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 Dogs are usually house-trained by the time they are a few months old,
and once they know the rules, they'll do everything they can to reach
their favorite spots in time. But even dogs with perfect track records
will occasionally go where they shouldn't. These aren't really
"accidents" because grown dogs know that they're supposed to go outside.
Dogs who go in the house are invariably trying to tell you something.
"I couldn't wait." Even dogs with fastidious manners and good training
have certain limits. Unless you have a doggy door, they can't let
themselves out when nature calls. When you're gone all day or working
late, it's simply not realistic to expect them to wait.
For most dogs, 12 hours is about the limit. When you're
going to be gone longer than that, the only solution is to make other
arrangements -- having a neighbor let your dog out, for example, or
hiring a pet sitter to drop by once a day.
"I'm in charge, and here's the proof." Among dogs, urinating represents
more than a comfort stop. It's also their way of marking territory and
establishing their status in the family. That's why people who get a
second pet are often subjected to an outbreak of housesoiling as one of
the dogs -- usually the older resident -- begins urinating in strategic
spots.
It may take a few weeks or longer for both dogs to feel comfortable with
the new arrangement. You can speed things up by reinforcing the natural
pecking order. Give special preference to the "top dog" -- which is
usually, but not always, the one who's been there the longest. Try
feeding this dog first, she advises. Let her go out the door first, and
give her the most attention. Once your dog feels that her status in the
family is secure, she'll be much less inclined to defend it on her own.
"I worship the ground you walk on." When a dog rolls on her back the
minute you come home and then urinates on the floor, she's not
forgetting her housetraining and she's not being rude. In fact, she's
doing the opposite. "Such a dog is being very polite," .
"She's saying, 'I know that you are my leader and I will do anything you
ask.'" Called submissive urination, this is very common among dogs. But it's not a good sign in the family because it means
a dog is overly anxious or intimidated. About all you can do is try to
make sure that your dog is more secure. There are a lot of ways to do
this. For example, don't stand over her and look down when you first get
home -- kneel down and greet her from a more "equal" level. It's also a good idea to avoid direct eye contact for a while
because some dogs find it intimidating.
Extreme submissive behavior isn't easy to fix because it can be an
intrinsic part of a dog's personality. If simple changes don't help, you
may want to call your vet or a trainer for help. |
