Hi again,

Yet another puzzling phenomenon produced by Barkley... our one year old lab mix from the shelter. Here's the story...

He has NEVER gone to the bathroom in the house, except for the very first night we had him when he whined at my bedside to go out, and I ignored him, so he promptly went in our bathroom and pooped. But I consider that my fault because he "told me" he had to go!

But TODAY... Our friend stayed with us for the night, whom he is somewhat familiar with... he's met her at least 10 times before. Anyway, we were watching TV on the couch this afternoon, he was sitting peacefully on his bed. He had been taken out at 10:30, and this is 1:00 pm, so it wasn't like he hadn't been to the bathroom lately. She went upstairs to go to the guest room where she slept last night, and he followed her up there, and promptly began peeing on the carpet! This dog is not a leg lifter--he squats to pee. I heard her screeching "NO NO NO!" and I ran in the room to check... he just looked at both of us screeching NO and went on with his business.

He has NEVER done this before, and has been exhibiting NO signs of a UTI or bladder infection.

Is this behavioral? Is he saying, "Get out of my house??" OR, did he just decide that he had to pee? If that is the case, why on earth did he not go to the door like he usually does and wait? That's his usual signal for "I have to go!"

ARRGH,
Please give advice!

This really sounds behavioral, having to do with status. He is neutered? He could be upset you are giving your friend attention he feels entitled to. Perhaps she unintentionally sent a message she outranks him and he was showing her who is top dog. I hate to fall back on no better than suggesting obedience training, but it could help. The dogs see all the
People and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in
The pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members
Outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by
Reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class
Or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with
A treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/. You may want to consider some stern discipline if it starts to become a pattern. Get back with me.

Thanks very much! To answer your questions, he is neutered, and he is going to obedience school next week! It was the first class that was open at our local humane society, so we've enrolled him. I think you are right--it's got to be behavioral. We've had him 2 months now and he has figured out that he lives here and is looking for a way to be "top dog." Additionally, we were out late both nights this weekend and his routine was somewhat interrupted, though he still got taken out and fed at the roughly the same times.

That said, life is not routine... other than obedience school, is there anything else we can do? I can't have him pee every time he's mad!