Bathroom issues with female German Shepherd dog....??????

Question

My female german shepherd dog recently had a litter of 8 puppies and she was 1yr 6mths when she got pregnant. The problem is that she seems like she has to goto the bathroom way to often, before her pregnancy she never went in the house ever. Now it seems like if she doesnt get let out about every 3 hours she will go to the bathroom right in the house. She knows she is bad because when I come in the house and she has done something she will cower and shake and ect. I have tried spanking her and verbal yelling but nothing is seeming the work. What is causing these problems it is horrible. The puppies are 2 weeks at the moment.
PLEASE HELP ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zach

Answer 1

She is eating and drinking a lot more, of course she will have to defecate and urinate more often and where do you suppose the puppies urine and feces are going? You do know she is eating it I hope. Poor dog is being punished because of your lack of knowledge on breeding. Take the dog out as often as needed and quit hitting her for having to defecate/urinate more often. Your dog did not do this to you, you cause these problems by breeding your dog when you knew nothing about breeding. BTW she will need to go out much more then usual until the puppies are weaned.
She does not have ANY idea she did anything wrong all she knows is her owner walks in and the owners mood changes and for all she knows you are hitting her for sitting, nursing her pups or for just laying there. She cowers and shakes because she is afraid of you.
I have a suggestion for you: Spay your dog!!!!

Answer 2

Please don't spank or yell at the dog! She's going through a stressful time right now. Her body is changing because she needs to provide food for those pups.

You've taken on the responsibility for a dog with a litter... you're probably going to have to make some temporary changes. For as long as it takes, get up every 3 hours and walk the dog so she can be comfortable. She has enough to do right now just being a new mom.

The dog is housebroken and knows that OUTSIDE is where she needs to be. I suggest you chat with the vet to find out if this is normal after giving birth. That's a large litter so maybe something moved around on her when she was pregnant or during the delivery.

But don't punish the dog when the problem is that nobody is there to meet her needs during this very crucial time.

Answer 3

That's like yelling at you when you have a stomach virus and are throwing up. She can't help it, she probably feels worse about it than you do. She's terrified now that you've been spanking and yelling at her. She just had pups, some times it happens, she should be taken to the vet to make sure she's ok and no infections after giving birth. They can do a urine test while she's there to make sure there is nothing else wrong with her.
Now, go sit down with her and pet her and tell her how sorry you are for being a jerk. A dog think of their owner as their best friend, to her, her best friend has been spanking her and yelling for something totally out of her control. Just take her out more ofter for now, until you've cleared it up.

Answer 4

First of all, you should NEVER spank or yell at your dog. That is absolutely the wrong way to train a dog to do anything. Poor dog! Any dog would cower and shake when you walk in the room if you hit it and scream at it all the time! If it doesn't bite you first.

Yelling only lets the dog know you are out of control. It is a signal that you are not in charge. People who are in charge and in control of the situation speak firmly, clearly and in a normal speaking voice. You should never yell unless you are just trying to get the dog's attention, then when the dog is looking, speak quietly for commands.

Your dog needs to see a vet. If she hasn't already been for her post-whelp exam, she REALLY needs to be checked out. Also, what is her food and water intake like? What is her urine like? Any diarrhea, blood or mucous in her stool?

Consult your veterinarian to rule out a medical problem, then it will be time to work on behavior. Yours most of all.

Answer 5

First off "spanking" her will not teach her anything, nor will yelling at her, dogs don't learn like that. She just had a litter of pups, just as a human who just gave birth, her bladder will be weak. She also may have an infection from the birth. I would suggest taking her to a vet to have her checked out and rule out health issues first then work on the behavioral issues if there are any. Please get your dog spayed.

Answer 6

Her body has just experienced a huge change and she is probably having problems with her bladder (infection maybe). Yelling and hitting will only make it worse. When she cowers and shakes its because she is scared of you not because she has done something wrong. Take her to the vet, she probably has an infection or her muscles controlling her bladder were traumatised in the birth.

Answer 7

Poor dog's body is processing food not only for herself but for her litter. Don't spank her or yell, make sure she has access to the yard every couple of hours.

She's shaking and cowering because she knows you are going to yell and spank her, not because she knows she's been bad.

Use some common sense and please take proper care of your dog or surrender her to someone who can.

Answer 8

I believe you dog has become incontinent, this means her bladder muscles have become weak. This happens to alot of women who have had children and to your dog as well. I'm not sure if it will get better. But please don't scold your dog for peeing in the house, she can't help it, just make sure you let her out often enough. If you do go out let her out just before you leave and as soon as you get back home. I hope everything goes well

Answer 9

It is NORMAL for a dog that is nursing puppies to have to go to the bathroom that often. It is not her fault that she is using the bathroom in the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Once she is through nursing the puppies and her body is "back to normal" she shouldn't have to go as often. NEVER HIT A DOG!!!!