Re: seven year old JR urinating in house

In Reply to: seven year old JR urinating in house
Posted by:  Pat Kevin
Posted on:  August 27, 2001 at 15:52:16

: We have a 7 yr. old JR named Murray. Four years ago we got a another dog because my husband was worried Murray would be lonely when I was out of the house working. We decided to get a female and we looked (we thought) for a dog that would be submissive to Murray we got a Bichon Fri. female. We always treated him as the alpha of the two. He has always ignored her, and never allowed her to sit near him, etc. She was very, very slow to mature unlike Murray who was totally house trained at 8 wks. I think it has taken her this long to begin to assert her personality, quietly but surely. As she begins to assert herself, not always follow Murray out the door, dare to put her chin on his private sleep pad, chase a ball someone threw, etc. he first began to chew things, and then recently he has begun to urinate in the house. It happens after he has been out a long time, he gets out many times a day. Typical this am, he didn't come downstairs when she did and go out, I joked he was sleeping in, he went into another room upstairs and urinated. I found it later. I've closed off the living room because he was peeing their regularly and has ruined that carpet. I can't put up with this I don't know what to do. I have tried crating him, but I can't do that twenty four hours a day. We love this dog, but can't live with his behavior. I have been trying things for three months.I am not been working outside of the home for two years.
: We first thought it might be the Bichon but it isn't. Murray is a character and he does have some personality quirks, but that has been ok, we're worked around them. But this one, is too much. I feel I must get rid of him if we can't change his behavior. Our lives can't revolve around a dog. We always are willing to fit one into our life, but this has become a daily problem. But who would want a seven year old JR, he's very bright, but isn't that considered too old for adoption? Help!!! Pat Kevin

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Hi Pat,

The first thing I would do is get Murray into the vet to have him checked over.

Usually dogs that are housebroken for as long as Murray has been just start to do their business inside for no reason.

You need to rule out anything physical that might be causing Murray to do this. He could have a bladder infection or something and this needs to be checked into.

You haven't mentioned if Murray is neutered, this will also play a role with a male dog urinating indoors. Murray could be marking but I can't tell you if this is the case because I don't have all the information.

So the first thing you need to do is rule out any physical problem. If that is ruled out then if he is intact, have him neutered. This could (can't guarantee it though) reduce the incidents of indoor marking.

For immediate action you need to get to the pet supply store and get some Nature's Miracle and start to treat all the spots he has peed. This product will actually take the odor out so Murray can't smell it. Carpet cleaners only mask the odor to a dog, and the smell must be completely eliminated in order to keep him from peeing in the same spot.

You may actually have to give Murray a refresher in housebreaking and put him on a potty schedule just like when he was a pup. You HAVE to go out with him and make sure he eliminates and then praise him!

Letting him go out on his own unsupervised does nothing in the way of making Murray know what is good behavior and what is bad.