one is getting old and the other isn't

[excellrott]

What do you do if you have two dogs and one may need pee-pads in the house soon? I know for a fact that if one uses them the other will, jus cause she can. They are not crated, but locked in my bedroom daily. Midnite will hold on if she has someone to let her out around 10pm and then when I get up at 5am, she's okay. BUT now and again there is no one to let them out in the afternoon and she has the darndest time holding it from around 10am till 5pm when I get home. She is prematurely aging and has had an exam recently, so there's nothing really wrong with her except her bad joints and crooked jaw. They wouldn't do too well seperated all day, but if worse comes to worse, I can put them in two different spots. I'm praying someone has had this problem and I won't need to do that. They are a year apart in age, but many years apart in physical maturity and mental accuity. Angel still acts like a puppy and wants to run, run, run. Midnite can't keep up, so our walks are a little haphazard. When I can I take Angel to get more exersise, but it's not that often. BTW...they are 5 & 6

[Murphyab]

I can only share with you my experience. I have a pug a year old and a 2 year old Rottie. The rottie was house trained in no time and has never had any accidents. The pug on the other hand has been quite difficult to house train. I have had several dogs over my life and have never had a problem house training one til this pug. Anyhow, I digress, the pug has always used the pee pad and usually only goes on it. So I guess you could say he is house broken as long as there is a pee pad. My rottie has never used the pee pad even though the pug uses it on a daily basis. Honestly, it is as though my rottie is embarassed when he sees the pug use it. He turns away and will not look at the pug or the pee pad. So, in my experience if one is using it, it does not necessarily mean the other will. Good luck!

[excellrott]

Thank you, Murphyab...maybe I can pull it off if I factor in a matter of pride. I'm certainly going to try it before I seperate them.

[fostermom]

Is there some way you could gate off the bedroom such that the dogs are together in the room but separated by a baby gate?

[excellrott]

That one is definately worth looking into..............I could move the bed over some and use my gate, maybe.....fostermom, you may be on to something.
Thanks

[fostermom]

Another thought..I'm wondering if your dog might have developed canine incontinence....my one girl developed incontinance at about 5 yrs old is on medication for that...it really "fixes" the problem...might want to consult your vet before deciding it's not correctable. Best of luck.

[SABELLESMOM]

I would double check with a vet again, this vet or another. A 6 year old dog should not have trouble holding her urine.

No infection? Then go with the theory she needs "doggy detrol."

If neither of these are the problem, I would seriously consider a crate in your bedroom for the one dog. I have a definate aversion to and never, never use pee pads, myself.

I have an aging Cocker Spaniel, who began whizzing or pooping IN the house, just whenever! Even with 3-4 hour pee breaks. And while I was home! Vet checked, and OK.

I began crating him in the house, again. No "accidents," since! He's 17, BTW, and acts like he's 8 years younger otherwise.

[fostermom]

I agree with Lucy...make sure your girl doesn't have a urinary tract infection (UTI)...my most recent foster was having accidents in the house and turned up he had a UTI....is the urine strong smelling or dark in color???? I'd take a sample to the vet to be checked.
Also, occasionally, a dog, once it's had a few accidents, simply keeps peeing in the same spot because it's gotten used to it (and can smell the urine)...I think my foster was doing that...he'd had a few accidents, had the UTI treated, and then just kept peeing in the same spot cause that's what he was used to. I started crating while I was away, and he hasn't had an accident since....extinction (preventing the dog from doing something until the behavior goes away) does work!!!

[fostermom]

Oh, and I'd ALSO do a senior dog panel on her to see if her kidneys are ok...usually is a housetrained dog starts having accidents, there's a reason. My OLD girl (conservatively 13) goes to bed around 7pm and doesn't budge off her bed until 6am....even when the younger ones are bouncing around saying "I gotta go PEEEEEE!!!".

[excellrott]

Originally Posted by fostermom

Oh, and I'd ALSO do a senior dog panel on her to see if her kidneys are ok...usually is a housetrained dog starts having accidents, there's a reason. My OLD girl (conservatively 13) goes to bed around 7pm and doesn't budge off her bed until 6am....even when the younger ones are bouncing around saying "I gotta go PEEEEEE!!!".

I was a little shocked myself when she started this. For now locking them in my room has curbed the 'accidents', but she gets me up pretty early to go in the morning. I will take a sample to the vet, who btw has suggested this herself. I have been busy looking for a second job. Got to get this down before I'm away from home even more, so I'm on it. This saturday I will get a sample and take it down the road to the vet. Later we can do that 'senior' panel as she is getting old much too quickly for her age. That's what happens when you first dog is from a byb. sigh

[fostermom]

Another thing I thougt of was lyme disease....that could account for his acting like an old dog, limping and peeing if it's affected his kidneys...I saw a dog come through rescue that was quite crippled by lyme and he did seem much older than he was.

[excellrott]

My 'heart' dog has been going gray since she was three and her joints (not hips) have always been a problem, so this just seems to me to be another of her problems. I will be getting that pee sample today, but otherwise I will treat this as if she is getting older faster and make sure I accomadate her. Thanks for all the responses.