Expert: Alan J Turner, SATS LL1 - 12/1/2006

Question
Additional information requested.
The new puppy is house trained. The accidents seem to mostly happen when I am present. She has urinated on top of the matress of my moms bed a couple of times. She goes on the seating cushions of the sofa. She urinates on both our carpet and linoleum. She gets really excited and will pee. I put her outside so she can finish. I bring her back inside and tie her up in the kitchen on the linoleum. When I'm not looking she will go again in the matter of 10 minutes and she looks guilty. I scold her for doing it again she will go as I am scolding her. I don't see how she could go that much in such a short period of time. These are not little piddle spots they are huge. I am trying to re-potty train her but she already is potty trained she knows to go outside and she can hold it all night long no problem. So please help what could the problem be she is wrecking the furniture and the carpet.  
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I'm having a behavior problem with my 9 month old dog Cricket. She is a german shepard/golden retreiver mix. She's been with me for over 6 months. Cricket is house broken. My mom brought another puppy home 2 months ago. Since then Cricket has been peeing on the furniture. When she does this I scold her put her outside and then tie her up in the house so she cannot have free roam. Minutes later she will pee again. I scold and she pees while I'm scolding her. We brought in a urine sample to the vet to check for a bladder infection it wasn't. The vet suggested that she might be jealous of the other animals and gets stressed when I pay attention to them. She gets along great with them though. Do you think that could be the case? If so what should I do to stop this behavior.
-----Answer-----
Dear Tawny,
Thanks for the question. There are many reasons she might be urinating inside. I can help you figure out the cause and give you tips on how to solve the problem but I'll need more information.

Is the new puppy having accidents inside the house?

Does the behavior occur only when you are present?

Does the behavior occur only when you are absent?

Does the behavior occur both in your presence and in your absence?

I need clarification for these sentences. >>>>
When she does this I scold her put her outside and then tie her up in the house so she cannot have free roam. Minutes later she will pee again. I scold and she pees while I'm scolding her.>>>>>

How long is "Minutes later"?

Is she back inside "Minutes later" or is she outside?

What is her body language when "she pees while I'm scolding her"? Is she cowering or "happily" urinating? Where is she when you are scolding her?

Exactly what type of furniture and exactly where is she urinating "on the furniture"? ON top of seating cushions, on the legs of tables, chairs, on the cloth edges near the floor?

What type of flooring is under the furniture where she urinates?

Does she ever pee on the floor? If so is the flooring carpet or linoleum or wood?

Please answer all the questions and I'll do my best to help. In the meantime, stop tying her up outside and scolding her - it's not working now is it? (smile)

Treat the problem as if you were house training a new pup. That means she won't get the opportunity to eliminate inside anymore because she will never be left unattended.

Visit my web site and download the free House Training Guide. Follow the instructions for both your older dog and the young pup. Web addy is http://www.howsbentley.com

Thanks. I'll be waiting for your answers.
AT  

Answer
Dear Tawny.
Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions. From what you've told me, there is no one single cause for her inside elimination behavior. Jealously is not really a good descriptive term for inside elimination. Attention-seeking elimination would be a better description. Unless it is a medical problem, you'll need to change your behavior in order to change hers. Here are my thoughts.

A medical problem would be most likely and you've already ruled out some medical contributors with the urinalysis- you should get her a complete medical exam with extensive blood work, including measurements for kidney functions. Start measuring how much water she consumes so you can give your vet accurate information.  

If it is not a medical issue, it is (arranged in order from more likely to less likely):

Submissive Urination - if the dog urinates when still, when you are giving some sort of attention- scolding, greeting, et cetera - body language indicates submissive behaviors - head lowered, tail lowered, body lowered, et cetera  

Attention - Seeking Behavior - Sometimes dogs urinate in our presence because they learn it gets our attention. Changing the pet-owner relationship (teaching her polite ways to get your attention) is the first step for solving this problem.
Visit this web site for an article about changing the relationship.
http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00470.htm  

In addition, make sure you are fulfilling her social, physical and emotional needs. You could start a routine of daily mental and physical interactions with only her. You could take her for a couple of walks each day, hold a couple of training sessions, teach her a new trick, et cetera. The main point is to start and keep a schedule so she learns that you will be giving her your undivided attention at some piunt during the day.

Start a training program using positive reinforcement methods. Clicker training is a good fun way to teach her. She'll love it!

Buy the books, Click here! for a well-trained dog by Deborah A Jones
OR Clicking With Your Dog: Step-By-Step in Pictures (Karen Pryor Clicker Books) (Paperback)
by Written and Illustrated by Peggy Tillman

Excitement Urination - if the dog urinates when in  motion and if the dog is exhibiting signs of happiness like excessive happy tail wagging, head up, running, playing, et cetera.  

Both submissive and excitement urination can be usually be solved by changing the way you interact with her. For instructions, visit http://www.ddfl.org/tips.htm#dog

If it is not due to either of these specific causes, it could be an anxiety issue. Is she afraid of thunderstorms? loud noises? Does she get startled easily? If yes to any of these (even though she may not be urinating during storms or loud noises), you should address these seemingly unrelated issues to help her become more balanced.

Happy Training!
AT