View Full Version : Why does my dog pee in my livingroom?
newtodogs
Jun 21, 2011, 12:41 PM
We adopted a 15 mt female lab/ret mix about a month ago. She is awesome!! She loves people and other dogs. Good walker and loves to play fetch. she is on a good schedule, gets up at 6 goes for a walk and comes home and pees and poops in the backyard then has breakfast. At 7 has playtime with me in the yard. During the day she goes for a couple of walks. Has dinner at 6 then out for a playtime and poops and pees. We take her to the doggie park 3-4 times a week and she loves it. The only problem is-a couple of times she has peed in my livingroom. Once when we were all sitting down to dinner - she went into the livingroom right next to the kitchen and peed. I said "NO" and took her outside to finish. I cleaned the carpet with no more marking spray I got from petco. About a week later, I was making dinner and she did the same thing. Not the same spot but the same room. I stopped her took her out and cleaned it up again. Last week sitting in the kitchen working on bills, she did the same thing. So, now she is not allowed upstairs. She stays in the familyroom and office downstairs and has not had another accident. How long do I keep her out of the livingroom? The other question I have is, she only pees and poops in my yard. Not at the doggie park, or on walks, I want to take her to camp overnight, but not sure how to get her to go somewhere other than my backyard. Can you tell this is my first dog?
ballengerb1
Jun 21, 2011, 01:56 PM
Before you do anything else have your vet check for a urinary infection. This is unusual for an adult who is house trained. No new babies or other pets in the house, right?
newtodogs
Jun 22, 2011, 08:25 AM
We took jillian to the vet last Friday and no uti. No new babies or other pets in the house.
Just can't understand why the livingroom. Would love to have her join us when we are preparing and having dinner, but don't want her to have another accident.
ballengerb1
Jun 22, 2011, 08:35 AM
That increases the chance this is a behavioral issue. I just caught the fact that you have only had her for a month, 15 month old had my attention. OK she peed while making dinner, when was she oldside previous to this "accident?"
newtodogs
Jun 22, 2011, 09:04 AM
She had been outside playing and had peed, then came inside and came upstairs with all of us. That is what puzzled me.
ballengerb1
Jun 22, 2011, 09:14 AM
If she was a he I'd say territorial but that's not common for females. I would consider crating her for a few hours at a time and then taking her outside to do her business so she'd see the link. She has not figured out the carpoet is the property of the humans yet.
newtodogs
Jun 22, 2011, 09:20 AM
Thanks! I will try it and let you know how it goes.
paleophlatus
Jun 23, 2011, 02:06 AM
A well house trained animal will usually NOT have accidents in rooms of the house where they live, play, or otherwise spend a lot of time. Eating and sleeping are also a couple of 'no-go' zones. But, in a doggie emergency, and no way to get outside, those dogs will hunt up an 'unused' part of the house. As will a dog not so well trained , who is just trying to hide 'it' from you. She isn't trying to hide it from you, but I wonder if she is as successfully trained as you think... she is outside with you walking or playing a lot during the day, and it is natural she relieves herself at those times. Consequently, she may simply feel that she will soon be returning outdoors and is willing to wait to go, not fully feeling the responsibility of being required to only go outdoors.
I agree with the crating suggested by ballengerb1. Think of it as a remedial education course in her unfinished house training degree.