Rocky is house broken but recently started urinating in the house

[jrumann59]

Our Rocky was fairly quick to pick up potty training. But recently he has started urinating in the house. He has done it mostly in front of my wife but has done it in my presence but not in front of me. He is a 2.5 yr old male un-neutered. My wife is at her wits end about this and any advice is appreciated.

[Judi W]

So what exactly are you doing when he does a POY right in front of you??!!!! that he has repeated it? You should be looking at what you are doing or not doing even more than what he is doing. Neglect of consistent and on-going training is usually the cause of young adult inappropriate behaviors.

[brunie's mom]

This most likely has nothing to do with housetraining.
He is marking...and showing his dominance. He is telling your wife "I'll piss on you". Please have him neutered , this will get rid of most of the testosterone. and lessen the marking urge..and he will not be such a handful. There is no reason to keep him intact unless you are showing him or hoping to breed.

How much training has he had? I would suggest your wife take over in feeding and his care...and get him back into formal obedience classes.

If he were urinating in inapropriate places or in front of you also...I would suggest a visit to the vet...but since it's only in front of your wife...then it is probably a leadership problem.

Gina

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by jrumann59

Our Rocky was fairly quick to pick up potty training. But recently he has started urinating in the house. He has done it mostly in front of my wife but has done it in my presence but not in front of me. He is a 2.5 yr old male un-neutered. My wife is at her wits end about this and any advice is appreciated.

Welcome to the forums fellow Marylander.

Is he marking a particular place or just going wherever he happens to be? Have you had him checked for a urinary infection by your Vet? Is he in obedience classes now?

[StephanieandToby]

Toby started doing this once because he had another male Rotti visiting him and I think the other male must have marked a spot in the house that we didn't notice. Toby was covering the other dog's tracks...he also pooped in the basement of my friend's house. I was embarrassed because he was already 5 at the time but she said all the dogs that visit go into the basement and poop in the same spot...I thought she was being kind, but sure enough when I visited a few days later a DIFFERENT dog ran downstairs and soiled that "spot". ...Anyways...just a thought...

[jrumann59]

A new development, he only does it in the same 2 or 3 spots. But only when something catches his full attention and rancor in the sliding glass window. It definitely sounds like time to neuter. Until recently he has had a couple of accidents. He housetrained very quickly, with aid of a doggy door in his area. So for the last 19 mos or so he was very good about 99% of the time until recently.

[Sargeant_C]

Also make sure that you are cleaning those spots real well. If he is smelling his markings then it is allowing him to keep on marking that area. There are many ways of neutralizing the smell. Even if we cannot smell it they can. So make sure you clean it well. Vinegar is suggested and Miracle cleaner I think is the name. Go over some posts on housebraking and cleaning carpets and you will find numerous suggestions.
Good luck. Also what are you doing when you catch him pottying in the house?

[Judi W]

Still waiting to hear what your response is/was. Did you or wife say "oh dear" or was he introduced to the wrath of god? If the former, expect it to continue neutered or not. This is not subtle disrespect, but full out in-your-face dissing. You will need to go to stringent obedience, monitoring his every move or when you cannot confinement. If you've dropped out of formal training, get back in. Everytime you see him even walk near something with his side placed, give him your strongest verbal and I'd probably accompany it with a collar correction just for thinking about it. It is not just that your house is going to start stink badly, but what this represents.

[jrumann59]

She usually yells "No". Normally around me when I see him near the target spots I say no and he moves on. He does go outside a lot but even after my wife takes him out he saves just enough to tick her off

[Judi W]

Well, that confirms what I have said. A total lack of respect. Does that shouted "no" make much of an impression? Obviously not. I'd be all over that dog to the point that he thought he was going to meet his maker. It would be physical and verbal. As it is, he pisses, she shouts "no" and then probably takes him outside. Big deal. You need to make your displeasure more known as well. He simply thinks that he can do whatever he wants.

[Brutus's Mom]

Originally Posted by Judi W

. I'd be all over that dog to the point that he thought he was going to meet his maker. It would be physical and verbal.

Please tell me you are not telling this man to be violent with his Dog? This could be taken the wrong way!

Please never revert to violence with your Dog, I think you are on the right tract with having him neutered. Please don't expect results over night, it will take a while for his hormones to settle down. I would have his urine tested as well just to make sure it is not medical.

[Judi W]

No, I am not going to tell you that. I would take that dog by the collar, give him a bounce or two, get right in his face with very overt verbal unhappiness so there was no mistaking that this should not be repeated. He is not impressed with "no" he is in-you-face not impressed with it. I don't know if the particular dog risks becoming a yard dog because of this, but I wouldn't be surprised. Many dogs also end up in a shelter because of this type of thing also and being too timid to correct them does them no favor.

[Brutus's Mom]

Originally Posted by Judi W

No, I am not going to tell you that. I would take that dog by the collar, give him a bounce or two, get right in his face with very overt verbal unhappiness so there was no mistaking that this should not be repeated. He is not impressed with "no" he is in-you-face not impressed with it. I don't know if the particular dog risks becoming a yard dog because of this, but I wouldn't be surprised. Many dogs also end up in a shelter because of this type of thing also and being too timid to correct them does them no favor.

Well, I am not sure what "a bounce or two" means but I am glad you cleared up the question of being violent in order to correct. I was concerned if I could take your statement wrong, I am sure this man or anyone else for that matter could as well.
I have always been of the opinion, if you have any doubts, just ask!! It can prevent a lot of misconceptions and I think this is very necessary especially with e-mail and posts, it is very hard to express your feelings and messages can be taken the wrong way. Thank you!

[HerculesMomma]

It wasn't until the last time I carried on with Hercules back in early August did this behavior stop. He was 2.5 yrs. old too and was perfectly poddy trained, so no excuses there. He is a terrible territory marker and I can only speak from personal experience, but Herc was neutered at age 2 and that did nothing to stop the territory marking. Only training, through "no poddy", in all circumstances except someone's back yard (meaning my own or my friends houses for visits) has he learned this territory marking is unacceptable. So I don't think your answer lies entirely in gettin the dog fixed. But this territory marking behavior never translated into him going in my house - until July came around.

And when Herc did this about 3 times over the course of one week in July, I did the "bad dog" thing. He waited a month, then did it two more times. I was ready for that 2nd time and when I found it, he had hell to pay. I did just as Judi W. said, I grabbed him by the collar and made him sniff it and I ranted and raved and bounced him a tad. I went on like this for a good 15 minutes (while cleaning it up). The dog disappeared for a half hour (he's never not at my side) and I knew I had made an impact on him. There was no violence involved, but I made sure he understood if he was going to live in this house there would be NO poddy.

He has not done it since then. (secretely knocking on wood )

[StephanieandToby]

[quote=Brutus's Mom]Please tell me you are not telling this man to be violent with his Dog? This could be taken the wrong way!

There is a difference between being "physical" with a dog and "hitting" a dog.... Hitting is never an acceptable solution.I agree with Judy that some people are too timid with their corrections.You can't afford to be ineffectual with a dog as big as a Rottweiler!(Especially ones that choose to ignore their master and stink up the house!)