My dog is normally an inside dog, he has a doggy door which he always uses and never had a problem with. My sister and I got new beds and ever since that day he has started peeing on the corner of our beds. About a month later I got a new job so no one was home anymore and he is locked in the laundry for most of the day. He then started to pee in the bathroom and in the kitchen also including the beds. My mother isn't very nice to him anymore because she's sick of him peeing everywhere so he is a little scared of her.
Could that be one of the reasons or maybe because everything has changed. And how do I fix it??

Are you saying your mom is abusing him?? If yes then you need to find him a new home, it is not fair of him to live in fear.

No she doesn't abuse him... she just doesn't pay him any attention anymore and the only time that she does actually give him attention now is when she's yelling at him.
I would never let her hit him and she doesn't do that anyway.

If it were my cats peeing, I'd say it's because of the new beds -- different look, different smell.

I always read the Dog threads, and wonder if you kennel or crate your dog at all? That seems to be their special place, their den, sort of like cardboard boxes lying on their sides for our cats -- a place to nap and be alone.

Shazzy, one of our Dogs experts wrote this in another thread --

Crate Training.

This is very similar to separation anxiety training. There are a few things to consider before actually starting the training:

Selecting a crate:
A dog's crate should be large enough for the dog to stand up in, turn around easily and be able to lay down comfortably.
Crates come in all shapes and sizes so shop around for one that best suits your dog's size.

I personally prefer to use all wire crates as to the plastic pet pack varieties as even though the plastic crates have ventilation they can become very hot.

When you leave, no matter how long for always have fresh water available, D-shaped water bowls are great for crates, they are shaped like a D and the flat part has clips to secure to the wire and prevent spills.

Toys are also a wonderful training tool as it will keep the dog distracted, I use kong toys stuffed with yummy food as a cure for boredom, having special toys or treats that the dog gets only when you go out are also a wonderful idea, it shows them that the crate is a good thing, not a punishment.

Another good idea for crates is to cover it with a blanket or sheet. You can leave the front open so the dog can see but having a blanket over the sides and back makes the dog feel more secure than a wire crate out in the open. Another reason I prefer wire crates, you can adjust the covering to suit the weather.

When crate training my dogs I first coax them into the crate with a yummy treat, I let them eat the treat in the crate and play with a toy in there. Once they are comfortable with being in the crate I give them another treat then lock the crate and then go sit away from the crate and ignore the puppy.

I only sit down for a minute or two, just long enough so that the dog does not bark or cry. I then walk over and let them out of the crate and give them praise for not crying.

Letting them out only if they are not crying is very important. If you let the dog out of the crate while it is crying it will only teach them that crying makes you come back and let them out.

Next time I sit down for a few more minutes, again only letting them out if the dog is not crying.

Increase the amount of time you sit for and always let them out before the dog starts crying (you will learn how long that threshold is pretty quickly)

This teaches the dog that they are not being left in the crate forever.

A lot of people prefer to leave the house while they are crating their dog to start with, this is purely personal preference, I have tried both and had more success with staying near the dog.

The only attention the dog should get should be an angry "no" from you when it cries to show it that crying is naughty. Just remember, however loud and hard your puppy is screaming do not let it out of the crate. It will calm down and then it can come out.

Yeah that makes sense but we've had them for a while now, and he's just started to pee in the bathroom and the kitchen which I don't understand.
He does have the whole laundry to himself which is away from everybody and when we do go out he gets locked up in there with he's toys and food. So I'm not sure why he's started this behavior

How old is the dog? How long is he locked up for? Has he been to a vet to rule out a medical reason?

I agree with Mogrann, best to rule out medical issues first, may not be training or behavoiral at all. Age related changes like diabetes, kidney disease, a simple and treatable UTI. Better to start with the medical issues and then work your way down to behavior.

Clarification, I agree re: the medical issues not the abuse, that is not a fair assumption for me to make.

You left out some details that most of us would find helpful. How old is you dog and how long have you had him? How much exercise does he get? Hiow often is he fed and watered and when? When was his last vet visit done and what did the vet say or test for?

