Help! I Don't Want To Give Up...

[Guest nursenearlyther]

So we rescued Biskit April 2009 and he was a foster bounce. He lifts his leg EVERYDAY on my bed corner and most recently on the clothes of the bottom rack in my closet (I now shut the closet door). I took him to the vet which ran labs and all is A-ok. I have to put on 2 belly bands to prevent major disaster and when I baby gate him the the laundy room or kitchen he still lifts his leg. My other boy Shadow has never had issues. Biskit is alone (with Shadow and 2 chi's) for max 6 hours a day. I love my boy but he is ruining my bedding! Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do? A doggy door is not an option unfortunately...

[Guest Bamn]

Have you used and enzymatic cleaner? It gets rid of the molecules that they can still smell and we can't. Bleach will not do the job. The area needs to be saturated. Have you caught him doing this behavior? If not, a remote camera with a fog horn in the next room or outside the window - scare the crap out of him when you catch him. The NILIF system has worked wonders for many here. He is marking so this behavior is very hard to break. Good luck and you may want to call a positive reenforcement trainer in your area.

[RileysLegacy]

Agreed, make sure the spots are actually clean first. Then, you need to have him attached to you AT ALL TIMES when home, so you can immediately correct him when he goes to lift his leg. I am not usually an advocate of crates, but have you tried crating him while you're gone? Does he pee in there too? Do you take him for a long walk before leaving? He may need to pee a bunch of times to totally empty himself out.

[Batmom]

Leash bonding. When you're home, dog is attached to you by leash. Dog lifts leg, "AAAAH" (and push leg down if you can), immediately followed by cheerful, "Let's go out!" and convey dog straight outdoors, "Good boy!" for peeing outside instead.

[Guest nursenearlyther]

When we are home I don't need a leash cause he is right there stuck to me like a leach and no leg lifting. When I baby gate him in the laundry room the area he has to move in is just a bit bigger than a crate and he pees on his bed. Sometimes it is just marking other times it is a huge puddle and the belly bands are saturated. I don't have carpets and the bedding he does wet I wash immediately (almost daily it's hit or miss on his aim)the bed post I clean with Natures Miracle.

[RobinM]

Leash bonding. When you're home, dog is attached to you by leash. Dog lifts leg, "AAAAH" (and push leg down if you can), immediately followed by cheerful, "Let's go out!" and convey dog straight outdoors, "Good boy!" for peeing outside instead.

 

 

Although this seems like a PITA and it is... I can not stress enough how effective this is. I did it with 2 of my 3 boyz for about 3 weeks after they came home. The only time they were not attached to me was when they slept at night and we all sleep in the same room. During the day, I would minimize the area he has and continue to belly band.

[Sighthounds4me]

Many people will disagree with this, but here is my take.

 

If the urine is on a vertical surface, the dog marked. He put it there on purpose, he knows that, and he knows it's his. I see no problem escorting him to the scene of the crime, and having a conversation with him. No need to yell, just use the voice of God. Whatever you do, though, DO NOT call him to you! you want him to always be happy to come to you. Instead, take him by the collar, or whatever other method, and escort him to the problem area.

 

Many people think that once the deed is done, this is counter-productive. I do agree, if it's not a marking problem. If it was simply a dog that had to go, I agree that to punish does nothing but create fear. But if the dog has been marking, he put it there on purpose, and he knows it!

[GeorgeofNE]

Have you put human (adult) incontinence pad(s) in the belly band? A belly band on it's own is relatively useless IMHO.

 

You can also use a baby diaper with the absorbent part toward the dog (you have to fold it right, and I find Serenity Ultra pads are easier. Don't even waste your time and money using maxi pads--they're not designed to work in the same way--we don't need to go into details, eh?

 

My boy has had problems with peeing, not marking, and they hold a LOT.

 

Don't let him have access to your bedroom if that's the only place he's marking.

 

If he's urinated on the box spring or mattress, I have no clue how one gets that out sufficiently that the dog can't still smell it.

 

I would go with Robin's advice since she had the problem and fixed it.

 

Good luck, and don't give up. Believe me, any one who's dealt with pee problems feels your pain!

[Sighthounds4me]

If he's urinated on the box spring or mattress, I have no clue how one gets that out sufficiently that the dog can't still smell it.

 

Copious amounts of Odoban. We managed to get the smell of cat urine out of a mattress and box spring this way. The key is to apply it heavily, then let it dry for at least a couple weeks, then reevaluate. It does take time.

[jenn8]

When we are home I don't need a leash cause he is right there stuck to me like a leach and no leg lifting. When I baby gate him in the laundry room the area he has to move in is just a bit bigger than a crate and he pees on his bed. Sometimes it is just marking other times it is a huge puddle and the belly bands are saturated. I don't have carpets and the bedding he does wet I wash immediately (almost daily it's hit or miss on his aim)the bed post I clean with Natures Miracle.

 

Well, he has to go sometime, right? You just need to be there when he does. That means spending a solid block of time (as in 48 hours ), not letting him out of your sight. He needs consistent repetition... this is okay, that is not, no variation inbetween.... so he can understand what you want him to do.

