Addie is a Lab/Bloodhound mix (I know, kinda weird... but SO cute!). She was great potty training but we have new carpet in the living room. She's never been allowed in there b/c of the carpet but anytime she sneaks in, she goes! Even if she was just outside. I swear she'll push out any little bit in her body as soon as she gets in there. She NEVER goes anywhere else in the house and is always good about telling me when she has to go. She does the same thing in the basement - it's okay for her to be down there, but we're rarely in there. Is it something about her territory? How do I stop her? I'd love for one day to have a gate-free house (and a stain free carpet!). Thanks
2006-10-03 03:52:50 · 7 answers · asked by CC 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
She's still young and she is probably still learning where she gets to go. Since your carpet is new it doesn't have her scent on it so she feels like she needs to mark it. The same with the basement if she doesn't go down there much. Some dogs are not completely house trained until 1 yr. Just because they are getting used to things. Sometimes changes (like new floors) make them a little confused. If you take the gates down and let you dog get used to the whole house then she won't be so prone to sneeking into unfamiliar rooms - there won't be any. You may have to clean up a few more accidents, but once your dog is comfortable with the new area then she will consider the whole house her home and dogs don't want to potty where they sleep.
2006-10-03 04:01:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is guesswork, but I think one of two things is going on here.
first choice: Dogs do not mess in their living areas. You have told her this is not her living area, therefore it is fair game for a potty.
Or
second choice: She no longer smells her scent on the new carpet, and she is marking it to claim it as her own. You are encouraging this by not giving her access to it. This may be more likely since she is doing it after going outside, and since you say the carpet is new.
It may be too, that there is some sort of odor from the carpet manufacturing chemicals that mimics the scent dogs leave when they mark their territories.
Be sure when you clean the messes that use a high quality enzyme cleaner to completely remove the odor from the carpet. Otherwise she return to the same spots over and over again. Follow the directions on the bottle.
As for preventing it, you could try putting her on her leash and tying it to your belt loop so that she can't leave your side. She may get over the need after a week or two.
You should also have her checked by a vet. She could have a urinary tract infection or some other physical problem.
2006-10-03 04:05:12 · answer #2 · answered by Robin D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a lab also. Although she is allowed everywhere in my house, I used to notice her doing this at other peoples homes or new places. I was told that it about marking her territory. She doesn't smell herself in there, so she leaves her scent. Same reason that dogs go to the bathroom on top of where other dogs have gone. This is my best guess.
2006-10-03 04:02:32 · answer #3 · answered by Abby06 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remember she's still a baby. And that she's smart. If she's doing it while you're not there it could be a "this way she won't find it" thing, or a Submissive "I'm not supposed to be here" accident. My dogs where generally not trying to be caught but they grow out of it. I really doubt it's territorial especially at 7 months in her own house.
2006-10-03 06:58:01 · answer #4 · answered by emily 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She goes somewhere to poop where she does not hang out, and since she is not allowed there, she hardly ever is there, so she regards it as "away from the living area." Unintended consequences. Chances are that if she was allowed into the living room a lot, she would stop pooping there, ditto the basement.
2006-10-03 04:04:10 · answer #5 · answered by sonyack 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
she is just trying to mark her territory.. she wants it to smell like her- not just you. same with the basement. try putting a blanket of hers in there and lead her to it. let her know she can be in a certian place, then try moving it to another place. this will slowly get the room to smell like her and it will teach her that she can only be on the blanket in that room for now, until she can stop marking it
2006-10-03 04:00:38 · answer #6 · answered by snow_blizzard_baby 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it might be her way of putting her mark..
she doesn't poo in the place where she lives..
2006-10-03 05:30:07 · answer #7 · answered by dastringer_05 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