Dog Issue - Pottying in house - Help

[LynnTH]

Hoping someone has some insight. We have a 12 year old Golden Retreiver (and a 13 year old Pekenese). Anyway. The past few wees the Golden has been peeing and pooping in the house when we are not home and even during the night. He has never done this before and he knows he is doing wrong cuz he will go into his time out corner on his own (yes - my dogs get time outs).

We took him to the vet yesterday thinking it was bladder, kidney or something. They did a blood test and came back that nothing was wrong with him at all. So, now we have him back in his kennel when we are at work and during the night. He hasn't been in one of these for many years. He of course does not want to be in and cries. I feel so bad but we cannot have him peeing and pooping in the house.

Nothing has changed in our house. Same schedules. No new animals or kids. Anyone ever have this happen. Could it just be old age??

 

[minnie2]

Did they check for a tumor on or around his kidney? My baby apparently lived with a tumor there for YEARS and then one day he started what your dog is starting and well sadly it wasn't good.

Hopefully that IS NOT the case with your puppy!!!

Could it just be age since 12 is on the old side for a big dog?

 

[LynnTH]

Did they check for a tumor on or around his kidney? My baby apparently lived with a tumor there for YEARS and then one day he started what your dog is starting and well sadly it wasn't good.

Hopefully that IS NOT the case with your puppy!!!

Could it just be age since 12 is on the old side for a big dog?

MY DH took him in. I know they checked his bladder and the blood test was going to show anything else. They didn't do any x-rays or anything. (is that how they would find the tumor?)

The thing is when he is in his kennel he does not potty in there, so it's not like he can't hold it. Just very frustrating. I'm thinking it could be old age too...

 

[whitneyNC]

I think the kennel is a good solution. As you know dogs are "den" animals and he will adjust (again) to having his own little space. If our lab didn't love her kennel, we would have had to get rid of her she is so destructive when unsupervised. The crate is also a big reason she was house trained at 12 weeks old. Good luck. I know geriatric dogs can be a challenge.

 

[nessz79]

I think the kennel is a good solution. As you know dogs are "den" animals and he will adjust (again) to having his own little space. If our lab didn't love her kennel, we would have had to get rid of her she is so destructive when unsupervised. The crate is also a big reason she was house trained at 12 weeks old. Good luck. I know geriatric dogs can be a challenge.

Agree with this.

We had an old dog who went through a "stage" with this when he was about 9/10. However, I was currently pregnant with my 2nd child and it could have been this. It did finally clear up on its own. We took him out often when we were home.

This is kind of off the main topic, but I'm not sure what "time outs" do for a dog? It's not really their language, if you know what I mean. I think Cesar Milan is great from the Dog Whisperer- his advice makes sense. Dogs are dogs and need leadership. Sometimes people try to treat dogs as human children and it confuses the dog. I'm not saying you do, but it's certainly possible that it could be an issue...

 

[LynnTH]

Agree with this.

We had an old dog who went through a "stage" with this when he was about 9/10. However, I was currently pregnant with my 2nd child and it could have been this. It did finally clear up on its own. We took him out often when we were home.

This is kind of off the main topic, but I'm not sure what "time outs" do for a dog? It's not really their language, if you know what I mean. I think Cesar Milan is great from the Dog Whisperer- his advice makes sense. Dogs are dogs and need leadership. Sometimes people try to treat dogs as human children and it confuses the dog. I'm not saying you do, but it's certainly possible that it could be an issue...

They don't get "time outs" very often. It's very rare. When they are very naughty we have them sit in the corner. (it's more of a way to let them know what they did was wrong and they know by going in the corner that they were naughty) Actually, they ususally just go there by themselves. We actually never thought they would stay there - but they did.

 

[seashoreCM]

Is the other dog (the Pekinese) starting to harass your Golden?

Is he having difficulty getting outdoors to "go" when he wants?

Are there other harassing dogs in the neighborhood when he goes outdoors?

Want to start retraining the old fashioned way? Like wait to catch him in the act, then immediately make him smell the "do" and quickly escort him to the litter box or wherever he is supposed to "go"?