He is about 6 years old now.. and I've had him ever since he was a puppy. He use to be walked everyday but that stopped about 2 years ago when we all got full time jobs and didn't have much time to walk him. He has food (biscuits) and water available for him all day, so he shouldn't be hungry or thirsty.
I've never had a problem with him until we got new beds and my mum started to dislike him due to he's behavior.

He hasn't been to a vet for about 2-3 years, the last time he went was because he had a swollen bottom and needed creams for it.

He is about 6 years old now.. and I've had him ever since he was a puppy. He use to be walked everyday but that stopped about 2 years ago when we all got full time jobs and didn't have much time to walk him. He has food (biscuits) and water available for him all day, so he shouldn't be hungry or thirsty.
I've never had a problem with him until we got new beds and my mum started to dislike him due to he's behavior.

He hasn't been to a vet for about 2-3 years, the last time he went was because he had a swollen bottom and needed creams for it.

I wonder, I haven't seen whether you said he used to get on your beds, but since it started with the new beds, maybe he can't get on them as before. Coupled with the loss of your attention since the walks stopped and you've been gone so long daily, he may just feel like he doesn't really belong anymore. Dogs normally don't relieve themselves in areas of the house that they frequent a lot, just as most won't 'go' in their sleeping or eating areas.

Maybe Mom could take him for a short walk now and then? Just to see what he may do as a result? And to give him a little hope that he is still a part of the family?

So many people treat their pets like family members. What happens if they stop? What would you, as a family member, feel were it you suddenly feeling left out? I don't really believe dogs feel and are as rationalizing as humans, but I wouldn't swear to it.

Surely you can make time to walk your dog. I work a full time job as well (50-60 hours a week), and still manage to take my dog for 3 walks a day (at least half an hour long each time). You just need to get up earlier, etc. No excuses.

Take your dog into the vet to ensure he doesn't have a urinary tract infection. If his physical is clear, then you need to start thinking about what is causing it. I would start with walking him.

Your dog is displaced. Displaced dogs do strange things, such as peeing in the house. I don't think this is a permanent form of separation anxiety, it can be fixed. You and your family just need to apply yourselves.

First, purchase a male wrap. This will prevent him from actually peeing on things. It is contained in a diaper and will eliminate the frustration you and your family experience when you see him.

Second, Don't make a big deal about it, especially if the pee is hours to minutes old. The only way you can correct a mistake is if you catch them in the act of doing it. But just clean up the mess with a good enzyme-based cleaner and move on. Dogs don't understand punishment the way people do. If a dog knows you are unhappy with his behavior, he will just continue that same behavior. If you ignore the undesirable behavior, he will redirect in a different way, which is why you always want him to do something you like.

Introduce a crate. Your dog is 6 years old, he can handle being in a crate for 8 hours. Crates keep good dogs good. I don't condone a crate for 8 hours, but if it helps you like your dog again, then it something that will have to happen. When you are gone, and he is in his crate, be sure to leave the radio on or the TV. Just picture yourself sitting in a room in the dead silence. Itd probably drive you bonkers as well. Introduce the crate slowly, on a weekend where everyone is home and just randomly put him in it throughout the day with treats and toys. I don't advise treats and toys while you're not around, but for practice runs and to enforce that the crate is good, treats and toys work great!

Exercise, exercise, exercise! Even the calmest of breeds still need to get out and stretch their legs. Make your dog tired. Make him go until he stops. Take him to dog parks, regular parks, pets store that allow pets, obedience/agility classes and so on. Your day may have ended when you clocked out, but his just started when you got home. Don't expect a dog that's been cooped up all day to be a good dog... That just won't ever happen. Tired dogs aren't as needy for attention and a lot of the undesirable behaviors begin to disappear, such as peeing in the house.

Your dog can be fixed.. you just need to put effort into it. He needs you to help him!

You have been given some great advice so far.

Something else you haven't mentioned: Is he neutered?

What breed(s) is he?

Does he still have his doggy door available all day or is he now having to wait to be let out?

Has he always been put in the laundry room as his place or has this started since people stopped having time for him? Has it been thoroughly checked for marking?

