[MarikMom]

Hi,
So I know that dogs don't like to be left alone, especially Akitas. However, our 10 year old akita has decided, especially since our baby was born nearly a year ago, that he's mad and is going to keep peeing and pooping in the house. He's seen a vet and there's nothing "wrong" with him except him doing his business in the house. We take him out before we leave, he does everything and then we leave for a little bit. Now I'm talking 3 hours tops. We've gotten to the point where we have to block him out of our upstairs part of the house because he pees in front of out bed, and blocked out of our living room because he pees and poops on our son's things. To top it all off, he now knocks over the gates to go in and do it! I don't know what to do here. I just had to throw out another rug to day because he pooped in the living room again. I need help advice something. I wish I could take him everywhere with me, but I can't. I also can't stay home all of the time because the dog doesn't want to be alone. I'm really sorry about the long post, but I'm ready to pull my hair out over this. He's driving me crazy!
HHHHEEEELLLLPPPPP!!

[TrioKIT]

Ahh!

This is funny because my cat does something kind of similar. I leave on the weekends for about a day occasionally. During the time I'm gone I can count on having something peed on.

I have two other cats so she's not completely alone which leads me to think that she gets stressed when I'm gone as well as angry that I left not just lonely. Things I've tried
I have gotten a neighbor to stop in and pet her and play with her for a while,

I've installed a kitty door to my (really really) small back yard,

I've left little bits of catnip and hard treats she likes round the house to keep her happy and involved in finding the morsels,

I've tried Buying these balls from a pet store that have holes in them you put food in there and this is supposed to keep you're pet interested in getting the food out (which normally takes a couple of hours).

These have all worked and I only get an occasional pee.

(I think getting a gate that has some sort of loud annoying buzz that goes off for a couple of seconds when pushed or shoved. This might help teach your doggy that there's a kind of punishment for running through gates.)

I hope a few of these things work for you

:D

[labman]

If you look at some of my past answers to people with similar problems with younger dogs, you will see I usually suggest a combination of leadership, watching the dog carefully, and crating it when nobody can watch it. I am afraid he has been top dog for 10 years, and it will be tough for you to take your rightful place now. I doubt he will adjust to a crate now either. You might try leaving him on a tie down, a short length of chain with a snap on the end. Carefully clear away anything he could damage. Choose a hard surfaced floor. Make any bedding you leave him easily washable.

When you are around, use gates or closed doors to keep him where you can see him. Never leave him alone with your child. Some say never leave any dog alone with a child. I am not that extreme, but a dog that has shown it thinks it is top dog and resents the child is not to be trusted.