Takes the P - literally!! Help.

Fools Motto

Fools Motto

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So, Ickle Rosie springer spaniel of 1 yr, 4mths weighing in at 12.5kg (small) yet to have first season.

Have had trouble with house training upto about 6 months ago - still won't trust her completely. She is not allowed in any carpeted room bar one - and she made her mark on that! No soft furnishings other than her dog sheets in her plastic bed., no furniture surfing allowed either.
She has two solid walks daily, plus time in the garden.
I've got her diet better, as her poo isn't so smelly and she isn't so desperate to go all the time.

Although this has clearly happened before, I caught her in the act of peeing in her bed earlier, and would like ideas to help solve it.
We had been back from a lovely walk about an hour or so, and as usual she scuffs her bedding into a pile, twirls around and sits on it to go to sleep. A short while later, she woke, scuffed more, appeared to hump said pile of bedding, then crouched and wee'd. She then lay on it and tried to go to sleep until I told her to get out so I could remove the dirty sheets.

I don't think this is normal? (dog has never been normal, but this is taking the P!)
 
Sounds like a possible anxiety thing to me.

Was the door open for her to go out if she wanted to. Did you reprimand her?
 
If this is a more recent habit. She could be coming into season our lab bitch has just had her first season and wanted to pee more . She does sound anxious about it. Trying to hide it in her bed. Do you give a positive response when she pees outside?you can train her to go as soon as you put her outside if you work on it. I know it is annoying but it is possible to train older dogs rehomed ones for example that might have been brought up in kennels. Puppy pads could be useful unless she shreds them. Just need to keep it calm.
 
Dogs won't wee or poo in their beds unless there is a underlying problem. This could be anxiety or a physical problem.
I seem to remember you have been advised before to get her checked for urinary infections etc.
It certainly is not normal for a dog to mess it's own bed.
 
She has been to the vet several times to sort out dietary issues. I've spoken to them in length about her toileting, and they just say 'its a spaniel thing', or she is just immature. The door has been open when it's not cold/wet, but she has never showed signs she wants out. (that was an issue during training days!) I've had to change her bed 3 or 4 times in the last 4 months due to it being wet and smelly. Basically it doesn't happen often, but it does happen. This was the first time I caught her doing it. She wasn't covering it up today, almost like she was sleep peeing!? I was making a cup of tea, so not remotely pressuring her to do anything. Previously I've just discovered it after being out/during the night.
I've said before, I really don't think she cares. She doesn't cower, look guilty or anything. she acts totally normal!!
 
Has her pee been put in a tube and has it been tested? If not, she hasn't been tested for a UTI. Go to a different vet if yours is indifferent. If she's also had other problems with diet etc she may need a scan as it may be a plumbing issue.

You've intimated that you've reprimanded or scolded her for going inside in the past. If you've mistimed this then she may have figured it's best to pee stealthily/suddenly/somewhere she feels she is 'safe' without warning to avoid this.

Dogs will always go back to their early imprinting/what they learn first. Depending on how you managed her in the early days, she could have misinterpreted what you desired of her - maybe she associates going to the toilet outside with stress rather than the other way around, depending on where and when she was told off.

Do you know how she was raised? Outside, inside?
 
I've seen any of your posts before so I apologise if i'm repeating what you already know, but I would agree with the others and say it is unusual for a dog to wet its own bed, they don't like to mess where they sleep.

I would rule out any infection or anything just in case she really can't help it.

If that's all fine, she must not understand what she needs to do. Pups can't always control when they need to 'go', if they haven't grasped that weeing inside is bad then they won't 'look guilty', they won't think they've done anything wrong. I've always been of the belief that you shouldn't tell a dog off for messing inside, if you tell them off after they've done it they won't understand and will maybe find more discreet ways to do it. We always trained the positives, if they do it inside - ignore and take them outside and see if they do anything else, if they do then make a big fuss and reward/treat. When they wake up take them straight outside to make sure they don't need to do anything - after waking up is prime wee time IME - after they've had a big play or food take them straight outside, have treats on hand to reward if they do go.

She should then understand when she goes outside good things happen but when she goes inside she just gets ignored, so going outside is better!
 
There have been a lot of posts about this puppy and house training. I don't understand why the op does not just get a urine sample and take it to the vet to be tested.
This poor puppy seems to have had problems for ages.
It is not normal behaviour for a dog to mess in its bed.
There is something wrong either physically or mentally.
I feel sorry for this little dog.
 
I haven't seen any earlier posts either, so don't know the back story to this. However, I would agree she needs to be tested to check she does not have a urinary infection or other potential medical cause first.

If this has been ruled out then I think the OP needs to go right back to basics in house training and treat her like a small puppy. Take her outside regularly (whether she looks like she wants to or not) and especially when she wakes up, after food and play. Praise her for toileting outside and use a happy voice telling her to "go pee" or whatever command you wish (with consistent use she will start to associate the phrase with the action and reinforce the behaviour you wish). Make sure you wash her bedding with a good enzyme cleaner to abolish the urine scent altogether or give her completely new bedding. Never punish her for peeing indoors, but if you catch her in the act, clap your hands to interrupt her, take her outside and then heap praise on her when she toilets outside.
 
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