It sounds like he is reacting to tension as well as environmental changes. Crating may help, but only if he is given the work and attention he needs. Otherwise, it will be another way to shut him out of the family.

Many people don't realize their dog can be a productive member of the household. Putting him to work is quality time to him especially if he gets paid in treats. Even small dogs can learn to pick up dropped papers or other small items.

He is a maltease/poodle.
The Laundry has a door that's also attached to the backyard so that's where the doggy door leads to and the laundry is always open when we're home so he can walk around the house and be with us but when no one is home he is locked in the laundry but like I said he has access to the doggy door all day and can go outside when ever he pleases. This is why I don't like the idea of a crate, because he gets a whole room to himself filled with toys, food and water and access to the backyard 24/7.
I let him come on my bed but my mum tells him off and that's happened ever since we've got him so I don't think that's the issue..

At the moment I think it is because the beds are new in the house and he does miss going for walks.

I am 19 years old... So when I'm not working I like to spend time with friends as every teenager would.
I understand what your saying about walks... but he hasn't been on a walk for a very long time now. As I said this peeing behavior has only started ever since we got the new beds..

Is he neutered?

You're looking at his problem from a human perspective. Try looking at from his.


About a month later I got a new job so no one was home anymore and he is locked in the laundry for most of the day.

You bring in new furniture at a time when he seems to be pretty much ignored. He may have run of the house when people are there, but it sounds like people are there less and less and he is spending more and more time on his own.

How much positive attention does he get? Does anyone play with him? Does anyone spend time grooming and petting him? Does anyone do more than yell at him?

How much time do you spend with him? How much time are you actually in the house to know where he spends his time and how your mother actually treats him?

I am not trying to be harsh, but you almost make him sound like a doll you put on the shelf two years ago. He is a living creature that needs structure and attention. Your schedule changed when you got a new job. You say that you are no longer home during the day. If you go to school and hang out with friends, where does that leave him?

Your life has changed, but his needs haven't.

No he's not neutered...
I will get home on a weekday at about 8:00pm. I pet him and lay with him in bed before I go to sleep, and sometimes I give him "dinner" (dried biscuits and canned food) on occasion which he gets very excited about, its almost like giving him a treat.

He is not a doll that sits on a shelf as you have called it.. I've had him for 6 years and I love him very much.

Age doesn't matter. How much do you love your dog? If you really care for him you will make time for him. When I was 19, I lived for my dog and I still spent a lot of time with my friends. So your excuse doesn't sit well with me. Its actually a very poor excuse. If you don't have time for your dog, find him a new home.

I think you need to have a family meeting about him. Find out exactly what his schedule and living conditions are like and how people are treating him. I am not talking about a confrontation, but information gathering.

I know you have had him for six years and you love him. However, if he isn't getting his emotional and mental (even physical) needs met now, what do you think his next six, eight, ten, years will be like? What happens if/when you are in school and have homework on top of your job? What happens if you move out and have a place of your own? What happens if you get married and have children?

Do you think his mental, emotional and physical needs are being fully met? Are you willing to change your priorities to make sure he has all of his needs provided for?

Please be honest with yourself about how much you do and what he needs. Do you really think food and a bit of petting until you fall asleep are enough?

It may seem that we are being hard on you. In many ways, we are. You as a human have choices and can make your own decisions. Your pup can't. He relies on you and everyone else in the family/household to make the best ones for him.

Are you making the best decisions you can for him?

There are 3 of us that live in the house.. so you'd think I'd know what conditions he's living in.
If I moved out I'd take him with me.
He has a whole room to himself and the backyard which he can go out to whenever he feels like it..
Walking has never been an issue for him, he's never been a hypo dog and loves to sleep even when we did take him for walks he would get tired and wouldn't want to run he'd walk very slowly.
The issue is why is he all of the sudden peeing... is it because of the new furniture.
And fyi I did buy him new toys yesterday which he doesn't even look at and I took him for a walk and he threw up afterwards.

