGHT! Don't put him in a crate, or you may exacerbate the situation. Try keeping him leashed and take him out like a puppy. Pain in the ......yes. Worthwhile....yes.

Good luck!  Let us know what happens?

-Melanie
vom Felsenhof German Shepherds

Hi Marisa,
Sorry to hear the sudden odd behaviour from your previously "housebroken" dog.  You haven't mentioned anything about his daily exercise.  I would suggest a long walk after some fun play with your dog.  This will encourage your dog to explore other scent in the surrounding area and hopefully he will do his business outside.  Even if you have a big enclosure, the usual scent can be boring compared to the assorted shampoo and cleaner you use around the house.  You must always neutralise any strong detergent you use in cleaning after his mess.

Over time with his daily routine of walks, he will likely change his bad habits in the house.

Good luck.

I am not a vet, but when my dogs change potty behavior it normally means they have a bladder infection. They associate, potty here and it hurts. I give them Cranberry capsules, apple cider vinegar pills and vitamin c tablets for approx 7 to 10 days. Then I maintain them once a month for 2 days.
Cranberry for bacteria, apple cider for the Ph balance, and Vit C to break up the crystals.
while you are working on correcting the behavior, I would also treat, just in case, less than $20 bucks and will not hurt the dog.
I had on GSD who I fought bladder infections for over a year, off and on, the above worked and has not returned.

Bladder infections don't cause defecation, or I'd agree.

Marisa Try www.odoban.com you may not be getting the order out.

Have you actually taken him to the vet and had a UA done or had him checked for bladder stones or a prostate problem (if not neuter).

Vickie
www.PowerHausKennels.com