 

[LynnTH]

Is the other dog (the Pekinese) starting to harass your Golden?

Is he having difficulty getting outdoors to "go" when he wants?

Are there other harassing dogs in the neighborhood when he goes outdoors?

Want to start retraining the old fashioned way? Like wait to catch him in the act, then immediately make him smell the "do" and quickly escort him to the litter box or wherever he is supposed to "go"?

The 2 dogs get along great. Our Peke is very laid back. You barely know he is there, so that is not a problem.

He goes in the back yard and only sees the neigbors dog between the fences and they are buddies as well.

He is in the house all day while we are at work. But, he has been doing this during the night as well and doesn't whine or bark to let us know he has to go out. When we are home he is out a lot of the time because he just likes to lay on the deck or in the snow.

 

[rodeo65]

We have a peke x spaniel who is the old dog in the house (13) and a younger labradoodle (4). We got the doodle as a friend for the peke, as well as dh wanting a big dog. The peke was the second and when our first had to be put down it was at the same time as we were starting to have children. We didn't realize how depressed she was with losing her buddy and the changes in haveing two new kids in the house until we got her the doodle. She was soooo thrilled to have a playmate again, she became like a puppy again.

We did, however, put her back into her crate beside the puppy. He would just cry when he was in the crate and she was free. Once we put the two crates side by side he settled down, and actually heads there after his last out at night - no other thought for him as to where he'd sleep. The little dog re-adjusted to her crate. We had never intended to keep them in at night and while we were away once he was house trained, but he is a chewer and has to be confined when not supervised. We are home all day, though, since dh works from home, so it's really just night and some evenings out that they are crated.

Are you only putting the retriever in the crate at night? Could you try putting them beside each other. I swear they're like kids as far as jealousy goes...my toy, I had it first, my spot etc. Maybe the same "why does she get to be out when I'm in?" feeling is there?

 

[LynnTH]

We have a peke x spaniel who is the old dog in the house (13) and a younger labradoodle (4). We got the doodle as a friend for the peke, as well as dh wanting a big dog. The peke was the second and when our first had to be put down it was at the same time as we were starting to have children. We didn't realize how depressed she was with losing her buddy and the changes in haveing two new kids in the house until we got her the doodle. She was soooo thrilled to have a playmate again, she became like a puppy again.

We did, however, put her back into her crate beside the puppy. He would just cry when he was in the crate and she was free. Once we put the two crates side by side he settled down, and actually heads there after his last out at night - no other thought for him as to where he'd sleep. The little dog re-adjusted to her crate. We had never intended to keep them in at night and while we were away once he was house trained, but he is a chewer and has to be confined when not supervised. We are home all day, though, since dh works from home, so it's really just night and some evenings out that they are crated.

Are you only putting the retriever in the crate at night? Could you try putting them beside each other. I swear they're like kids as far as jealousy goes...my toy, I had it first, my spot etc. Maybe the same "why does she get to be out when I'm in?" feeling is there?

They are not by each other at night. The Peke sleeps in our room and the golden is usually in the living room (now he is in the basement in the kennel). So, they never slept with each other at night to begin with. Even during the day the Peke will sleep in her bed in our room all day and the golden is usually in the living room.

 

[AuroraBeauty]

LynnTH, I feel for you. I have a 17 year old Jack Russell Terrier who started doing the same thing about a year ago. We had to crate her again. Although, we have a doggie door so we put her crate up to that so she can still go in and out as she pleases.

We did the same thing as you did, go to the vet. We found out that our little girl (dog) had early stages of doggie dementia as well as blindness. It could just be that your sweet baby is getting old (as far as goldies are concerned).

We're at the point that our dog can only be out of her crate for short periods of time because she gets very disoriented and will urinate or defecate in the house and not even realize what she is doing. She also stares at the wall instead of turning herself around toward people.

Other than the blindness and the dementia, she is spry and still loves to play. Our dog is in good health also. It makes it very difficult.

From your posts, I can sense you are very concerned about making sure your dog lives in a nice life. As long as your dog is physically healthy, and it's just part of aging then keep on loving your dog and spending time with him. It's safer for him to be in the kennel. I think we just have a negative feeling associated with kennels, but most dog experts will tell you that kenneling is good when done with love and respect.