There are 3 of us that live in the house.. so you'd think I'd know what conditions he's living in.
If I moved out I'd take him with me.
He has a whole room to himself and the backyard which he can go out to whenever he feels like it..
Walking has never been an issue for him, he's never been a hypo dog and loves to sleep even when we did take him for walks he would get tired and wouldn't want to run he'd walk very slowly.
The issue is why is he all of the sudden peeing... is it because of the new furniture.
And fyi I did buy him new toys yesterday which he doesn't even look at and I took him for a walk and he threw up afterwards.

He has a whole room to himself and the backyard which he can go out to whenever he feels like it.

I'm going to put my two cents in here even though I'm a cat person.

Dogs are pack animals. They need other dogs as friends to play with, and they need owners to give them work to do and a reason for existing.

All the nice accommodations in the world aren't going to make a dog happy. Dogs are content with a den in a rock pile or between bales of straw. What will make a dog happy is purposeful interactions with their owners.

A friend lived next door to an older couple who had a beautiful husky. The dog was on a 20' swiveling chain that was connected to a study oak tree in the back yard. A dog house and a water bowl with fresh water were nearby. No one ever interacted with the dog except to put food and fresh water out twice a day. The dog was out in that yard alone during all four seasons, and the grass under the tree was completely gone because of his constant pacing.

That very lonely dog was the first thing I thought of when I read this thread.

There are 3 of us that live in the house.. so you'd think i'd know what conditions hes living in.
If I moved out I'd take him with me.
He has a whole room to himself and the backyard which he can go out to whenever he feels like it..
Walking has never been an issue for him, he's never been a hypo dog and loves to sleep even when we did take him for walks he would get tired and wouldnt want to run he'd walk very slowly.
The issue is why is he all of the sudden peeing.... is it because of the new furniture.
and fyi i did buy him new toys yesterday which he doesnt even look at and i took him for a walk and he threw up afterwards.

Your dog sounds depressed.

Have you taken him to a vet yet to rule out anything medical? That really should be your first step. Please, have him checked by a vet asap.

I have to add, and this is going to sound harsh, I feel bad for your dog. He went from a loved pet, walked every day, played with, to being locked in the laundry room for most of the day, never walked, and largely ignored, or scolded. When you did take him for a walk yesterday did you have fun, or did you just do it out of a sense of duty, or because you felt guilt?

Dogs are very perceptive. He likely knows that he's not that loved right now. He's left alone most of the day, he's getting yelled at, he likely sleeps a lot because there's nothing else to do, or he's ill.

Dogs don't care about fancy toys, fancy beds, fancy bowls, and fancy dog doors, what they care about is their pack. They are pack animals. They need their pack mates in order to be fulfilled, they need to go for walks, they need to be able to smell different smells, see something other then the same four walls of the laundry room, or the yard. If he's alone all day, nothing to do, no one to do it with, then he's not a happy dog, he's just existing, and sadly he doesn't even seem to be existing for your pleasure. It sounds more like he's become a burden to the whole family. :(

He has a whole room to himself and the backyard which he can go out to whenever he feels like it.

I'm going to put my two cents in here even though I'm a cat person.

Dogs are pack animals. They need other dogs as friends to play with, and they need owners to give them work to do and a reason for existing.

All the nice accommodations in the world aren't going to make a dog happy. Dogs are content with a den in a rock pile or between bales of straw. What will make a dog happy is purposeful interactions with their owners.

Are we sharing a brain today WG? ;)

We were typing at the same time. :)

No he is not a burden and we do pay attention to him. Yes some things have changed as they do in everyone's life and he may not get as much attention as he use to but he's not ignored.
No I did not take him just because of guilt, he seemed as if he enjoyed the walk but he threw up afterwards, and I'm not sure why that happen...

I bought him more toys because I was told he needed things to keep himself occupied during the day and I also leave a radio on now in he's room which I've heard helps. But he did have another peeing accident this morning when I was home before I left.
He use to be left in the house until he started to pee everywhere which is why he is now locked in the laundry

My dog is not treated like that at all.

i bought him more toys because i was told he needed things to keep himself occupied during the day

Toys for dogs, just like toys for children, need to be played with when owners/parents supervise. Neither a dog nor a child instinctively knows how to play. They have to be taught. And most dog and cat toys are interactive.

