[malrogers]

I have a female sheltie that is 10 years old and spayed. We have been having problems with her peeing on the floor if she gets left or gets nervous. We recently got new carpet and had not noticed any wet spots but my husband found a couple this morning. I am really not sure what to do with her because we put her out if we leave or if I run the vacuum cause that makes her pee on the floor too. Do you have any suggestions on what I may be able to do with her?

[beachloverjohn]

Put pee pads all over the place, and train her to go on them.. The dog is 10, she is probably having problems holding it in, and has separation anxiety

[De Maria]

I have a female sheltie that is 10 years old and spayed. We have been having problems with her peeing on the floor if she gets left or gets nervous. We recently got new carpet and had not noticed any wet spots but my husband found a couple this morning. I am really not sure what to do with her because we put her out if we leave or if I run the vacuum cause that makes her pee on the floor too. Do you have any suggestions on what I may be able to do with her?

When did that behavior begin?

Is she only nervous around the vaccuum or do other loud noises make her nervous? Like thunder storms, motors, etc.

I have a dog which became very nervous when he heard thunder. He didn't pee, but he shook all over and whined in what we interpreted as terror. In order to sooth him, we would try to console him verbally and stroke him. But the problem only got worse.

I watched an episode of the Dog Whisperer with a dog that had a very similar problem and his solution was to simply ignore the dog. That seemed simple enough, so I tried it and the problem went away in the middle of the very next storm.

[Wondergirl]

I tried it and the problem went away in the middle of the very next storm.

What about the OP's dog and the vacuum cleaner noise?

[malrogers]

The vacuum cleaner or if my son has a fit or gets in trouble are the things that make her nervous.

When did that behavior begin?

Is she only nervous around the vaccuum or do other loud noises make her nervous? Like thunder storms, motors, etc.?

I have a dog which became very nervous when he heard thunder. He didn't pee, but he shook all over and whined in what we interpreted as terror. In order to sooth him, we would try to console him verbally and stroke him. But the problem only got worse.

I watched an episode of the Dog Whisperer with a dog that had a very similar problem and his solution was to simply ignore the dog. That seemed simple enough, so I tried it and the problem went away in the middle of the very next storm.

[De Maria]

The vacuum cleaner or if my son has a fit or gets in trouble are the things that make her nervous.

How do you and other members of the family respond when she does that?

Also, how long has this been going on? Do you remember?

[Aurora_Bell]

Not sure if it's been mentioned, as I haven't read back, but it sounds like separation anxiety to me. You could consider crating while you are away.

Was she a rescue? Do you know anything about her past? Sounds like she is a bit skittish, which doesn't necessarily

Mean she was abused previously, some dogs are just skittish.

What you could try, is when you are vacuuming, offer her treats so she knows that the vacuum isn't a big bad monster. But be careful, if you continue to to treat every time you vacuum, then she may start to bug you while you are vacuuming. So you could ignore her while you are vacuuming, and maybe offer a little extra praise once the deed is done.

She isn't peeing while you are away to be spiteful, she is is suffering from anxiety. If it's something that simply crating won't fix, you could seek a behaviorist.

[malrogers]

It has been going on for a while so I have just made sure that I put her out while ran the vacuum or if my husband was fussing at our son and I could tell she was nervous I would pick her up and tell her she is OK. My husband rubs her nose in it if he finds it and puts her outside and I usually just give her a disappointed look and tell her she can't do that, which I know she does not understand, and clean it up. My biggest concern is that since we have gotten new carpet and did not immediately find the spots that my husband is wanting to put her to sleep or get rid of her if I cannot get it undercontrol and I am not ready to do that since she is my dog before we got married and I am not sure she can control it.

How do you and other members of the family respond when she does that?

Also, how long has this been going on? Do you remember?

[Aurora_Bell]

Please tell your husband to stop rubbing her nose in it, this is dated info and does NOT work. If you ever want her to stop being so skittish you need to stop this behavior immediately. Rubbing her nose in it is equivalent to hitting her for it, or even hitting a child for making a mess.

This is going to sound corny to you, but unless you catch your dog making the mess red pawed, there is no sense bad dogging her. She realizes it's the mess on the floor that you are upset with, but not the action of doing it it's self.

You really want to set your dog up for success, so praise her whens he does good, offer small treats, it doesn't have to be manufactured treats, but can be a few kernels of kibble. If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, don't let her have free run of the house while you are away, crate her. She will be less likely to make a mess in her crate. If your dog pee's when you vacuum, put her out side before you vacuum. Dogs will respond better to positive behavior then negative.

