posted 01-06-2004 11:44 AM         

She said they live in an apartment and she would take him outside and watch him pee. Then she would bring him in and he would immediately go on the floor, right in front of her. She made sure he had the chance to go outside at least every 4 hours. She decided to try crate training, but he peed in his crate. The crate had just enough room for him to turn around in, so he would have to lie down in the urine. This happened even if he peed outside right before she put him in the crate. They both work, so it could be separation anxiety, but I work, too (8-3, and someone goes home at lunchtime).

Other than that, she said he is an awesome dog. She hated to give him up.

They do have ferrets and he used to play with them. Do you think the smell of the ferrets would have anything to do with the improper urination?

Any ideas what to do if we were to adopt him and the behavior continued? What do you do when a dog pees outside and then immediately pees on your rug?

(Oh, and yes he is neutered. Since he was originally a shelter dog, he had to have been neutered as a young puppy - they don't let them go without being altered.)

Jamiya

posted 01-06-2004 01:03 PM         

She said she never used a leash with him - he would stay by her side and she took him jogging almost every day. He knows sit perfectly and did it for me at the shelter. She said he sat before his meals until he was released, and sat before she opened the door to go outside.

Everything she said was "correct."

I don't know about the bladder infection. He should be checked.

It could be separation anxiety if he is such a velcro dog.

My husband would freak even worse if we had a housetraining problem. He is saying no to ANY dog, but that would make it even worse.

I should have married a zookeeper.

posted 01-07-2004 09:44 AM         

I called the vet to ask if they thought there could be a problem. The technician seemed to think it was probably behavioral. But she didn't seem like she knew a whole lot. Sometimes I forget that with all my research, there are issues I know more about than vet techs do.

Of course, all the behaviorists say to rule out a physical problem first.

I would love to take him to the vet and get him checked out, even if we decide not to adopt him. But they would never release him to me for that, I am sure. Everyone keeps saying that if I adopt him I have a time period to bring him to the vet and if there is something wrong I could take him back. But I don't want to put him through that many changes. I just want to drive him to the vet for a check-up and then bring him back to the shelter (unless I can talk my husband into getting him by then).

Nala's shelter was really nice in that they have a vet that works on site. Nala had a bladder infection before we got her, but it was detected and she was finished with her antibiotics before we picked her up. Of course, then it came back and we had to do it all over again.

posted 01-07-2004 09:49 AM         

Hehe, I could make that one...