No he is not a burden and we do pay attention to him. Yes some things have changed as they do in everyone's life and he may not get as much attention as he use to but he's not ignored.
No I did not take him just because of guilt, he seemed as if he enjoyed the walk but he threw up afterwards, and I'm not sure why that happen...

I bought him more toys because I was told he needed things to keep himself occupied during the day and I also leave a radio on now in he's room which I've heard helps. But he did have another peeing accident this morning when I was home before I left.
He use to be left in the house until he started to pee everywhere which is why he is now locked in the laundry

So, many things have changed for him.

He used to have free reign of the house, now he's locked in the laundry. He used to get daily walks, now he doesn't. There used to be someone home with him, now everyone works.

There are so many changes that have been going on in his life, peeing is a way to let you all know that he's not happy with all those changes.

As for the walk. How far did you go? How fast? Remember, he hasn't been for a walk in 2 years. You will have to start slow with him, let him get used to daily walks again. Possibly the excitement of being out of the house after so long, the pace, and the length, led him to vomit. Continue the walks, just start of small, slow, and let him get used to it again, then increase the walks.

I still recommend that you get a health check done to rule out a urinary tract infection or other medical issues. That's a must.

But, even if there is a medical issue, things have to change for this dog. I don't doubt that you love him, otherwise you wouldn't be coming here for advice. You do have to put yourself in his paws. He needs to be around all of you. He needs to have walks. He needs to know that he's a member of the pack. Toys are okay, but time with you is the best gift you can give him, and it's free.

Yes, he is sitting with people just watching TV, is he walking with people, is he sitting in the kitchen watching when they cook.

I feel sorry for a dog that is all alone in "his room" that is like what you do with a child to punish them, send them to their room)

yes, he is sitting with people just watching TV, is he walking with people, is he sitting in the kitchen watching when they cook.

I feel sorry for a dog that is all alone in "his room" that is like what you do with a child to punish them, send them to their room)

Being in the room isn't the main problem. Dogs don't mind being in their "den" when the rest of the pack is away. But to go from having the run of the house to being put in the laundry room all day, that is a punishment. I'm also very sure that the mother (who's angry about the peeing), makes sure he knows that it's a punishment for the peeing.

A den/room/crate shouldn't be a time out place, a place a dog is forced to go because he's bad. It should be a safe haven, a place where the dog can be while the pack isn't around. It's best to start crate or room training when the dog is a puppy, but you can crate train an older dog. The thing is, putting the dog in the room and just expecting him to accept it, isn't the way to go about it.

This poor dogs last few years have been one change after the other. It's just adding up and there's no way for him to tell his people that he's not happy, other then peeing in the house. That gets their attention, and negative attention is better then no attention at all. :(

No I have no choice nor does anyone else in the family to go to school and work.. as I said he can't be trusted to be left in the house alone because he pees. So he gets locked up, he doesn't get yelled at to stay in the room, the laundry is like a "kennel" for him that's he's little place with he's beds, toys, food, water etc.
When we are home he is with us in the house...

My little dog Sugar was part of the family, I considered her in any change to the household. When I lost her, it has hard, I still have her chase ball on the shelf in memory of her and that was 10 years ago.

This is the issue with Pets, if I can preach a moment, people give or have a lower standard for them and at times seem to consider them disposable

It was a 15min walk that I took him on because as you said he needs to get use to going for walks again, he was allowed off the lead because he knows the route and he is very obidient (stopping on corners of the road and waiting etc)
I will have to check out the peeing problem because as I said this only started to happen when we got new furniture. Everything else (walking, no one being home because of work/school) has been happening for quite a few years now. And I would have thought if he was depressed over that then it would have happen along time ago.

Sorry but you guys arnt getting it. We don't punish him by locking him away from everyone. When he gets in trouble (and we've done this ever since he was a puppy) he would be sent to he's "bed" which is located in the kitchen. He doesn't get locked away for hours and hours when everyone's home just because he is in trouble he doesn't even get smacked but he is a smart dog.

