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nfrischk · Oct 30, 2011, 01:04 PM

She just recently started urinating and pooping on my couch. In the past, only when I have been gone for more than couple of hours, she has had accidents by both doors that lead outside when she couldn't hold it it any longer. Now it seems as of she is either confused or thinks that this is now the designated spot. I don't know why she thinks this but I have cleaned the couch thorouhly with a mixture of vinegar and water and I hope this will help. Any ideas as to why this is now a problem. Other than this she is a good dog. Sometimes she will chew up things other than her toys if she gets bored or anxious when I am gone but this is pretty normal for labs at this age from what I have read and so I have taken the necessary actions to procure different toys and bones and a puzzle ball to help with it. But the peeing and pooping on my couch came out of no where for me. Help?

Lucky098 · Oct 31, 2011, 01:22 PM

Sounds like separation anxiety. When dogs are suffering from this disease, they will deficate and urinate in strange places. They will also do their business when you leave.

Leaving a 6 month old puppy home alone is a lot to ask for. I would suggest a crate. It'll keep her mess to one place, or keep her from messing at all. It'll also keep her from destroying things.

A crate in the living room with the TV or radio on is a good remedy for separation anxiety. If she continues to get worse, you may need to get medical assistance. There is also an over the counter solution for separation anxiety dogs.. The DAP plug in or collar works great! It produces a phermone that is present in the nest of new born puppies.

At 6 months, you can also start taking your dog to doggy day care while you are at work.. The bored behavior will stop along with the naughty behavior of peeing and pooping everywhere...

Just because this is a high energy hunting dog, does not excuse the fact that he is being naughty. Get a crate and use it, look into doggy daycare 2-3 times a day. Training helps too... Tired dogs, either mentally or physically, are happy dogs :)

nfrischk · Nov 1, 2011, 01:42 PM

Ok, thank you. She is kennel trained the problem is I am a chef and so sometimes I am at work longer than usual and I can't always find someone to go check on her and the cat. She has in the past barked a lot and my neighbors complained. I put her in the kennel when I know I will be back in a couple of hours but if I am gone longer I usually let her out in the main kitchen living area. I take her for a run in the morning and feed her via a puzzle ball. And when I get back ill either play with her or take her for another run and then feed her again. I agree I think its separation anxiety. What is the pheremone collar called? Ill ook into that. The nearest doggy daycare is 30 min away and not worth driving to. Thank you!

paleophlatus · Nov 1, 2011, 03:10 PM

Pheromone treatment of a problem works best, if not only, for those arising from sexual differences. Since males are more 'incentivised' by female pheromones, I wouldn't be too hopeful of this approach on her, as this approach can get expensive fairly quickly.

Dogs seldom relieve themselves in areas where they habitually occupy... they will go to an unused (by them) part of a home for those times they can't get outdoors. If she spends very little time on the couch, this may be a place she is willing to soil since she isn't going to be there for any other reason.

Just a thought. I also think separation anxiety may be the culprit here. If she spends a lot of time on the couch with you, this may be the spot she is trying to 'communicate' her displeasure with you.

Maybe I am not anxious to confront it because I 'think' I may be facing the same with my wife's dog. He seems to think we are inseparable, and I don't, so he is not content when I go... anywhere w/o him.

Lucky098 · Nov 2, 2011, 06:57 AM

Its called DAP. You can get it at Petsmart or Petco. It comes as a collar, which is cheaper, and a plug in (kind of like the glade plug ins).

It seems that your dog gets plenty of attention, so the few days he's stuck in a crate for a long period, is OK. None of my dogs were ever trusted home alone until they were at least 3 years old. They're just too devilish as puppies.

Also, if your dog is good in a crate, you can buy an extra large crate so they aren't cramped in a tiney box... but I would only suggest this method once you are 100% sure he will be crate trained.

paleophlatus · Nov 2, 2011, 11:27 PM

My apologies to Lucky... I was responding to the OP's mention of pheromone, without having read his post first. The sort of pheromone mentioned would be quite appropriate for this problem. Again, my apologies if I created any confusion.