Expert: Delores Beck - 2/26/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a rescued 4 year old cocker spaniel. i have had her for about a year. I got another spaniel(1 year old) about 4months ago. They get along.
Recently the 1 year old Cocker started barking when ever there was no-one at home and the older one would join in on the barking. The older one never used to bark before the younger one. Not at all.
Then i got a anti barking collar that uses Citronella Spray which worked instantly for the younger one, after all she was the instigator for the barking.
They stopped barking when I am not at home during the day.
The older one started chewing the TV remotes and started tearing magazines and destroying every thing she could find. She never used to do that.
The little Spaniel joined but wasn't interested in chewing that much. So she only did that once or twice.
Then i started putting everything away that they could chew.
The older one started urinating in the house all of a sudden. The first time, she didn't make it on time and had an accident on the carpet, which i thought was a one time deal. then i had the carpets washed and she went outside after that event. Lately she started urinating on the carpet again and she licks the urine. The other day while we were playing with her and her ball, she fetched the ball, dropped it down and she urinated on the carpet again while watching us. It feels that i am running out of options. I don't know what to do. Why is she acting up like this? Please Help.


ANSWER: Okay..I'll deal with the most important thing first.


I think your 4 year old most likely has a urinary tract infection.
So get a first morning urine sample in a sterile container and take it directly in to your vet.  Refrigerate it until you actually leave.
A short round of antibiotics will fix that.

As to the general barking/chewing, I'd like to know how much exercise these dogs get?  Boredom and pent up energy is responsible for about 99% of behavior like this.  They both need two half-hour walks every day and that's the minimum.  A tired dog is a good dog.

Look into a dog walker mid-day or doggie daycare too.  
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for the quick and clever response.

I read up on some of the answers and questions of behaviour problems over the net and the most common answer like your own is boredom.

Last night i played with the 4 year old alot more than usual and i took her outside everytime she drank water and when she finished eating. She urinated out side, which i praised her for afterwards. She didnt mess in the house.

I am teaching them some commands and that seems to take alot of energy out of them. They  just love treats so it is easy. they are such clever dogs and they are very intelligent.
Last night i did not have any problems with them, so i think its safe to say, its lack of exercise and boredom.

There is just one last thing.
Why does the older one pick on the little one and growl at her all the time. She doesn't bite, but constantly growls, pushes her into a corner and stares at her while growling?
I dont know how to get her to stop doing that.
Thanks.

Answer
The older dog is telling the pup who's top dog.  It's pretty normal and I'm betting she does that when the pup is annoying her too much.
Unless it accelerates (and I doubt that), let them work it out on their own.

And Karen, playing with them is great but both these dogs need to be walked.  Exercise is a primary need for them to be healthy both physically and emotionally.

And I hope you're going to get your 4 year old's urine tested. What you described is absolutely a sign of a urinary tract infection.

I'd also like to know what you're feeding them?  
Delores