August 06, 2013
My 3 1/2 year old dog is housebroken but is sneaking off to pee in the house. Can you help?
Full Question:
I have a question regarding my three and half year old Belgian Malinois. I got her when she was about two and a half years old wandering the streets. When I first brought her home over a year ago, she would urinate in my kids' bedrooms and my closet. I assumed house breaking issues so I purchased your eBook on housebreaking and followed the steps there several times, always having to start over. I recently got married and that has made the problem worse. My wife found that she had urinated and defecated on my wife's side of the bed. Now she will sneak off and urinate in our closet. We have tethered her to us so she could wander off and even resorted to leaving her in the crate unless she goes outside. My wife has seen her peaking around the corner in the hall like she was checking to see if she could pee. She seems to be housebroken but she is sneaking off to do this. We keep her crated, but sometimes the kids forget and then she sneaks off and pees. Any help would be great. Thanks.
Cindy's Answer:
I'd have her checked over by a vet to make sure she doesn't have any medical issues causing this. If she checks out ok, then I would take away all her privileges & treat her as if she was a new dog or puppy. No freedoms to wander away & get into trouble or make mistakes.
Start with our groundwork program.
I'd also recommend the video Pack Structure for the Family Pet. I'd go back to using the crate, a tether, and possibly an expen too.
The more you let her practice doing this, the harder it is to fix and she may always be a dog that needs confinement when you can’t watch her.
It's not ideal but there really isn’t any quick fix for this. I hope this helps.
Cindy Rhodes
Start with our groundwork program.
I'd also recommend the video Pack Structure for the Family Pet. I'd go back to using the crate, a tether, and possibly an expen too.
The more you let her practice doing this, the harder it is to fix and she may always be a dog that needs confinement when you can’t watch her.
It's not ideal but there really isn’t any quick fix for this. I hope this helps.
Cindy Rhodes
100% (6 out of 6)
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