[biscuitmissy]

My 8 year old pug and 2 year old rottweiler are kept in the kitchen when I am gone. They have a dog door to the backyard. The pug has been urinating for the past year off and on inside, but in the past 4 or 5 months it has gotten worse. There have been no changes in the environment or their schedules. He was checked out by the vet and he is fine. He is now urinating in the middle of the floor, on the refrigerator, on his own bed... and I don't know what to do. Is he just getting older? Sometimes I think he does it more when I go out of town (my fiancée works out of the house so there is always someone there).

[labman]

This is a dominance problem. If he isn't already neutered, do so, and long with fixing the Rottweiler if needed. Spay/neuter is not cure all, but essential in cases like this. 8 years old is late for a problem like this to crop up. It could be due to the Rottweiler maturing and challenging him for top dog position, or he could be wanting to impress the girl.

The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete For more on being top dog, see Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position

[lindeelouky]

My 8 year old pug and 2 year old rottweiler are kept in the kitchen when I am gone. They have a dog door to the backyard. The pug has been urinating for the past year off and on inside, but in the past 4 or 5 months it has gotten worse. There have been no changes in the environment or their schedules. He was checked out by the vet and he is fine. He is now urinating in the middle of the floor, on the refridgerator, on his own bed....and I don't know what to do. Is he just getting older? Sometimes I think he does it more when I go out of town (my fiancee works out of the house so there is always someone there).

Sounds like a case for the "Dog Whisperer"

[Tuscany]

Labman is better than the Dog Whisperer!

[lindeelouky]

I am just in awe of Cesar Milan, he is too cool and in a strange way, I find him very
Appealing, perhaps it is his "alpha dog" presence. I try to TIVO all the episodes.

[labman]

Most real dog trainers don't think much of him. He relies on older harsh methods too much. Most of the dog training world is moving to more positive methods.

[biscuitmissy]

Both dogs are neutered and spayed. Do you think more exercise and attention would be good? I could also put the pug in a crate... but I would feel bad if one dog was free and the other was crated. The pug was crated the first several years of his life.

[lindeelouky]

Labman, I guess I don't know much about dog training... and also don't get to see what
Happens behind the scenes on the show Dog Whisperer. Besides my little cairn terrier, I haven't had any experience in the area, although she was defintely a challenge.
Mighty little dogs... terriers.
Can you point out some of his techniques compared to a more modern one? I'm curious.

[labman]

Well the infamous incident where the off screen assistant hit the remote for the shock collar for one. We are talking Hollywood.

That compares with the one demonstration I saw where the presenter showed how effective it was to step back and turn around when a dog jumped on you. I spent 2 full days at the seminar and never once did she show us how to punish the dog.