puppy peeing right in front of me

• 06-07-2008 11:52 AM

  tessa_s212 Joined on 09-10-2007 Stryker, OH Posts 147 Points 0

  puppy peeing right in front of me Reply Contact  Well, it isn't me - but I thought the title would be shorter and fit more appropriately The question is for a client. I am by no means an expert, but merely offering basic obedience classes through the humane society. I have offerend my advice, I have given handouts and step to step directions on potty training. She states she has followed all of it. She is crate training, and she always takes him immediately outside to use the restroom. Firstly, he is a nearly 6 month old goldendoodle. He was most likely from a puppy mill like situation. He had an indoor and outdoor portion of a kennel for a home up until he was adopted. But the problem didnt' spring up until just veyr recently.  For those that will suggest vet, the puppy has already seen a vet. Nothing wrong.. vet just says he's "bad".   She says everytime she takes him out, he DOES pee and poop outside.  But when she brings him back inside, he will also pee inside too. He looks at her, and then just squats. (He is not neutered, he does not lift his leg to mark yet. I have already suggested that she neuter him shortly after he turns 6 months.) The vet suggested she rub his nose in it, and I of course told her the vet was wrong. Should she restrict his water? I have heard of this before, but it being summer and getting hotter - I do not believe that to be particularly wise.   I have already suggested a tether, but she is not very optimistic because she says he does it right in front of her anyway.   Does anyone have any advice that I can pass onto her?  It seems she is doing everything else right and I've been questioning suggesting a more aversive route because he's simply getting too old to be doing this.

  Post Points: 0

• 06-07-2008 12:10 PM

  In reply to tessa_s212

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 7,648 Points 2,075

  Re: puppy peeing right in front of me Reply Contact Well, flatly any vet who would tell a client to 'rub his nose in it'  -- I'm not sure I would trust that vet to *know* if the dog truly had a UTI or not.  How much water does this dog drink?  Does this dog come in from outside and pottying and go right straight to the water bowl and drink more? Given that you're thinking water restriction ... that leads me to believe the dog may drink a lot and that is often a dead giveaway to a UTI.  Some dogs won't drink because it burns to pee (that's normally the human reaction), but some drink inately because it thins the urine so it burns less.  I've had lots of dogs try to drink their way thru a uti. No, don't tell them to restrict water.  1.  Yes, I'd tell them to leash the dog to them -- any sniffing should result in another outside trip.  Any drinking needs to result in an outside trip. 2.  I always clean up the urine with a paper towel and put it outside.  Make sure she knows to clean with an enzymatic cleaner and NOT something with ammonia.  3.  Watching behaviors -- if the dog suddenly stops playing, or 'doing' whatever it's doing it may need to go.  I honestly can almost promise you if this dog is drinking an extraordinary amount that there is a problem -- and I'd go for a full urinalysis (to see if there are crystals forming, and to see if the urine is concentrating).

  Post Points: 0

• 06-07-2008 1:05 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  tessa_s212 Joined on 09-10-2007 Stryker, OH Posts 147 Points 0

  Re: puppy peeing right in front of me Reply Contact Callie, the dog stayed overnight at the vets and they did testing (and I'm assuming for UTI). She said in all the testing costed over 200 dollars, so I'm sure the vet also tested for more than just UTI. Most vets in the area simply don't know a thing about training. I'm the only reward based trainer in a 50 min radius.     I'll relay the message. Make sure that he checked for a UTI, ask her about his water consumption, and again inform her it would be best to tether and any sign of sniffing, outside he goes. I will also pass on the cleaner idea.

