My dog is trained, but lately it has been randomly peeing on the carpet anyone know why?

Question

My dog was housebroken really fast when it was a puppy and it used to always pee on the pee pee pad. But now it acts really weird and it will pee in the middle on the carpet or on the couch. Does anyone know why?

Answer 1

may have something going on like a urinary or bladder infection. talk to your vet

Answer 2

Dogs do not have the capacity to connect a behavior (marking) with a later correction ... it is simply beyond their cognitive ability, whether it be a full bladder elimination or simply territorial marking. Only by catching them *in the act* and issuing a correction *at that moment* will the dog connect the behavior with the correction. While a dog may physically respond to a scolding (head down, eyes averted, tail tucked), he is reacting to your body language (master is not pleased) and has no concept of why he's being scolded.

Edited - Lori R ... sorry, but I don't agree and neither do the behavioral science experts. A dog does *not* have the capacity to connect a correction after the fact ... it is simply beyond their abilities.

Answer 3

If the dog is continuing to pee in the same place then maybe you aren't getting the smell all the way out when you clean it (sometimes you can't even smell it). Then the dog gets a whiff and decides to pee there again. My dogs did this a few times until I finally shampooed the rug where they were doing it with a odor absorber. They have since stopped and have resumed using the back yard :-) Yeah!

Answer 4

Take your dog to the vet and they will do a urine sample. It could be a bladder Infection or UTI (urinary tract infection) or bladder stones. I worked for a vet and we had this dog come in that had the same problem. After taking meds for a UTI which didn't work we did an xray which showed a very large bladder stone. After surgery to remove the stone, the dog had to be housebroken again but eventually had a full recovery. Good Luck and Take Care.

Answer 5

First get the dog checked out by a vet to be sure there are no medical issues.

I strongly suspect, though, that your dog is claiming territory, marking. This will especially be true if the urine left behind is in small amounts, just enough to leave his scent. This is something that needs to be nipped in the bud, not only for the sake of your furniture/carpeting, but for the sake of your relationship with your dog.

There are two products I recommend highly that remove the scent of the urine to the dog's nose. Simple Solution and Nature's Miracle. Both are readily available at pet supply stores or on-line. You simply spray/wipe the liquid on the area(s) the dog has marked after wiping the actual urine off with a damp cloth.

Also, breaking dog of marking is not like normal housebreaking. In a dog who is not housebroken, unless you catch the dog in the act of relieving themselves, you cannot scold. In dogs who mark, though, this is a dog saying, "I was here, this is mine!" In these cases, it is correct to scold at a later time, when you find the mess.

What I have found successful in the past with my own dogs is to, after finding the mess, first gather the cleaning supplies next to the marked item. Then go and gather your dog and bring him to the spot (don't call for a come, bring the dog there by the collar). Firmly scold him, pointing at the spot. Then put the dog in temporary isolation, either outside or lock him in the bathroom or some other place he isn't really happy to be in.

Clean the spot, wipe/spray it with the cleaning solution. Then get a sock you have recently worn and place it on the spot. This is you telling the dog that you are claiming the spot as yours. Bring the dog back out of isolation and return him to the spot. In a firm tone, tell him, "MINE!". Then walk away. Leave the sock for several hours.

Marking is a symptom of a dog with dominance issues. You might want to address other areas of his life that will also aid in him not feeling the need to mark. Look into NILIF (nothing in life is free) and alpha training for your boy. Contact a trainer or a behaviorist in your area for more one-on-one information

Edited to say: North Twin, YES, dogs DO understand corrections for marking as opposed to corrections for accidents as a result of not knowing better. As breeders, we have intact males and females, 14 at current time, with the number varying from 12 - 18 over the years. Young adults often try this routine and we have discovered that a true correction as described above has the dog not repeating the incident. Treating the marking in the same fashion as normal housebreaking has the dog/female remarking again and again. As I said, a dog who marks WANTS this spot to be remembered, not only by himself but by all who encounter it. The dog who did it remembers doing it and thus needs to be told it was wrong.

Answer 6

You'll have to spend a couple of days with the dog 24 hours a day. Watch where he goes and just before he's able to lift his leg, take him out. After he goes outside, positive reinforcement.

Answer 7

Has there been any changes at home lately?Sometimes they are confused and seems to do it for spite but its not spite.