Night time pee problem!

[jackthelad]

My brindle boy Jack is 11 months old. He has been castrated a few months ago. I've had a bit of hassle with him peeing in the house when he thinks no one is around. Recently we have moved house and his bed is in the kitchen (this was not practical in my last house. He spends the day in the kitchen while I'm at work with no problems - he is let out once or twice for the toilet by my dad. The problem is at night. Every morning I come downstairs there is a puddle of pee on the kitchen floor. I know he can hold it all night because he did it when he slept outside my room in my last house. He is put in the kitchen at 10:30pm and I come downstairs at 6:30am.

Is this a case of separation anxiety at night? Or maybe he doesn't like the kitchen? I feed him in the kitchen and try to make it appealing for him with a nice bed and his teddy / toys, but I do know he'd prefer to sleep near to me (what boxer wouldn't want to sleep near his family?) Maybe he is still getting used to his new house? How to I break this problem? If I can't catch him in the act, how can I scold him? Maybe I should camp in the kitchen a couple of nights with him and see if that helps as I know he won't pee the floor if I'm there. What do you think? I know its not a UTI – he’s been given the all clear from the vet. I also don’t let him drink too much water before bedtime.

Last night I set my alarm for 2am to let him out to pee. I put him back in the kitchen afterwards. When I came downstairs at 6:30am there was a puddle of pee!

From experience crating him isn't an option - he hated being confined in a small space and did really badly in them. I also don't want him sleeping in my room as I believe he should have his own 'place' in the house. I wonder if he’ll ever be fully housetrained.

I'd really appreciate your assistance with this problem. Thank you.

Alastair

 

[srsniffsalot]

Poor guy!! It does sound a little like separation anxiety. He is having to get used to new surroundings and he is being kept away from you, definately not what he is used to.

You said that crating was not an option b/c of past experiences, do you care to share what happened? That was going to be my 1st suggestion. Dogs are instinctually den animals. Maybe now might be a good time to introduce him to crate?

Best luck to you Jack!!!

 

[jackthelad]

Hi, Jack's past experiences of the crate include totally destroying one causing pieces of metal to stick out everywhere (I am so thankful he didn't hurt himself). He also peed the crate when left at in it at home. When we removed the crate from the house and let him roam the living room during the day when we were at work - no pee spots!
Also, when told to go to bed (in his crate) he would make such a fuss of trying to hide from it. I can't understand it because he was crated from 10 weeks old - he just gradually grew to hate it.

I hope this additional info gives a better picture of mine and Jack's dilemma!

Thanks,

Alastair

 

[RolenKisses]

I know you said you don't want him in your bedroom because you want him to have a spot of his own, but what about moving his bed in your bedroom? The bed would be "his" spot and he wouldn't be sleeping in your bed. Rolen started out sleeping in our kitchen in his crate, but would wake up as soon as the sun came up, so we bought another crate and put it in our bedroom. It helped a lot. He still had his spot, but didn't wake as soon as the sun would rise.

 

[bmwgardner]

I agree with sirsniffsalot in that you might try to revisit crate training. We were able to teach our dog that the crate brings peanut butter filled kong treats when he goes in the crate. He still doesn't like it but it lets him know that good things happen when he goes in the crate. Also, we bought a great dog pillow to go in the crate so he is happy to sleep in there at night on his pillow. Just a thought. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[jackthelad]

Ok, got an update on this issue.... I have tried the crate again during the night for a few nights. Jack has peed it every night. Its not as if he can lie somewhere else coz the crate is not big enough so he has to lie in it. The next few days i brought his bed (not the crate) into my room and he slept on the floor next to my bed. I did hear him waken a couple of times but he just went back to sleep - no pee spots!
The probllem is that I don't want him sleeping in with me and my girlfriend as I believe he, as well as us, should have our own space.

Do you suggest I have him in our bedroom til he gets a bit older to eradicate the night time peeing problem?

I'm at my wits end also because he has now started to pee the kitchen when left for even an hour during the day. He will NEVER pee inside the house when he knows i'm in the house as well. I have reverted back to the treat and praise training when he 'goes' outside but to no avail.

I will never give up on him but I can't have my new house smelling of urine all the time. Suggestions anyone?

 

[Sreed]

My brindle boy Jack is 11 months old. He has been castrated a few months ago. I've had a bit of hassle with him peeing in the house when he thinks no one is around. Recently we have moved house and his bed is in the kitchen (this was not practical in my last house. He spends the day in the kitchen while I'm at work with no problems - he is let out once or twice for the toilet by my dad. The problem is at night. Every morning I come downstairs there is a puddle of pee on the kitchen floor. I know he can hold it all night because he did it when he slept outside my room in my last house. He is put in the kitchen at 10:30pm and I come downstairs at 6:30am.

Is this a case of separation anxiety at night? Or maybe he doesn't like the kitchen? I feed him in the kitchen and try to make it appealing for him with a nice bed and his teddy / toys, but I do know he'd prefer to sleep near to me (what boxer wouldn't want to sleep near his family?) Maybe he is still getting used to his new house? How to I break this problem? If I can't catch him in the act, how can I scold him? Maybe I should camp in the kitchen a couple of nights with him and see if that helps as I know he won't pee the floor if I'm there. What do you think? I know its not a UTI – he’s been given the all clear from the vet. I also don’t let him drink too much water before bedtime.

Last night I set my alarm for 2am to let him out to pee. I put him back in the kitchen afterwards. When I came downstairs at 6:30am there was a puddle of pee!

From experience crating him isn't an option - he hated being confined in a small space and did really badly in them. I also don't want him sleeping in my room as I believe he should have his own 'place' in the house. I wonder if he’ll ever be fully housetrained.

I'd really appreciate your assistance with this problem. Thank you.

Alastair

Why didn't he take to crating? I've never heard of a dog not taking to it giving all else equal. Did you ever make the crate a negative experience for the dog? Granted my pup spent a couple nights barking and whining, but I just let her be and she adjusted on her own. I leave the crate door open when I am there so she can go in and out and she does. There are a lot of little variables that can make a negative experience for a dog and the crate. Also when your pup got in that anxious state of mind in the crate, how did you react? What did you do that second?

A puppy needs to stay in the crate at least 1 1/2 years as a general rule of thumb.

 

[Sreed]

Also, for some dogs crating takes awhile. Your not alone with the way your dog reacted. I don't train with treats but for crate training it's ok. Throw some toys in there and some treats. Let him experience the crate with positive reinforcement. When you feel he is getting used to it then shut the door for a couple of minutes and progress from there. Another thing is if he gets anxious wait for him to calm down before letting him out. If you don't then your relating anxiousness to the crate. Thus nurturing that negative state of mind.

IMHO, I think the crate is the solution to this problem. Pick up some literature and be patient with an open mind. He can get used to the crate if you get that in your head.

Good Luck

 

[Sonnysdad]

Probably wont pee with u right there! Sonny wont leave my side when I'm home, I am with him at least 12hrs a day...I have odd hrs. He understands when he is allowed in our bed...only one of us there... they want companionship!

 

[jackthelad]

Its just the peeing the crate thats the problem now. He doesn't seem to mind sitting in it. I am going to get a blanket for him that won't easilly absorb liquid and see if that deters him. He doesn't play with toys in his crate, however he does eat treats there. I will just persevere with the positive reinforcements associated with the crate. Fingers crossed. Thanks for your help.