  Post Points: 0

• 06-07-2008 1:16 PM

  In reply to tessa_s212

  grab01 Joined on 09-10-2007 middle of the desert Posts 917 Points 0	Re: puppy peeing right in front of me Reply Contact If the dog was from a mill situation, was it confined in a small cage where leaving the 'den' or bed to eliminate wasn't an option? Sometimes dogs from those situations have a hard time with housetraining, as the desire to keep their area clean just isn't there.
  	Post Points: 0

• 06-07-2008 1:23 PM

  In reply to grab01

  tessa_s212 Joined on 09-10-2007 Stryker, OH Posts 147 Points 0

  Re: puppy peeing right in front of me Reply Contact grab01: If the dog was from a mill situation, was it confined in a small cage where leaving the 'den' or bed to eliminate wasn't an option? Sometimes dogs from those situations have a hard time with housetraining, as the desire to keep their area clean just isn't there.     No, the cage was not extremely small. It had an outdoor/indoor section of the kennel according to his owner. It could go outside to eliminate, but it was never in ahouse until she got it.   I already suggested that this could be the problem, but she is confused because he's almost 6 months and the problem just started getting increasinly worse. Just weeks ago before class started she said he was absolutely wonderful on housetraining when I asked her on the phone.

  Post Points: 0

• 06-07-2008 3:52 PM

  In reply to tessa_s212

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 7,648 Points 2,075

  Re: puppy peeing right in front of me Reply Contact Unless you specifically ask for a urinalysis all they do is immerse a strip in the urine and see if the colors change -- if the urine is really dilute it will often not give a true reading.  A urinalysis has to be sent out to the lab -- it takes a couple of days for it to come back. $200?  $50 for the office visit, probably #0 - $40 for overnight costs, $40 for a strip test and a$80 for a basic blood test and a couple of other things and you're there.  Not much real testing either.  $200 can be a blink, and nothing helpful **depending on the vet**.  But until you get to a bigger blood panel and a urinalysis sent out to a lab you really don't have much and I've seen dogs **many** times misdiagnosed as not having a UTI because the urine was dilute rather than dark and stinky.   With the problems worsening "lately" -- it could so easily point to a uti.  I have seen so many dogs ditched because they "couldn't be housetrained" who simply had a urinary tract infection.  It happens very often.  No one's fault, just not diagnosed.  She's not giving cookies for the dog to pee is she?  *smile* that can also cause a dog to come in and pee ... "don't I get a cookie now too?"

  Post Points: 0

• 06-07-2008 4:31 PM

  In reply to tessa_s212

  rosesmom Joined on 04-20-2008 Posts 9 Points 0	Re: puppy peeing right in front of me Reply Contact   I think people take them back in too soon and did not give them long enough to finish. Pat
  	Post Points: 0

• 06-11-2008 1:40 PM

  In reply to rosesmom

  the_gopher Joined on 08-02-2006 New Hampshire Posts 1,119 Points 0	Re: puppy peeing right in front of me Reply Contact  Along with double checking that the vet did a UTI check, I would also recommend that she keep the dog out for a little bit longer.  Our 10 week old will sometimes pee twice in one session.  ~Sharon Proudly owned by Ari a 5 month old flat-coated retriever!
  	Post Points: 0

• 06-12-2008 9:11 PM

  In reply to the_gopher

  tessa_s212 Joined on 09-10-2007 Stryker, OH Posts 147 Points 0

  Re: puppy peeing right in front of me Reply Contact  Well, turns out the pup DID have a UTI, as well as ear infections/problems that he's been on antiobiotic flushes for. She said by the time they tested for the UTI, the level was already very low and almost cleared up by itself? But was still treated. The vet put him on science diet, but have advised the owner to go ahead and swtich to a good quality food if it doesn't help within a reasonable amount of time. Will be giving her more handouts on good quality dog food as well as websites to educate herself further. She followed through with the advice. She had him crated every moment that he was not in her sight and she didn't complain of many accidents. Mostly her complaints now lie in that he goes constantly. Every half hour he wants to go outside to dribble and get a cookie. I told her she can put his pottying on a variable reinforcement schedule, and to keep up the crate training again. As well as spending more time outdoors. Instead of letting him back inside after one pee, let him go SEVERAL times. As well as encouraged more long walks on leash to get his bowels and everything moving.      I tell ya, when you're a dog trainer, they don't just expect you to be a dog trainer, but a groomer, a vet, a behaviorist, a breeder, adn everythign inbetween! Surely a lot of knowledge to pass around and plenty of educating to do!

  Post Points: 0