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Posts: 4
From:Omaha, NE USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-20-2004 07:31 AM         

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I have an excellent 3 and a 1/2 year old chocolate lab retriever who is currently living with my girlfriend. He is a very intelligent dog who is trained to go outside when needing to go to the bathroom. Recently, however he has been peeing in the basement where he currently resides during the day while my girlfriend is at work. He goes get a lot of exercise and goes on at least two walks a day. My issue is that I am currently out of town on a contract position and I come home occasionally as time permits so I was wondering if my dog was either trying to establish dominance over my girlfriend, or is acting out in frustration or having separation anxiety with my being gone so much? When I was at home working he never went to the bathroom in the basement let alone the entire house. Any ideas on this issue?
Thanks

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Posts: 926
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Registered: May 2003

posted 01-20-2004 08:20 AM         

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Well I would rule out any kind of bladder infection causing this. Even though he is getting to go outside for his walks during the day, is he going to the bathroom. it sounds liek his schedule has changed dramatically, and he could be having problems like SA. He used to have you at home most of the time and now you are gone. It doesnt sound like a dominance issue, maybe someone else can give some better input
Honeybear

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Posts: 813
From:Santa Maria, Ca.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-20-2004 08:27 AM         

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Hi! How does your girlfriend feel about your dog? "meaning" does she love him like you do? if so, perhaps she could feel in for the time that you are not there. Give him more attention than usual, and maybe one more walk. I don't know! but it sounds like it is S.A. too me. When I went back to work, after being off for three years, my dog had a ruff time with it. She didn't urinate in the house but she would not leave my side for about two months when I was home. Good luck to you! and keep us posted....Susan

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Registered: Sep 2003

posted 01-20-2004 09:05 AM         

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I agree with the above posts. Rule out a medical reason first. If there is no physical problem, then I would say separation anxiety and stress from the new living arrangements. Extra attention would probably help. Poor guy is probably just confused about why things have changed.

Is your girlfriend living in your house, or did your dog have to move to her house? The new location would make things even more stressful for him.

I think he will adjust given time, patience and attention. Hopefully your girlfriend likes him, or he will know that she doesn't.

Jamiya

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Posts: 228
From:Grand Rapids, MI
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-20-2004 09:07 AM         

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So he is staying in your girlfriend's basement now versus yours? That is your answer right there- he is in a new territory. Even if a dog is housebroken, often he/she needs to be "re-housebroken" if they move to a new place, because they are not familiar enough with the new area to consider it their "den" and therefore not a place to go to the bathroom. When we moved to our new house we had to almost start over with housebreaking Cameron-- luckily, it was a lot easier the 2nd time. On a second note, it is my personal belief that dogs are a lot more likely to go in teh basement than any other part of the house- it is cold, the concrete found on basement floors is similar to the pavement dogs walk on outside, they usually spend less time there when their owners are home---Cameron would still sneak off to the basement once and awhile until we blocked the area of completely.

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From:Omaha, NE USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-20-2004 11:09 AM         

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Actually my girlfriend is living in my house back home so his living arrangement has not changed. It is just that I have left the environment for the time being. I think that is why he is acting out the way he is.

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Posts: 228
From:Grand Rapids, MI
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-20-2004 12:24 PM         

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Oh I see now...scratch my advise then :/ In any case, though, I'm sure he is having issues without you being around, like the others said, and provided your girlfriend is giving him plenty of good care and attention, I imagine it should subside soon.

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From:California
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-21-2004 06:31 PM         

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Maybe she abuses him while your not around. Don't go running to conclusions but I left my dog at my x-boyfriends house when I went on vacation and he beat her most of the time. She acually broke her leg there He says she fell in a ditch.

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Posts: 4
From:Omaha, NE USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-22-2004 05:23 AM         

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I know that she is not beating him or mean to him. She loves him and she loves aninmals a lot so I know that is not the issue. I think he misses the excitement of going to the dog park when I was home over Christmas and probably wonder where I am at and why he no longer goes to the dog park. My girlfriend does take him on long and extensive walks though.

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posted 01-22-2004 06:00 AM         

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Poor guy. He will adjust with time. Although I would get him checked for a bladder infection just to be sure. Oftentimes if you collect the urine yourself, they only charge you for the actual test, which I think was about $18 at my vet. Just follow him with a shallow pan of some sort and hold it under him when he pees and then pour it into a container with a lid. Refrigerate if you can't take it to the vet right away.

How long do you have to be gone?

Does anyone know if Nature's Miracle works on concrete?

Jamiya

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Posts: 4
From:Omaha, NE USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-22-2004 06:17 AM         

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I am here until the contract is over which I am unsure of right now, I will fly home on occassion though to see my two dogs and check up on the house.

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Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-22-2004 12:26 PM         

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Why doesn't your girlfriend take him to the dog park? So he is missing you and the dog park. Poor puppy. Were you working from home before your contract position? And your girlfriend is gone all day at work? Maybe he is not used to holding it all day. Can he be left somewhere during the day where he won't pee? Like in the bedroom? If he thinks of that area as a no-pee area, maybe that will help.

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