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| Dr. Whiteley.com |
| Putting a Stop to Potty Accidents: Dogs |
| Keeping the den clean is behavior that is instinctive in most dogs. If, however, the dog is forced to go too long before being let outside, or he has a physical condition such as diarrhea or a urinary infection, his natural fastidiousness is overcome by the ease of defecating or urinating in the house. In some cases, housesoiling becomes habit and continues long after the medical condition is resolved. If there is one place in the house that the dog has established as his indoor toilet, clean the place thoroughly with an enzymatic stain and odor remover such as Anti-Icky-Poo and place the dog's bed, blanket, or food bowl over the spot. When the dog is indoors, confine him by leash to within a few feet of his bed or crate or reduce his territory by means of a baby gate or exercise pen. Expand his territory only when he has proven to be trustworthy. Establish a spot outside as his approved toilet or select an indoor system such as the Pup Head Portable Potty. Re-establish a schedule for taking the dog to his designated toilet. Praise and reward proper canine potty behavior and refrain from making a big deal over accidents. In some instances, our pet's elimination problems stem from aging, as in the case of hormonal-related incontinence in older female dogs; prostate enlargement in males; cognitive dysfunction syndrome (canine senility); or from other disase conditions. Regardless of whether your dog's potty accidents are triggered by physical or behavioral problems, the longer they go unchecked, the harder they are to correct. |
| Urine Marking in Dogs |
| One of the most interesting cases of urine making I've encountered was at my favorite spring fete--the annnual rabies vaccination drive. A matron arrived with five Pomeranians, which she released without collars or leashes from her car into the fire station where I was manning the shot line. I watched with some consternation as a the male dog visited each of the five people bent over a Ping-Pong table, writing checks and filling out certificate information. The Pom urine-marked the pants legs of everyone at the table. The dog engaging in urine marking will deposit small quantities of urine vertically on walls, chair legs, and other surfaces. Dogs are more apt to urine-mark in novel places than at home. The presence of a new dog inside or outside the house may stimulate the dog to mark with urine within his home domain. As this type of behavior is most frequently seen in intact males, castration is the treatment of choice. Castration is curative in approximately 50 percent of cases involving male dogs. Spaying female dogs also eliminates the urine-marking used to advertise her sexual readiness. When neutering fails to remove the incentive to urine-mark, your pet's veterinarian may recommend drug therapy in addition to behavioral modification techniques. Limit the dog's access to places where he habitually urine-marks, and clean previously soiled areas with an enzymatiic urine stain and odor remover. |
| Submissive and Excitement-induced Urination in Dogs |
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| Dog with submissive personalities may lie on their backs and pee in response to dominant gestures from their human or canine families. And, certain dogs may dribble urine during excitement. Excitement-induced urination in dogs occurs most frequently in puppies, and many outgrow the behavior. Resist using punishment like hitting with the newspaper or yelling "no" in a loud voice when dealing with a submissive dog. Avoid dominant gestures like standing over, patting on the head, or direct eye contact. Instead, rub or pat the dog's chest when petting him. Keep the arousal level low when dealing with the pup prone to excitement-induced urination. |
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| 2005 H. Ellen Whiteley, D.V.M. |