Remember she isn't being spiteful, it's like any human who suffers from a mental disability. Ever feel anxious or depressed? Well that's what it's like for her when she is left alone.

[malrogers]

Thanks for the advice. I will continue to put her outside in her nervous situations and just keep an eye on her.

Please tell your husband to stop rubbing her nose in it, this is dated info and does NOT work. If you ever want her to stop being so skittish you need to stop this behavior immediately. rubbing her nose in it is equivalent to hitting her for it, or even hitting a child for making a mess.

This is going to sound corny to you, but unless you catch your dog making the mess red pawed, there is no sense bad dogging her. She realizes it's the mess on the floor that you are upset with, but not the action of doing it it's self.

You really want to set your dog up for success, so praise her whens he does good, offer small treats, it doesn't have to be manufactured treats, but can be a few kernels of kibble. If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, don't let her have free run of the house while you are away, crate her. She will be less likely to make a mess in her crate. If your dog pee's when you vacuum, put her out side before you vacuum. Dogs will respond better to positive behavior then negative.

Remember she isn't being spiteful, it's like any human who sufferes from a mental disability. Ever feel anxious or depressed? Well that's what it's like for her when she is left along.

[malrogers]

When I vacuum she goes to the door to go out so I put her out. She is a very skittish dog has been since I got her at 8 weeks old. She is a very spoiled dog and likes to go in the car very much so I first thought she was just mad at me for leaving her at home but I do believe now she has a little separation anxiety. As far as the treats they get treats throughout the day, we also have a spoiled lab and they already drive me crazy thinking they need treats all the time.

Not sure if it's been mentioned, as I haven't read back, but it sounds like separation anxiety to me. You could consider crating while you are away.

Was she a rescue? Do you know anything about her past? Sounds like she is a bit skittish, which doesn't necessarily

mean she was abused previously, some dogs are just skittish.

What you could try, is when you are vacuuming, offer her treats so she knows that the vacuum isn't a big bad monster. But be careful, if you continue to to treat every time you vacuum, then she may start to bug you while you are vacuuming. So you could ignore her while you are vacuuming, and maybe offer a little extra praise once the deed is done.

She isn't peeing while you are away to be spiteful, she is is suffering from anxiety. If it's something that simply crating won't fix, you could seek a behaviorist.

[shazamataz]

Some great advice here, I just wanted to add that the reason it might be happening now is that her bladder is getting weaker as she ages. When something frightens her now, her muscles aren't strong enough to hold it in, whereas when she was younger the muscles were nice and strong.
Similar to elderly people losing control when laughing or doing an activity.

[De Maria]

Hi, Sorry for the delay in my response, I have to wake up early for work so I normally turn in around 10pm. I'm glad you've had some responses. Hopefully they will be of help.

It has been going on for a while so I have just made sure that I put her out while ran the vacuum or if my husband was fussing at our son and I could tell she was nervous I would pick her up and tell her she is OK.

That sounds like the problem right there.

YOU are giving her positive reinforcement for negative behavior. It happens with human beings also. I first heard about this in a class on motivating employees for a job I had many years ago.

The example provided was a little girl who had a lump on her forehead. The mother kept bringing her to the doctor for that condition. The doctor began to suspect that the woman was abusing the child. He kept the child overnight and set up a situation where they could be seen interacting without their being aware. The next day when the mother came to see the child, the child was fine. But when the mother was leaving, suddenly the child broke out crying. The mother ran back and picked her up and hugged her.

The doctor realized that the child was hurting herself in order to illicit the loving reaction that she wanted from the mother. Apparently the mother was a rather stoic person who did not show affection readily.

And therefore the mother was only hugging her after something negative happened to the child. Thus reinforcing negative behavior.

PLEASE DO NOT JUMP TO THE CONCLUSION THAT YOU NEED TO HUG YOUR DOG MORE! That's not what I'm saying.

I'll finish that thought after I respond to the rest of your message.

My husband rubs her nose in it if he finds it and puts her outside and I usually just give her a disappointed look and tell her she can't do that, which I know she does not understand, and clean it up. My biggest concern is that since we have gotten new carpet and did not immediately find the spots that my husband is wanting to put her to sleep

Then I hope you're willing to try something radical. Because my suggestion will probably involve you changing your behavior towards your dog. Your husband and son as well, but they are probably already wired the right way.

or get rid of her if I cannot get it undercontrol and I am not ready to do that since she is my dog before we got married and I am not sure she can control it.

Ok, let me continue my train of thought from above.

Have you ever heard of the book "women are from venus and men are from mars"? I haven't read it, but I believe the premise of the book is that men and women are wired differently and therefore have trouble communicating with each other.

