What is going on with my Dog?

Question

I got my dog about three months ago from a shelter and had him potty trained in one week! HE was so good, i even left him out in the house when i went to work and he never pottied or tore into anything once! Now all of the sudden he is using the bathroom everywhere!!!! He goes while I am at work, and even when i am in the house with him. he's not sick, i have him on the same potty schedule that I have for the past three months, and im not gone any more than usual. Not only id he going potty in the house, but when i get home he has chewed something or gotten into something almost every day! What is going on and how do i fix it! I am moving into a new house in 2 months thats is carpeted, unlike my current hardwood flooors. I CAN NOT have him going potty all over my new house! HELP!

By the way, he just went to the vet, is not sick, and is two years old

Answer 1

Thank you for adopting from a shelter!

As for the problems, shelter dogs often change in the first couple of months as they get settled in their new environment. It could be that now he is comfortable and feeling "safe", he is looking for something to keep him busy.

When you are not home with him, use a crate. Crates are not a punishment for the dog, they are the dog's safety zone, a place that is totally theirs, a placae they can go to get out of the way and where they feel comfortable.

Also, when you move the new house, you will definitely want to keep him confined when you are not home. A change in environment for any dog, but especially a dog with an unknown past like a shelter dog, can be traumatic at first for the dog, and they may have some issues for the first couple of days.

Answer 2

I have a shihtzu, a German Shepherd, and three Olde English Bulldogges-all inside dogs. OEB's love to chew! Did I mention that all of the dogs are under 1 year old?

Crates are good-but make it his den. Wear a T-shirt for at least a full 24 hours or more, and then leave it inside with his bedding and some chew toys. Put him in and out of it when you are home, so he gets the idea that its his own space. He should be confined there for the night, so pick a place in the home that you will want him to become accustomed to sleeping in.

Before you leave for work, take him outside for a good romp. I take all 5 outside early in the morning, and we throw a football/fetch and race-literally-around the house for a good 20 minutes (at least) every day! Its great exercise and great fun! I don't need to adjust my schedule, because we all get up so early that we are done before the rest of my family rises.

Also, confine the space he is allowed in the house. I use gates, the dogs can only be in the living room and kitchen when we are not home. They don't potty in either room. I don't feed if I am going to be gone longer than 2 hours, and water is before we go outside and play! It took me a while to figure out where to confine them to-it may seem like he is going everywhere, but dogs really won't go where they lay down. If you need to 'fence off' a small area that he doesn't go in, start there, pen his crate and a small area, and then expand it as he adjusts. Most pet stores carry the small indoor/outdoor pens.

He might be marking out his territory-even if they are fixed, males do it. My dogges chewed on furniture, shoes, you name it. I used sprays to deter chewing on the furniture, it works-bitter apple, stuff like that. I bought the kind of chew toys you can hide treats in, and fill them up before we leave. The peanut butter ones work good, because it sticks inside and they work for hours to try to get it out! Keeps them occupied, gives them a goal.

And expect when you move in two months that he will adjust all over again. Good luck!

Answer 3

I also suggest the crate. When I got my first dog, and had her checked out at the vet, the vet told me to crate train her from the start. Dogs feel safe in a crate, it is their din. It is her "place" and she feels safe there. All I have to do now is tell her to go to her place, and she is in like a whip.

I started 4 years ago and she is still in the crate when I am gone, and even when I am home, she will go in and lay down in her crate.

The key is to make sure they get exercise every day, and get enough to release all their pent up energy. A good walk in the morning and again in the afternoon is good for both your dog and you.

Answer 4

Did your schedule change? Are you gone more than usual?
Try crate training for a bit. Make sure you leave him with lots of safe chew toys (kongs, etc) to keep his destructive chewing down.
Maybe once you pull the freedom back a little, he will get back with the program. Just make sure not to keep him in the crate any longer than 6-8 hours.

Answer 5

Please take him to a vet for a check up, something is wrong, it could be a urinary tract infection. Here are the symptoms:

• Frequent urination
• Straining or difficulty urinating
• Blood in the urine
• Foul smelling urine
• Urination in inappropriate places
• Tender lower abdomen (in the area of the bladder)
• Fever
• Lethargy

Regardless, pets do not just start going all over the house unless they are not feeling well. I've found the same thing with chewing stuff up, my cat will chew up anything cardboard when he is not feeling well.

Hope everything works out! Good Luck!!

Answer 6

It could possibly be seperation anxiety, but have you taken him to the vet since its started happening to make sure he is doing okay (bladder problems or something else).

If so, I reccomend talking with a trainer/behaviorist in your area. They may be able to help you out.

Answer 7

How old is he? sounds like he is now thoroughly settled into the house and has claimed it as his own. He is probably bored and needs: exercise, training (good for body and soul), more time with you, and confinement when not supervised. good luck.

Answer 8

well he sounds like he's bored. take him out for more walks and play with him....release his energy. also try crating him before you leave but make sure you walk him and let him potty right before you put him in and as soon as you get home