 

So far, he has learned that the laundry room, bedroom and closet are places he can lift his leg whenever mom is not there. He does not know it is wrong. You can see that he has the capability to learn, however, what you teach him is up to you. This is going to take some work but the time spent up front will be worth it in the long run.

 

I would be happy to explain in more detail if you want.

 

Jenn

Edited October 6, 2010 by jenn8

[Guest sheila]

have you considered the idea of an incontinence issue? There are drugs like Proin or DES that can help tighten things up once any infection has been ruled out. Do you take him on a good long walk before he is left inside so that you know that he is really and truly empty?

[Guest greytsmom]

Many people will disagree with this, but here is my take.

 

If the urine is on a vertical surface, the dog marked. He put it there on purpose, he knows that, and he knows it's his. I see no problem escorting him to the scene of the crime, and having a conversation with him. No need to yell, just use the voice of God. Whatever you do, though, DO NOT call him to you! you want him to always be happy to come to you. Instead, take him by the collar, or whatever other method, and escort him to the problem area.

 

Many people think that once the deed is done, this is counter-productive. I do agree, if it's not a marking problem. If it was simply a dog that had to go, I agree that to punish does nothing but create fear. But if the dog has been marking, he put it there on purpose, and he knows it!

I agree 100% Sounds like a marker to me. Had a similar problem. We never had a male dog before and initially thought he was urinating because he had to go. Once I figured out what he was doing, I used the voice of GOD twice and that ended that! I feel your pain. Good Luck!

[Batmom]

NOing them at the scene of the crime is useless after the fact. They don't know what you're talking about -- you're just unpredictable and weird from their point of view.

 

How long since he had a urinalysis?

 

How often is he taken out during the day?

[Guest nursenearlyther]

So I guess my dilemma is when I go to work. When we are home he stands by the back door when he needs to go out and he only lifted a leg when we first got him. After the voice of God he never did it again. The peeing is only when I am at work and the kiddoes are at school before they get home. He gets a 45 minute walk at night since I leave for work at 430am and the kids let him out at 815 before school. Someone gets home by 2 to let him out.

 

His last UA was in April for his yearly check up since I figured a year was about the time MOST Of the naughtiness should have gone away. I thought maybe he had SA but am not necessarily convinced it is that. Ugh this is so frustrating. I appreciate all the suggestions

[arandomchic]

Just a tip, a black light will show urine stains or spots. You can usually find the light bulbs at any hardware store and most walmart/targets (especially around this time of year). You just put it in a small lamp, you just put it close to the surface and you'll see anything you might've missed when cleaning up.

 

We had to do this when one of our kitties was in kidney failure and would pee outside the litterbox.

[Guest sheila]

The peeing is only when I am at work and the kiddoes are at school before they get home. He gets a 45 minute walk at night since I leave for work at 430am and the kids let him out at 815 before school. Someone gets home by 2 to let him out.

 

Do you think you could let him have a quick out before you leave for work in addition to the 8:15 out your kids do? Some dogs don't totally empty on just one trip out. Just a thought.

[Guest Oceannine]

Just an idea, but perhaps obedience training may help if it is a marking issue. A friend of mine just had great success this summer with obedience training once the vet verified there was no physiological reason for the marking being done in her closet. Good Luck!

[Sighthounds4me]

The peeing is only when I am at work and the kiddoes are at school before they get home. He gets a 45 minute walk at night since I leave for work at 430am and the kids let him out at 815 before school. Someone gets home by 2 to let him out.

 

Do you think you could let him have a quick out before you leave for work in addition to the 8:15 out your kids do? Some dogs don't totally empty on just one trip out. Just a thought.

 

Good point! I missed that!

 

Many markers (I hesitate to say males, because many girls mark too!) reserve a lot so they can mark a lot. So if he is not completely emptying when he is outside, he may find a very pressing need to urinate later in the day.

 

And, if the kids let him out before school, are they making CERTAIN that he urinates several times (IOW watching him - I am unclear whether he is leash-walked, thus I think of my situation: put them outside in a fenced yard)? If not, he may not be emptying, thus the above problem...

[Guest nursenearlyther]

Yup I totally do let him out along with the rest of the crew right before I leave for work and the kids let them out for a good while before school (we have a ginormous yard so lots of placed for him to mark after all the other puppers). I might have to look into obedience training it seems. They are leash walked at night. I will have to try the black light and I actually have one since my kids love to hunt for scorpions at night... they are disturbed individuals

[Guest Swifthounds]

NOing them at the scene of the crime is useless after the fact. They don't know what you're talking about -- you're just unpredictable and weird from their point of view.

[Guest june]

Does he drink a lot of water? Does he have access to lots of water during the day? If he is nervous because you are gone is he drinking and then having to pee? I adopted a grey who was returned for potty isses in the house. He had a total of 3 accidents but several incidents b/c of anxiety until I figured out he was drinking himself full while I was gone. If this is the case and if there is nothing physical wrong continue to make sure he potties before you leave. Allow he a good drink of water before you leave. Then if you feel you HAVE to leave him water give him just a very small amount for the day. If the kids are leaving at 8:15 and you get home before 5 unless it is really hot he should be fine. The suggestion of keeping him on a leash attached to you is great and I've used this several times successfully. It is a pain, but so is cleaning up the mess.