Expert: Alan J Turner, SATS LL1 - 10/23/2006

Question
Hello.  Thanks for taking time to read my question.  I have a 6 year old (not exactly sure, she is a rescue) female Chihuahua mix named Nico.  We adopted her about 4 years ago.  About 6-9 months ago she started peeing in the house although she is definitely house broken.  At first it was only once in a while and only if she was left for an extended period of time.  After a while we stated noticing tiny pee spots in different corners of the house.  They were usually dry by the time we got home so we assumed it was done shortly after we left the house.  We just moved to a new house and this behavior resumed almost immediately.  I understand that there is a period of adjustment in a new house, but this behavior was happening for quite some time in our apartment before we moved.  We don't know where to begin to try and stop this behavior.  She is a marginally nervous dog, but otherwise very well behaved.  She does not have the typical high-strung temperament of a Chihuahua, but does startle easily and is shy.  We tried confining her when we first adopted her, but she always found a way out, even chewing through a baby gate made of plastic and wood!  She absolutely panics when confined and would do anything to get out, even hurt herself. We are feeling very frustrated by this behavior and would love to know what we can do about it.  Other than this she is an absolutely wonderful dog.  I would be so grateful for your advice on this issue.  Thank you.

Answer
Dear Erin,
Thanks for the question and the details. There are many reasons dogs eliminate inside. It's best to determine why it's happening before outlining a plan.

Have medical tests been conducted since the onset of the behavior with the specific goal of identifying or ruling out any medical problems that could contribute to the behavior?

It would be helpful to know exactly when the behavior is occurring. How often does the behavior occur? Every time you leave her, only when you are gone for more than 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, one-hour, two hours? How soon after you leave her does the behavior occur? 5 minutes, 15 minutes,45 minutes?

To determine the answers for this, you can leave her for 5 minutes and then come back, later that day, leave her for 15 minutes and then come back, et cetera.  

Does she ever eliminate inside when you are home? Are you sure the "tiny pee spots in different corners" were not accidents that happened when you were home? Since her volume is so small, isn't it possible that she eliminates inside when you are home and you just don't realize it?

If she eliminates inside ONLY in your absence and she IS reliably house trained, that narrows the possible causes to anxiety/fear, medical, pre-learned areas /substrate preference, or marking behavior.  

For example perhaps she is eliminating in response to something that she fears (i.e. noises such as large trucks passing by), something that makes her anxious (i.e. your departure, your absence, neighbor's dogs or neighbor's noises /voices, or large trucks passing by, etc.).

Since this behavior represents a change in behavior, the first thing is to rule out medical factors. If there are no medical reasons for the behavior, then we can assume it's a behavioral issue. She could have started the behavior in response to stress and now it has become a learned behavior that continues although the stressors are no longer present.

Has there been an increase or decrease in the number of instances when she is shy? Has the magnitude of her shyness increased - i.e. stays frightened for longer periods, moves farther away from the stressors, etc.?

Has there been an increase in destructive behaviors? barking? whining? Does she tear up things when you leave and if so, exactly what - and exactly how long after you leave does the behavior occur? ?

Does she whine or bark when you leave her and if so, when and how long - immediately when you leave, for two or three minutes only, 15 minutes?

Does she salivate when you leave her? If so when does the salivation begin?

Will she readily go outside to play? to eliminate?

Does she pee when she is startled? when she is afraid?

Here is where you begin - Please rule out all possible medical causes with a very thorough medical checkup including a complete blood count, blood chemistry profile with special attention to renal functions and a urinalysis.  Post again and include the names of the tests she had, the general results and answer the questions. Then I will be able to move forward with suggestions. Thank you.

Happy Training!
AT