[NewGrad09]

Hi, I've had my mini schnauzer for 3 years now, so she is about 8. For those 3 years, she has lived with me and my chihuahua. Up until now she was great with going potty outside. She was on a schedule of twice daily (I figured her previous owners had gotten her used to going like this, once in the morning and once at night). When she came to me, I got her used to staying in the kennel when I am not at home, it's safer for the dogs and it actually seemed to help her acclimate better to her new surroundings. So all that worked out well...

Just recently, she started barking and waking me up at maybe 1 or 2 in the morning. I had tried just ignoring the barks, but didn't want to leave her and she pee in her kennel or something. I didn't want that habit to begin. Turns out, she would go out and drink tons of water and go right back into her kennel. So, I got her a water bottle for her kennel. Now, she has begun peeing willy nilly all over the house. She pees outside, then will come back in and pee about 5 minutes later. I'd like to take the bottle away, but we would never get any sleep that way, she would bark until we wake up.

Over the 3 years that I have had her, I know her personality well. She is very stubborn, and tries to establish herself as the top dog every chance she gets. My poor chihuahua never had a chance with her! So, I find myself constantly reinforcing that I am the boss around here. But with this one, I'm not sure what to do because I never catch her in the act of doing it.

Sorry for the long post, but any advice would be great.

[shazamataz]

Have you had her checked out by a vet?

Excess water consumption can be a sign of quite a few medical problems (diabetes, pancreatitis, liver problems)

[NewGrad09]

Have you had her checked out by a vet?

Excess water consumption can be a sign of quite a few medical problems (diabetes, pancreatitis, liver problems)

I can't get in until next week. She started the late night barking when I had to go to late nights at work. So I just figured that she may not have had time to drink as much as she would like. I thought the remedy was giving access to the water bottle. But once I noticed that I was filling that up nearly every day, I realized that she was drinking way more than I had thought. Now, the excessive urinating made me schedule a vet visit. (My vet thinks I am an over protective mother as it is... lol) I was hoping that it was not a medical malady, but the more I read here about other owner's "pee" problems, mine seems more and more like the vet needs to see her.

[shazamataz]

It could be nothing but it is certainly worth exploring the medical reasons for the excess water.
Sounds like you really care for her an that's the main thing :)
Please do come back and let us know what the problem is once you see the vet... if it's behavioral, maybe we can work something out for you :)

[Catsmine]

I'll say it if no one else will... Kidney infection.

Yeah, vet time asap