Some of you are making it sound like he is ignored and left alone all day every day.. I've said he gets let out as soon as we're home we pat him, talk to him, he gets "dinner" as a special treat once or twice a week.
The only thing that has changed which changed a while ago is the frequent walks and now the new beds and you can't blame my mother for her being angry at him leaving pee stains on the carpet and on the side of our beds.

Ok I've never once said that I hated my dog and I want to get rid of him.. Please read carfully what I am saying.
I am writing on here to get help for the peeing problems.
Not because I think my dog is a waste of space and I abuse him everyday and then one day "dispose" of him

Then I'm going to go back to my original comment -- the smell and look of the new furniture may be at least part of the problem. I know cats HATE change, and I'm guessing dogs do too. Also, he's anointing your beds and welcoming them into the family by peeing on them (so they smell right).

A dog's sense of smell is incredibly more powerful than a humans. That's why they are such good rescue dogs after earthquakes and drug-sniffer dogs at airports.

And again, please rule out urinary problems.

How do I stop it if its not a urinary problem?
And thank you for answering my problem.. :)

I'm not saying that you're abusing your dog, I'm saying that there have been too many changes, and none of them good, for your dog.

You said that he was only put in the laundry room when he started peeing in the house. You don't think he realizes that? Dogs sense what we're thinking and feeling. He may have toys, a bed, food and water, but he's not being put in the laundry room because it's his den, he's being put in there because he's peeing in the house. You yourself said that.

He may not be ignored all day, but he's definitely on his own a lot more then he used to be. Of course you all have to work. I understand that, but to go from having someone at home during the day, to having the run of the house, to having daily walks, to then being locked in the laundry room alone all day, no walks, is a huge change. Dogs can start having behavior issues like peeing for a lot less then this. A lot less!

I don't blame your mother for being upset about him peeing, but I do blame everyone for not realizing why and changing it. A dog is a responsibility. We choose to have them in our lives, because it makes us happy. Well, we can't only consider our own happiness. He can't just be there for you when you need a cuddle, or want a soft fur baby to pet. You need to consider his needs too. If his needs aren't being met and he starts to rebel, that's not his fault. If you're not willing to put in the work, then you have to be willing to live with the pee.

That's really the only advice I can give you. I know you don't want to hear that you may have to give up some time with your friends in order to do the right thing for your dog, but that's what it's going to take. You're either willing to do that, or you're not. If you're not, then maybe it would be best to find him a home where they are.

I don't mean to be harsh, but I'm thinking of what's best for this dog. He's my main concern.

He doesn't know that he's being put into the laundry because he can't be trusted. I already said what we do when he gets punished.

Sorry but you guys arnt getting it. We don't punish him by locking him away from everyone. When he gets in trouble (and we've done this ever since he was a puppy) he would be sent to he's "bed" which is located in the kitchen. He doesn't get locked away for hours and hours when everyone's home just because he is in trouble he doesn't even get smacked but he is a smart dog.

Some of you are making it sound like he is ignored and left alone all day every day.. I've said he gets let out as soon as we're home we pat him, talk to him, he gets "dinner" as a special treat once or twice a week.
The only thing that has changed which changed a while ago is the frequent walks and now the new beds and you can't blame my mother for her being angry at him leaving pee stains on the carpet and on the side of our beds.


I already explained it..

The walking thing stopped awhile ago that's my point... if he was depressed he would have started this behavior a long time ago.. noones been home for the last 2 years either.

It only started when the new beds came

I give up.

Fine, it's the beds, and he's perfectly happy otherwise. He's more then fine being in the laundry room all day, never getting walked, being alone. He's the happiest dog in the world, and I'm the Queen of England. :(

If it's the beds, which I doubt is the main issue, then you'll have to be more diligent about taking him outside, praising him when he goes potty outside. A firm no when he pees indoors. You'll have to retrain him, but seeing as you fight with me about walking him, I have a feeling that the work you'll have to put in to retrain him, won't happen.

You still need to get him checked for health issues.

I tried. That's all I can do. I can tell you what I see when I read your posts, and you can either accept it, do something to change it, or live with things the way they are.

You've gotten the best advice we can give. The rest is up to you.

Good luck.