Question:
Mocha is a 9-month-old chocolate Lab/German shorthaired pointer mix. He's a neutered, indoor dog, one of three.Mocha has been very good with housebreaking and rarely has an accident. If he does make a mistake it's usually our fault for not paying attention when he's asking to go out. However, we have this strange problem that I've never had with any of my pets -- he urinates on the bed!This is not a good thing. He has done this on two different beds, but mainly on just one. He first did this as a small puppy, probably by accident, but now he will go up there and immediately urinate, even when we're watching -- it seems deliberate. I've cleaned the beds as thoroughly as I can to try to remove any scent that he might be attracted to, but nothing has helped so far.Also, Mocha loves to chew things. Are the rawhide chew bones OK for him? We have to keep him supplied with something or he'll find things to chew that he's not supposed to. What's best for puppies to chew?.
K.V., Lamberton, MN Sep 18, 2005
Answer:
Most likely, your young dog is either responding to the surface texture of the beds as though he were outdoors on soft dirt and grass, or else he's actually "marking" -- staking out places in the house in competition with the other two dogs.First, have him checked out for cystitis (inflammation of the bladder), since animals suffering from this condition sometimes deliberately urinate in front of their human companions and caregivers. This is an unlikely possibility, but important to rule out.This bed soiling could be associated with excitement and submission, so simply ignore him. Do not punish him. Make going up on the beds unpleasant by placing several mousetraps that are set and placed upside down under sheets of newspaper laid out on the beds. The loud snaps they make under the paper will scare him, and he should quickly develop an aversion to getting up on the beds, upon which he should never be allowed for several months.Young dogs like to chew things, and the safest item is a 3- to 4-inch long piece
Subscribe