Inappropriate Elmination!!! - 6 mos old

[SargesMommy]

Hi everyone. Sarge is almost 6 months old. Last night, we let our big dog (male) in to sleep because it was so cold. Sarge and Hoover played for hours and finally collapsed exhausted. I put Sarge in my bedroom so that they would actually sleep all night and not terrorize each other and the house all night. When we got up this morning, Sarge promptly went up to Hoover (who was asleep on the couch) and tried to wake him up. Hoovie was still asleep. I don't know WHAT possessed Sarge, but he hiked his leg (and I have NEVER seen him hike before) and peed on the coffee table, floor, and magazines by the couch that Hoovie was asleep on. I know Sarge had to go potty and I was getting his leash to take him out, but he normally will go to his potty pads and doesn't urinate inappropriately. Seriously, it was less than 1 minute from the time we left the bedroom until I had his leash in my hand. We do the same thing every morning and this has never happened before.

Do you think that he was "marking" his territory from Hoover? I am very upset about this - I can't have him eliminating inappropriately in the house. Does anyone have any ideas? Please help!!!!!

 

[kayboxer]

I'm not an expert, but it sounds like he was marking his territory to me. Expecially since he hasn't hiked before. He is at the age where he might do that. Has he been neutered? If he is still intact, I would guess that is what it was.

 

[SargesMommy]

I'm not an expert, but it sounds like he was marking his territory to me. Expecially since he hasn't hiked before. He is at the age where he might do that. Has he been neutered? If he is still intact, I would guess that is what it was.

Yes, he's intact. The vet wanted to wait until he was 6 months old to neuter. He's definitely getting neutered in January.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[ehayes21]

I would say this is a house breaking issue. At six months, a pup has just begun to fully grasp the concept of pottying outside. On top of that, they usually tend to forget everything they have ever been taught at that age. The puppy pads are not doing you any good either - you are essentially teaching him to go potty inside the house.
So...my suggestion would be to ditch the pads and take a few steps back in the house training department

 

[Goodgirl]

Also, he wont' stop hiking his leg just because he is neutered- Felix still does it, but not in the house. It probably did have to do with the dog in the house that usually doesn't come in- but is also related to not being totally housebroken. I agree with ditching the puppy pads- they have chemicals that attract them to eliminate in that spot right? and Get a cleaner that will break down the smells of the urine so he doesn't eliminate there again.
Six months is still young, I would try not to be so disappointed in him. Felix didn't fully grasp house training until 7 months- but has done wonderfully the past two months. He is also in the routine of going straight to the door when we get up or he gets out of the crate b/c we make him go outside everytime.