Bad habit of peeing returns
We recently had new carpet and vinyl installed in our kitchen and family room-a loooong over due event. This morning, the installer came back for final adjustments, etc. Sophie kept wanting to be in his way, eventually not even being satisfied with sitting with me on the couch (a treat) being petted. She was being a pest and Sherman and Archie were sleeping quietly in another part of the room (usual nap time), so I simply removed Sophie to another part of the house for the 15-20 minutes the installer needed to finish up. No scolding, toys, free access to the rest of the house, nice cool floors, nice comfy sophas and chairs--she just couldn't come in where hubby and I were with the installer. Shortly before, she had been on her second 45 minute long morning walk, with tons of opportunities to pee. So, the installer finishes, and we are walking to the front of the house where I had placed Sophie and of course, she had peed. Now, she had done absolutely nothing that indicated to me that she might even be thinking that perhaps she might need to pee. So, despite my belief that dogs aren't really spiteful, it really feels like this is exactly what it was: spite and payback. Sophie is 16 months old, is on meds for urinary incontinence (no problems with it as long as she gets her meds) and has always seemed to have a smaller bladder capacity than my other dogs, so we are used to watching her for signs she needs to go. She's also very clever and manipulative--I've seen her manipulate the other dogs to get what she wants--you can see the wheels turn. Also, when she was being house trained, sometimes, if you had told her now about ----anything at all, she'd walk in front of you, squat and pee and then run to the door, because she knew that an accident meant she'd be going outside to finish up. Very irritating and difficult to figure out how NOT to reward the behavior with a trip outside (always a treat, no matter how often or how much time she spends outside). And could and did happen 15 minutes after nice long walks and multiple pees. Never has had a UTI, atlhough she's been checked a few times to eliminate that as a possibility. Thoughts or suggestions much appreciated. |
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| I know that when Barney gets excited (like when a visitor comes) he has to pee. This dog can hold it for hours and hours and hours, etc. but if you let someone in the house, he'll pee a little. Do you think Sophie maybe got really excited by the workers and then when she had her time out she needed to pee because of the excitement? |
| Although I'm no expert, I have a strong belief in a dog's judgment. Is it possible that your dog felt threatened by the carpet installer? I know that sounds a little silly but if she saw the installer as a threat to you, your husband, the other dogs, the carpet she may have been trying to tell you something in her own doggy way.
When we were a single sheepie home and I had a former friend over my princess, Jo, would get really upset and even nipped at the friend once (didn't actually get the friend but I was horrified!). Jo is not an aggressive dog in any way, but I realized that the friend was someone who brought a bit too much turmoil into my life (outside of Jo's issue...we just didn't have a healthy relationship). Jo knew it from day one and let me know by ignoring the friend, leaving the room when the friend would come over and sometimes growling at the friend when she'd sit in "Jo's chair." When the friend and I stopped hanging out Jo was fine and she's never done that with anyone else, even men I've dated. Perhaps I let my dogs dictate a bit too much of my life, but is sounds like your little lady was upset. |
Maybe she was just marking it as hers. She saw and smelled the guy messing with her flooring and wanted to leave a note for him should he return. Dogs  |
| When Sofie pees inside, try putting her on her leash and taking her outside to pee. No fun running around and playing, just pee, a quick good to pee (or whatever) and back inside.
It will take more time on your part to stand out there with her, but she loses the reward of playtime outside. My vet has us do it this way for the first 4 months they are with us 
But it does work. |
| This was the third and final time for the installer to be at our house, so she's somewhat familiar. He's pleasant enough, a dog person, low key. Doesn't mean he isn't a mass murderer, but didn't seem like it.
I know what you mean about dogs picking up on vibes though.My first OES only didn't like 2 people--one was a very nasty person who was attempting to pose as one of my son's friends. I had no problem allowing Merlin to place himself between that jerk and the family and if the jerk seemed uncomfortable, so much the better. I didn't want him on the property. The other time was a meter reader back when the water meter was located inside my basement. Merlin simply parked himself between me and that guy at all times. I did not discourage this. No growling, but Merlin parked his body next to me and did not budge from his stance as long as the guy was in the house. No growling, but I could feel his body tense and ready. Normally, he was very interested in workmen who came to the house and wanted to 'help' but except for those two instances, never needed to 'guard' although he did want to check them out, after which he was fine going away. The other dogs didn't have a problem today (or the other days, either)--after the initial and very quiet greeting, they simply laid down, knowing they wouldn't be allowed to mug the guy into playing with them because he was working. Usually someone crawling around on the floor is fair game for play. Sophie's problem seemed to be that I wouldn't let her get in his face (he was down on the floor, after all) and lick him. No one barked or whined or seemed aggressive. Sophie just seemed to want to be the center of his attention, a not uncommon thing with her. The suggestion of taking her out on her leash is a great one. I am embarrassed not to have thought of it earlier. It sounds like it will accomplish the goal of making sure she gets to pee if she needs to, as well as not rewarding her for peeing in the house. |
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