I have a 7 month Maltese and I have done everything possible to train him outside. For the most part he has it and recognizes to go outside, but lately, just as we put the leash on him, he pees all over himself. Odd part is he has been on the same schedule for months now and we can't figure out why he is doing this all of a sudden.

How often do you take him outside?

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Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

How often do you take him outside?

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At least 3 times a day and it is only recently he's began doing this. We even made a point to not distract him right before we leave.

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Originally Posted by comay82

At least 3 times a day

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Yikes.. a 7 month old puppy only going outside to go potty "at least" 3 times a day? The number of times he needs to go out should be more. I'm surprised you didn't have more problems.

My guess is, he is very excited and anxious to go outside. Anxious, excited dogs, especially boys, will pee all over themselves.

I swear, it's a phase that all little boys (and sometimes girls) go through.

How to fix it.. increase the number of times for him to go out. I realize you work.. but they times you are not at work, he should be going outside more often than "at least" 3 times... Instead of making a production out of going outside.. just grab him and go. He's peeing because he REALLY has to pee... Just think of it as when you really got to go pee and the button on your pants isn't cooperating. Same thing.. only he still has a hard time holding it.

Get him out as much as you can. See if it helps..

As for the excitement part of his peeing.. ignore it. The more you you make a big deal about it, the more he is going to pee and get excited. If you ignore it.. it'll soon stop.

I don't think that's the problem either. Saying at least, is the least amount of times we bring him outside, but he goes out quite frequent and this is only recently this problem has begun.

What happens when he goes outside? Someone opens the door for him, he wanders around, and then scratches at the door to be let back in?

We bring him outside on the leash. He goes to the bathroom like normal and let him run around for a bit. The problem is before stepping outside.

Have you taken him to the vet to check for a uti?

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Originally Posted by comay82

We bring him outside on the leash. He goes to the bathroom like normal and let him run around for a bit. The problem is before stepping outside.

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I think he might see the leash and think, "Oh, boy, I'm going outside" and the excitement makes him pee; my puppy goes out a LOT more than that - I'd say once an hour (to the extent that I asked my Vet about it but his bladder is gradually getting bigger.

Other than that I'd rule out a physical problem.

Judy hit the nail on the head probably -- Pavlov's operant conditioning at work. Leash = pee. Like my cats, I head toward kitchen = cat food can will be opened.