D'Argo peed in the house!

[myandromeda]

Hello all!

I need some answers to this question please!

Last night, I took Crichton and D'Argo to go outside to go potty before we went to bed. D'Argo walked over to "the area" did his business, came back, got a drink of water (outside), walked through the sliding glass door and then proceeded to lift his leg and pee on his blanket! I'm pretty sure it was a marking thing, since he just went outside, but I was wondering... WHY?!

He is a year old (just a few weeks ago!) and still unaltered (although we are going to have that done, and soon! We couldn't make our last appointment...)

He seems to be the Alpha (over Crichton, not us!) and has been testing his limits with my husband and I recently. We train every other, if not every, day and his is very intelligent. (Just giving all background for y'all!)

When I say testing his limits, I mean the following... He has begun to jump up on us (I have so many bruises on my legs, it's not funny! ) as well as on our couch. I'm going to post this section in training so perhaps I can get some answers on how to deal with that there. But for now, I just need to know WHY he peed in the house, and right in front of me!!!

Thanks in advance!

[myandromeda]

I forgot to mention that the blanket that I was referring to is one that him and Crichton share. They lay on it (when it's not hot) when we are on the couch.

[codglvr]

Welcome to "puberty" He is acting like a normal 1 yr old male, testing his boundaries, and trying to create his own place in the pack and reenforce it. Sounds like you are going to have to have two blankets for the boys now. He was simply marking it as his and his only. Time to reenforce the training, and reenforce who is alpha. By the way, since he did it in front of you, how did you handle it?

[myandromeda]

Originally posted by codglvr
Welcome to "puberty" He is acting like a normal 1 yr old male, testing his boundaries, and trying to create his own place in the pack and reenforce it.

I figured as much...

By the way, since he did it in front of you, how did you handle it?

I told him "No!" took a hold of his collar and brought him straight back to the place where they "go." I pretty much caught him midstream I told him to "go potty" like I always do, and he let out a little trickle... That was good, right?

[codglvr]

sounds like what I have done. I hope that you praised him after he did urinate in the appropriate place. It is such a fun time. We are still in this occassional testing phase with Balder, and although this sounds terrible, I can't wait for him to grow out of it. While I will miss all of the puppy antics, etc, it will be nice to have a calm house with older dogs after have had "puppies" for the last 5 years straight. :D Don't let him fool you, he knows better, he's just testing the waters.;)