Well if men and women have trouble communicating and we are the same species, what do you think about communication between a species that walks on all fours with his nose to the ground and one that walks on two legs and his nose in the air? I think you get my drift.

We frequently attempt to correct dog problems with human remedies. If you remember, in my example about my dog and the thunder. I sought to correct the problem by soothing the dog. But that only made the problem worse. Ignoring the problem actually made the problem go away.

But your problem can't be ignored. And your husband is probably dealing with it in a better way than you. Why? Because dogs thrive on discipline.

It sounds to me as though your husband is a no nonsense person who might be seen by the dog as the leader of her pack. I'll know the answer to that when you answer this question: does the dog follow you around the house when your husband is present? Or does she follow your husband?

If she follows your husband around, then he has proven to her that he is the leader and dogs feel safer around the leader than anyone else. And if that is the case, that is your first clue that you need to do things more like he is doing them in regards to her.

But that isn't all, if you want her to see you as the leader, which I think you do since she is your dog, then keep in touch and I can give you some hints on how to do that. And once you do that, you'll find that almost any issues you have with your dog will disappear. And those that don't will be much easier to correct.

Sincerely,

De Maria

[Wondergirl]

My husband rubs her nose in it if he finds it

Your husband and son...are probably already wired the right way.

Please DO NOT rub your dog's nose in any of his messes. The dog will not understand, and this amounts to animal abuse.

[Cat1864]

But your problem can't be ignored. And your husband is probably dealing with it in a better way than you. Why? Because dogs thrive on discipline.

It sounds to me as though your husband is a no nonsense person who might be seen by the dog as the leader of her pack. I'll know the answer to that when you answer this question: does the dog follow you around the house when your husband is present? Or does she follow your husband?

If she follows your husband around, then he has proven to her that he is the leader and dogs feel safer around the leader than anyone else. And if that is the case, that is your first clue that you need to do things more like he is doing them in regards to her.

But that isn't all, if you want her to see you as the leader, which I think you do since she is your dog, then keep in touch and I can give you some hints on how to do that. And once you do that, you'll find that almost any issues you have with your dog will disappear. And those that don't will be much easier to correct.

Sincerely,

De Maria

Are you suggesting that rubbing the dog's nose in it's urine is an appropriate way to handle this problem?

malrogers, when was the last time your dog was in for a check up? A vet can determine if she has a weakened bladder due to age or even possible illness such as a urinary tract infection.

How old is your son? How does you husband 'fuss' at him? I am getting the impression that there is more going on in this family dynamic than a nervous animal.

[De Maria]

Please DO NOT rub your dog's nose in any of his messes. The dog will not understand,

Did you know that dogs love to roll in waste? They do it for FUN.

You're probably right that the dog won't understand. The dog might think it is being rewarded.

and this amounts to animal abuse.

Only if you beat the dog while you're doing it.

The thing is that even if you clean that area, the dog, with that incredible sense of smell, will still smell his urine there. And they like to pee on top of pee.

Therefore, you need to take the dog to the area where he made his mistake, let him smell it and scold him at the same time. Thereby giving him a negative association with the area where he smells his pee.

But malrogers problem is somewhat different. So, I'll await her response.

Sincerely,

[Sariss]

I have seen that backfire in the sense of a dog having a fear to urinate in the owners presence - many times not wanting to pee on walks, but just peeing when the owner isn't around, and in areas of the house that are harder to find.

[shazamataz]

Wow... there is absolutely no comparison in a dog rolling in feces because it chooses to, to being forced to have it's nose shoved in it.

That is an extremely old school way of thinking and has been outdated for years.

I agree with Sariss, by frightening the dog by grabbing it and forcing it to do something is only going to scare it and most likely cause the dog to urinate out of sight.

A dog does not make a connection between having its face shoved into the carpet and that urinating inside is bad.

[Aurora_Bell]

[QUOTE=De Maria;2512526]Did you know that dogs love to roll in waste? They do it for FUN.

You're probably right that the dog won't understand. The dog might think it is being rewarded.
QUOTE]

Yup and I like taking baths, but if someone shoved my face in one, I don't think I would enjoy that very much. Do you seriously believe that a dog would think it was being rewarded by having it's FACE shoved in it's own urine and feces?

Very dated practice that never really worked anyway.

[Athos]

Did you know that dogs love to roll in waste? They do it for FUN.

I don't think so. More likely it's a predatory instinct derived from the wolf ancestor to mask their scent while hunting. They will smell like their prey when they roll in the feces of the prey.