Althea
Completely Boxer Crazy
Hey, y'all!
I have a weird issue, and the vet doesn't know what to suggest, as there's nothing physically wrong with my boxer.
Suki (see puppy photo in profile) is going to be seven this year. Potty training has always been a trial for us, but she finally (finally!) has it down, and has for about a year. She had it 85-90%, but her signals for going out are staring really hard at you. Which is great, if you are looking at her. If not...well, she'd promptly (and I do mean promptly) pee or poop. The last year or so, she's finally gotten it to about 99%--we've only had one or two accidents, and those were because something scared her (thunderstorm, bag fell off the table).
She's a sweetheart, very food-oriented, and surprisingly good at learning commands. When we first started potty training, she would ring a bell...but then she rang the bell ALL THE TIME. So we stopped using the bell. Now she's great about pacing and staring really hard.
Which works, and she even knows which door to go to--back for pee, front for poop (we live in an urban area).
But...Suki has to pee 8-12 times per day. She doesn't have a UTI--she has before, and we've addressed it and all was well. We've run batteries of tests--nada. As far as the vet(s) can tell, she's healthy as a horse. (We've recently treated her for a UTI, just in case--nope.)
Yet...in a two hour span, she'll ask to go out 3-4 times. I work from home, so...yeah. Ready to pull my hair out. She doesn't drink too much water, but she does think she has to drink all the water in the bowl, so we have to monitor that, or else she'll puke it back up. (You know, I never had this problem with my mutt...why can't I stay away from boxers?! Oh, right, 'cause *smooshy*!) I've had that with all my boxers.
When we go out, she does pee, but often, it's just enough to justify a true pee--not a dribble.
When crated, she can hold her bladder for 8-10 hours, no problem (overnight, for example, or even when I've had a long work day out of the house).
My theory is that she's asking to go out because she's bored--and I can't say I blame her. But it's driving me nuts, and I don't want to keep her in her crate when I'm home, though that's what I have to do to get work done sometimes (I am a graphic designer and have ADHD--so focus is challenging and highly required).
We walk her, play with her, have chewies which she loves. But she wants YOU 24/7, and my husband tends to be very, very docile with them and give in to whatever they want. (She has a little sister who's a mutt--she has no issues like this).
Advice? Anyone else have this issue? What could I be doing that might be encouraging this? Because I can't ignore her when she's pacing--and she's finally so good about giving us signals, I don't want to risk her regressing.
I should also note: I often consult with people, which are 90-minute calls, and if I'm busy and can't respond, she goes and lays down and waits. But if I'm not otherwise engaged and dare to look at her, she paces and then will whine and bark to get my attention. So clearly--she thinks this is serious.
Suki
Boxer, white
Raised since 11 weeks
11/27/09
65 pounds (muscular and lanky)
Health issues:
Allergies; blown coat on rear flanks--permanent, not seasonal alopecia; suspected thyroid issue, but was marginal and meds did little to help, so with vet's permission, we stopped and adjusted with supplements with greater results; anxiety issues as did her mother and siblings, but very manageable; some crate aggression towards strangers, but fine when loose in house; mouths men's hands and can be nippy--anxious response, likely due to my ex-husband
I have a weird issue, and the vet doesn't know what to suggest, as there's nothing physically wrong with my boxer.
Suki (see puppy photo in profile) is going to be seven this year. Potty training has always been a trial for us, but she finally (finally!) has it down, and has for about a year. She had it 85-90%, but her signals for going out are staring really hard at you. Which is great, if you are looking at her. If not...well, she'd promptly (and I do mean promptly) pee or poop. The last year or so, she's finally gotten it to about 99%--we've only had one or two accidents, and those were because something scared her (thunderstorm, bag fell off the table).
She's a sweetheart, very food-oriented, and surprisingly good at learning commands. When we first started potty training, she would ring a bell...but then she rang the bell ALL THE TIME. So we stopped using the bell. Now she's great about pacing and staring really hard.
Which works, and she even knows which door to go to--back for pee, front for poop (we live in an urban area). But...Suki has to pee 8-12 times per day. She doesn't have a UTI--she has before, and we've addressed it and all was well. We've run batteries of tests--nada. As far as the vet(s) can tell, she's healthy as a horse. (We've recently treated her for a UTI, just in case--nope.)
Yet...in a two hour span, she'll ask to go out 3-4 times. I work from home, so...yeah. Ready to pull my hair out. She doesn't drink too much water, but she does think she has to drink all the water in the bowl, so we have to monitor that, or else she'll puke it back up. (You know, I never had this problem with my mutt...why can't I stay away from boxers?! Oh, right, 'cause *smooshy*!) I've had that with all my boxers.
When we go out, she does pee, but often, it's just enough to justify a true pee--not a dribble.
When crated, she can hold her bladder for 8-10 hours, no problem (overnight, for example, or even when I've had a long work day out of the house).
My theory is that she's asking to go out because she's bored--and I can't say I blame her. But it's driving me nuts, and I don't want to keep her in her crate when I'm home, though that's what I have to do to get work done sometimes (I am a graphic designer and have ADHD--so focus is challenging and highly required).
We walk her, play with her, have chewies which she loves. But she wants YOU 24/7, and my husband tends to be very, very docile with them and give in to whatever they want. (She has a little sister who's a mutt--she has no issues like this).
Advice? Anyone else have this issue? What could I be doing that might be encouraging this? Because I can't ignore her when she's pacing--and she's finally so good about giving us signals, I don't want to risk her regressing.
I should also note: I often consult with people, which are 90-minute calls, and if I'm busy and can't respond, she goes and lays down and waits. But if I'm not otherwise engaged and dare to look at her, she paces and then will whine and bark to get my attention. So clearly--she thinks this is serious.
Suki
Boxer, white
Raised since 11 weeks
11/27/09
65 pounds (muscular and lanky)
Health issues:
Allergies; blown coat on rear flanks--permanent, not seasonal alopecia; suspected thyroid issue, but was marginal and meds did little to help, so with vet's permission, we stopped and adjusted with supplements with greater results; anxiety issues as did her mother and siblings, but very manageable; some crate aggression towards strangers, but fine when loose in house; mouths men's hands and can be nippy--anxious response, likely due to my ex-husband
. 