Keep an eye on him to make sure he's eating/drinking/going to the bathroom normally. Sick dogs tend not to eat a lot.

Sending you pixie dust (and virtual cleaning solution)!

 

[LynnTH]

LynnTH, I feel for you. I have a 17 year old Jack Russell Terrier who started doing the same thing about a year ago. We had to crate her again. Although, we have a doggie door so we put her crate up to that so she can still go in and out as she pleases.

We did the same thing as you did, go to the vet. We found out that our little girl (dog) had early stages of doggie dementia as well as blindness. It could just be that your sweet baby is getting old (as far as goldies are concerned).

We're at the point that our dog can only be out of her crate for short periods of time because she gets very disoriented and will urinate or defecate in the house and not even realize what she is doing. She also stares at the wall instead of turning herself around toward people.

Other than the blindness and the dementia, she is spry and still loves to play. Our dog is in good health also. It makes it very difficult.

From your posts, I can sense you are very concerned about making sure your dog lives in a nice life. As long as your dog is physically healthy, and it's just part of aging then keep on loving your dog and spending time with him. It's safer for him to be in the kennel. I think we just have a negative feeling associated with kennels, but most dog experts will tell you that kenneling is good when done with love and respect.

Keep an eye on him to make sure he's eating/drinking/going to the bathroom normally. Sick dogs tend not to eat a lot.

Sending you pixie dust (and virtual cleaning solution)!

Thanks for the kind words. I am beginning to think from all the posts that it may be just an old dog thing. I was hoping it was a bladder infection or something that we could get medicine for. It is hard to put him back in kennel when he has had free run of the house for years. He has never chewed anything up and is a really good dog. It is really hard for my DH as it is his dog and buddy. This was the first year he did not take him pheasant hunting because he figured he just couldn't do it anymore and was afraid if he did he would be coming home without the dog.

DH has been cleaning everything (and not enjoying it). We just decided we are probably going to try and sell our house this spring too and we certainly don't need stains on the carpet. I keep hoping it is just a phase and it will pass... (wishful thinking maybe...)

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

I second the possibility of doggie alzheimers. We're dealing with the same issue with our 13 year old Boston Terrier and she's a textbook example. She'll occasionally get lost under the dining room table, bark at the walls, walk in random circles, easily disoriented, and the entirely-too-much fun random peeing and pooping.

We tried crating her but when she pooped she'd get it all over herself and then she'd need a bath as well as her crate and bedding. We tried gating her in the kitchen (tile floor) but we got tired of stepping in random puddles if we didn't look closely enough and the house was gaining an aroma of "old pee"... ick.

So... now she's in diapers. Honestly. And it's the best thing we ever did. She gets the run of the house, we get a clean house, and she wears a size 6, which happens to be the same as my 2 year old. I put one on her at night along with some vaseline petroleum jelly to protect her skin (just in case) from urine burns and then in the morning it comes off, she gets a good wiping, and she goes out and does her business yet again where she's supposed to. Whenever she's going to be unsupervised, she gets a diaper.

OK, now that you're all done laughing and shaking your heads in scornful disbelief, it works for us and if you're willing to put in a little bit of effort it's not such a bad thing.

I put velcro tabs on the inside of her sweater (you can see them in the pic with the sweater flipped up) which the diaper tabs wrap around and that keeps the diaper from sliding off her tush (she hasn't got much of a tail as is normal for a Boston). For warmer weather, I have a soft harness with the same tabs on it... laugh if you must but she's my little girl and has been the best companion we could have asked for for the past 13 years and she's earned this little bit of effort on our part.

 

[LynnTH]

I second the possibility of doggie alzheimers. We're dealing with the same issue with our 13 year old Boston Terrier and she's a textbook example. She'll occasionally get lost under the dining room table, bark at the walls, walk in random circles, easily disoriented, and the entirely-too-much fun random peeing and pooping.

We tried crating her but when she pooped she'd get it all over herself and then she'd need a bath as well as her crate and bedding. We tried gating her in the kitchen (tile floor) but we got tired of stepping in random puddles if we didn't look closely enough and the house was gaining an aroma of "old pee"... ick.

