Expert: Alan J Turner, SATS LL1 - 9/9/2006

Question
I need HELP! I have a 18 month female doberman that continues to constantly urinate in the house or in her crate. She did this before her spay and does not have any medical issues causing the urination problem. I had her thoroughly examined by the vet and medically everything is fine. I have limited her water intake to practical nothing and she continues to urinate. I have shortened her crate to practical nothing and she continues to urinate. I believe it is all behavioral as she deveopled this trait months after I got her. The main issue is that she is not bothered by the urine. She will sit and lay in it. It has burned her stomach and body many times. The problem has continued for many months and I'm at my wits end. I need any and all advice soon.  

Answer
Sorry to hear of your troubles. Thanks for your note. Before I can provide accurate advice it would be helpful for me to have more information.

At what age did you get your 18 month old dog?

Exactly how long has the problem behavior been occurring?

How often does the behavior occur?

Is the number of incidents increasing in frequency?      

Does the behavior occur only in the (visible) presence of persons?

Does the behavior occur only in the absence of persons?

Does the behavior occur both in the presence of and in the absence of persons?

Were there changes in the external environment that coincided with the onset of elimination disorder? (i.e. new/remodeled home, moved furniture, installed fencing (including ‘invisible’ fencing), added room mate, schedule change, added pet, lost pet, lost room mate, etc.)     

Was there a change in dietary and elimination environment at or after the onset of the behavior? (type/brand/amounts of food or water consumed, location of outside area used for elimination, willingness to go outside, etc.)     

Are there any other behavioral changes you have noticed at or after the onset of the problem elimination? (destructive behaviors  barking, mounting, object stealing, tail chasing, shadow stalking, eating non-food items, etc.)  

In addition to the elimination in the crate, exactly where does the problem behavior occur?    

List area(s) of most recent problem elimination and flooring type. (i.e. inside crate in den, kitchen on tile floor, back bedroom on carpet, living room curtains on carpet, cabinet in kitchen on tile floor, etc.)

Does your dog defecate inside?

Will your dog readily walk outdoors for a walk, or to play?

Will your dog readily eliminate outdoors –on or off lead -in the presence of traffic, strangers, other dogs, loud noises, or other distractions?

Where does your dog eliminate outside? List area and ground type. (i.e. back patio on concrete, back yard-anywhere on grass, backyard in designated area on grass, backyard on grass or concrete, during walks on grass, during walks on street, etc.)

Does she eliminate inside regardless of schedule of outside exercise/outings and may eliminate immediately after you return indoors?  

Does the quantity of inside-the-home excretions indicate full-fledged elimination?  

Are there numerous small amounts of urine deposited inside?

Please list any additional information you feel is relevant to the inside elimination problem behavior. Thank you.