Help please. Messing in house.

[TheresaW]

I am at the end of my tether with Bo. Short story, he came to us 2.5 years ago aged about 4, completely un-house trained. He sprayed everywhere. Worked on it, and got that stopped. He was entire when we got him, but we had him neutered a few months later once he’d settled right in. The spraying had stopped by then, although he still had the odd accident.

Our nephew was living with us at the time, so dogs were rarely alone. I would walk them before work, (5am). On occasion, we would be home from walk and I would turn my back for 5 mins or so (putting kettle on), and he’d poo on floor. Didn’t catch him in act, so couldn’t deal with it as such. Would clear up and ignore.

We (oh and I) plus dogs went away Sept 19. We were a bit concerned about him messing whilst away, but he was 100% clean whole time we were away. Came home, and he was messing again during the day.

Nephew left mid Oct 19, and Bo was totally clean after that. There was a lot of stress whilst nephew was here.

Roll on to Oct 20. All had been totally fine and clean and then fireworks started. Bo is terrified by them. He would shake on walks, really didn’t want to go out. Wouldn’t go in garden. Completely understand the fear, and we later bought plug ins, and for new year got tablets from the vets. Since then however, he just regularly seems to mess in house. Not every day, but more often than he should.

I take them for a walk at 5, usually about 45 mins. I leave for work at 6, OH leaves at 7. One of us is home to let them about 12/12.30, and there will be mess. Usually poo, but lately the odd wee. Last Thursday, I went upstairs to get pj’s on, and he followed me up which is usual. I turned round and he was weeing on our bed. He has never ever messed upstairs before, let alone on bed. Friday, he weed on carpet whilst we were at work.

Hasn’t done it since, been fine all weekend, and I was furloughed Monday and yesterday and no incidents. Today, wee and poo when we got home. He poo’d on walk this am, and wee’d in garden before oh went to work.

Anyone any help or advice. We know from past experience if we catch him act, send him in the garden, he won’t do it again for some time at least.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Query a UTI but peeing on human bedding is usually stress/a form of protest/dominance depending on the dog.

If he's going as normal on walks and nothing medically wrong then it's stress.

 

[TheresaW]

Thank you. Would you have any idea what could be stressing him? It’s crossed my mind that routine has been way off for last 6/12 months with one or other of us being furloughed, so at home, and myself being on 3 or 4 day weeks instead of my usual 5.

How can we help him?

 

[TheresaW]

Will add, he sleeps on the bed with us, rightly or wrongly. Always has done.

 

[SusieT]

Get a sample to your vet, get a vet check, if this is normal get a behaviourist in to help, crate/pen train etc. Consider secure outside run as a last resort.

 

[TheresaW]

Thank you. We do have 6 monthly vet checks for both dogs, which seem to have gone by the by since the first lockdown, although he has been seen for his boosters. That was last June though. I will call them tomorrow for a chat. Luna, our other dog would love to be outside all day, and I think he’d be quite happy if he was with her, but we really wouldn’t feel comfortable having them outside whilst we weren’t here, no matter how secure their run was. Far too many baduns about. I worry about them being locked in the house and burglars.

We do have a crate from when Luna was a pup. Will be worth a try if I can get OH on board.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

It sounds as if he is thoroughly upset by the changes in routine. Do you have the plug-ins going all the time? Could it be that they need replacing?

 

[TheresaW]

We unplugged the one upstairs, will be worth plugging it back in to try. Downstairs one is still half full. (Not the original one we got, has been changed).

 

[Sandstone1]

Also make sure no sent of previous accidents remain, if he can smell it it will encourage him to go in same place again, Maybe leave a radio on for him on a talking station. Some thing to chew ie stuffed kong may help him relax.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Ditto CorvuxCorax, it sounds like stress, anxiety, possibly mixed with protest about something, sometimes I suspect that something might only make sense in their heads.

If other health problems is ruled out, and the plug-ins are working, perhaps try moving the plug-ins? Maybe their current placement isn't optimal?
I'm not a fan of so called Prozac for dogs, and similar, but in cases like this, I think it sounds worth considering.

 

[TheresaW]

Other thing to consider maybe? We had new neighbours one side last July. Family with 3 young children, plus a small dog. Previous family was 2 young children, no dog. Obviously we’ve chatted, but not met together because of lockdowns etc. Dogs have met though fence, and seem to get on. We now also have new neighbours other side, they moved in just before Christmas. Young couple, mums small dog visits sometimes. Both of ours don’t seem to take much notice when she visits.

Sandstone, we do leave radio on when not here, usually Absolute. Maybe change to 5 live or something? No idea what talking stations there are. I scrub carpet like you wouldn’t believe. We are actually considering taking it right up. Renovating house slowly but surely and laminate floor will be going down eventually.

They have kongs, nylabones, an actual toy box they can help themselves to.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I'd look into crate training him or a secure kennel/run when you're out. Definitely not free run of the house whether you're in or out. You can't toilet train a dog if you're not there with it.
Renovations/home improvement if ongoing, won't help, some dogs find that very stressful.

 

[TheresaW]

I'd look into crate training him or a secure kennel/run when you're out. Definitely not free run of the house whether you're in or out. You can't toilet train a dog if you're not there with it.
Renovations/home improvement if ongoing, won't help, some dogs find that very stressful.

Thank you. House improvements have been going on since he moved in mind you ?. I just wish he could talk to us.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

. I just wish he could talk to us.

He is doing the best he can!
Look at it from his pov, he never knows who is going to be at home/when someone will come back, his home keeps changing, with new smells to get used to. Even the noises that next door makes have changed, they listen to different radio programmes/TV shows, the children sound different, they laugh differently. The 1st lot stomped upstairs, the new ones go quietly (or the other way round). He probably got used to having children at home next door all day, then they went back to school and everything's gone quiet. Now he can hear the traffic going past more easily, the postman disturbs him but at least tha is at the same tie every day, he never knows when someone else might knock at the door wanting to leave a parcel.
I would get him used to the crate, it will help him to feel more secure, as well as saving your floors (and beds).

 

[brighteyes]

Crate train, definitely. His safe place and retreat. Sounds like insecurity and anxiety driven reaction to changes, to me. Not sure how anyone can prevent changes outside or even inside the home.