2 Year Old Shih-Tzu Urinating In House...

ashypoo · New member Joined: 17 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

My Shih-Tzu, Snickers, will be 3 in November. My boyfriend and I got him when he was only 8 weeks. He is potty-trained (we used wee-wee pads as we do not like crates) and we use a harness to walk him (our vet told us to because he chokes with a collar). When we take him out, he will urinate in a lot of places and also is very picky where he will poo (it usually takes him about a 30 min walk). That was the first of our problems and now when we leave the house we come back to various spots where he has urinated (tonight it was 7 BIG spots) we walk him a few times a day and right before we leave but still come back to messes, even if we are gone for only an hour or so. We will point at the spot and say no and he knows he's done wrong as he will put his head down and not go near the spot but he still continues to do it. He also tends to do it in the same places, no matter what we use to clean it up. My boyfriend and I are at our wits end! Please help us find a solution!

PS - he is also not neutered and has only been trained to go outside, sit, give paw, and only by us (not a pro) could this also be a cause?

Chezza · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:50 am Post subject:

Does he do it "While" your in the house with him???
Or just when you go out..
Maybe a suggestion is a doggie door, put one in, so he can get in and out..
Is he an anxious dog??
He may get separation anxiety when you leave..Just a thought..
A doggie door is a good idea, if you wish to keep him inside while you go out..

ashypoo · New member Joined: 17 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

sometimes if i do not wake up early enough he will go in the house but its mostly when im out.. also a doggie door would not work as we are in townhouses :-/

Aqueous · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:08 pm Post subject:

Have you taken him to the vet to rule out a medical problem like a urinary tract infection?

Chezza · Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:33 am Post subject:

That Too was going to be my next question ... Your the best

ashypoo · New member Joined: 17 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

no but now that you mention it, maybe i should, tonight we got back after being out for no more than 20 mins and it was the same thing, in the same places, we also took him out before we left.. should i contact my vet?

Chezza · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:00 am Post subject:

I would, just to have him checked out all over, he may have an infection, or something else, you just never know, then at least you can "Rule" that out..Keep us informed... Smile

Shineillusion · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:27 am Post subject:

It's always a good idea to have a vet check whenever a dog has a sudden change in behavior, like breaking housetraining. But you also need to examine what has been going on in your household just prior to the start of the change.

Has anything changed? Did either of you start a new job that causes you to be gone longer than usual? New pet or child in the house? Death or serious illness in the family? New dog in the neighborhood?

You say he knows what he's doing is wrong because he hangs his head and refuses to go near the spot when you point at it and tell him "No". Trust me, he's not making the connection. You're pointing to a spot and saying "No", so he's submitting to your demands, and not going near that spot. He doesn't understand that you mean "Don't pee there". He thinks you're saying "Don't go there." The only way he'd make the connection would be if you catch him in the act.

If you won't use a crate (the ideal solution), you need to find some place to confine him. One room, preferably a small one like a bathroom. As a test, put his food dish there and start feeding him in that room. Put his bed and toys there, shut the door, and leave for 10 minutes. If he manages to stay clean, praise him and let him out. If he doesn't stay clean you're probably dealing with an anxiety problem.

Products like Comfort Zone (it comes as a plug in, like an air freshener, or a spray) and Bach's Rescue Remedy or Quiet Moments (herbal calmatives) can help reduce his anxiety, and might help.

Shineillusion · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:38 am Post subject:

I forgot one thing. It was mentioned that it may be seperation anxiety. Doubtful. Seperation anxiety is a bit different. We see it at the grooming shop all the time. Dogs become anxious because they know their owner is going to leave them (seperation). That's seperation anxiety. Once the owner leaves, the thing they're anxious about has happened, and they calm down.

If your dog becomes anxious only after you leave, it's more likely that he's afraid because his leader is gone. No one is there to enforce the rules. He doesn't know how to handle that much freedom. That's why crates work so well. They give limits and stability; a sanctuary. His own den where he can relax and feel safe. No need to worry about breaking the rules.

Chezza · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:21 am Post subject:

Sorry don't agree with what you said about the separation anxiety , because some dogs, they do not settle down till the owner comes home, Ive seen this behavior first hand, and it can happen over and over again, btw I did not use crates either.

Shineillusion · Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 1:26 am Post subject:

A lot of people, including trainers and behaviorists, use the term "seperation anxiety" inappropriately.

From a purely psychological point of view, seperation anxiety is an infant's fear of losing it's mother (American Handbook of Psychiatry II, Dictionary of Psychology). It is the state of fear and anxiety resulting from the anticipation that "mother" (in this case the owner) is going to leave.

From a neuropsychological point of view, it's still being debated whether a dog's brain can function in such a way that they can even experience true seperation anxiety, due to the way their brains develop.

The anxiety created by being alone is not fear that the owner is going to leave. It's fear of not knowing how to handle that much freedom. It's still anxiety, but it's not seperation anxiety.

Chezza · Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:18 am Post subject:

Of course it is..Its the anxiety caused by separation, I don't think its anything to do with "To much freedom".. He was potty trained and been an indoors dog, hence having freedom, he's 3 years of age, and "started" doing this of late from what iv read of ..Meaning he must of been "alone" and freedom in the house before..So was he stressed but not piddling inside before???Now started Piddling, it can be a form of attention too, negative, yes, but he gets a re-action.

I have this dog next door, now when the owners leave, they chain this dog on a small chain, it howls and howls and howls, I Kid you not, even through the whole night because they are not home, and through the day if they leave, this happens until someone comes home and out the back and lets it off the chain to be with them, its every time they go out. This dog has no freedom to contend with, its every time its alone..That is separation anxiety. I agree with confining him and see how he goes with that..
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Ashypoo how is he with your boyfriend, does he look to him or you more, or does he go to both of you the same???? Just pondering on things. Smile

Maybe think about getting him desexed..If he is just a household pet, and never to be bred, or used for breeding purposes, I would think about doing that once a vet check over comes out clear..