So... now she's in diapers. Honestly. And it's the best thing we ever did. She gets the run of the house, we get a clean house, and she wears a size 6, which happens to be the same as my 2 year old. I put one on her at night along with some vaseline petroleum jelly to protect her skin (just in case) from urine burns and then in the morning it comes off, she gets a good wiping, and she goes out and does her business yet again where she's supposed to. Whenever she's going to be unsupervised, she gets a diaper.

OK, now that you're all done laughing and shaking your heads in scornful disbelief, it works for us and if you're willing to put in a little bit of effort it's not such a bad thing.

I put velcro tabs on the inside of her sweater (you can see them in the pic with the sweater flipped up) which the diaper tabs wrap around and that keeps the diaper from sliding off her tush (she hasn't got much of a tail as is normal for a Boston). For warmer weather, I have a soft harness with the same tabs on it... laugh if you must but she's my little girl and has been the best companion we could have asked for for the past 13 years and she's earned this little bit of effort on our part.

That is too funny. I think my golden would tear the diaper off in a minute. He had to wear a sock once for some sore he had and that was darn near impossible to keep on him.

He doesn't see disorientated at all - seems perfectly fine except for doing his doody when we are not home or sleeping all over the house.

Glad to know we are not the only ones dealing with this (not that I wish anyone else poopy floors). and that we just have to come up with a solution for an aging dog...

 

[Eeyore18]

I think it is an old age thing. We have an almost 14 year old black lab.
He's been only pooping in the house (not peeing) once in awhile. Sometimes when he gets nervous or excited it happens. He's had recent blood work and that's been ok. Poor thing- I know he's embarrassed, but with 14 years of unconditional love...we just clean it up. He's happy, a bit slow, but we'll deal with it! Good luck!

 

[AuroraBeauty]

I second the possibility of doggie alzheimers. We're dealing with the same issue with our 13 year old Boston Terrier and she's a textbook example. She'll occasionally get lost under the dining room table, bark at the walls, walk in random circles, easily disoriented, and the entirely-too-much fun random peeing and pooping.

We tried crating her but when she pooped she'd get it all over herself and then she'd need a bath as well as her crate and bedding. We tried gating her in the kitchen (tile floor) but we got tired of stepping in random puddles if we didn't look closely enough and the house was gaining an aroma of "old pee"... ick.

So... now she's in diapers. Honestly. And it's the best thing we ever did.

I would do this for my baby dog, I still call her that b/c old lady dog doesn't sound as sweet and most people think she's a puppy anyway.

Dealing with an aging pet is a challenge. But, nothing that we can't overcome with patience and love. Some people might be quick to say goodbye, but there are those of us who want their companionship as long as possible.

My dog started with the 'forgetfulness' and would mess in the house, even though she had a dog door that is always accessible. Even crating her, she has accidents in the crate. But the forgetfulness turned in to staring at walls, growling and barking at her reflection, forgetting to turn around to get out of the crate and instead bopping her head into the crate.

If it's just a bit of doggie incontinence now, and your Goldie can be crated and it helps with the problem then you're doing great. As humans, many have incontinence problems as they age. We have several products to choose from to help with that situation. Kinda hard to convince grandma she should be crated (or locked in the bathroom). Our pets don't have many options. And while diapering them is a very real possibility, with some dogs it's not a viable option. Eating a diaper is deadly b/c the material expands when wet. So, if you think your dog might eat it then don't use it. I'm sure there are pet-friendly ones but you'd have to check on that.

With our crate, we put down several towels and a few old t-shirts so she doesn't feel alone. We also cover her crate with a towel so she doesn't get a direct breeze or too much direct sun. It also helps at night to keep it dark. With the blindness she sometimes can't figure out if it is day or night.

We love our pets and for many of us we've had them before we've had our kids, so they really are our 'babies'.

If your Goldie doesn't like being in the crate, try leaving on the radio/MP3 player playing music that he might be familiar with. Or possibly a white noise machine.

Again, stay strong and know you are doing the best for your Goldie.