2 wks ago my family went to Florida for 1 wk, we left our 14 month old Dobe at a cage free Doggie Daycare, Since we got back 1 wk ago he is more tired,( his appetite is still good and normal poop) yesterday he chewed the leather couch when we were at work, (he has been cage free in the house for last 2 months)and has never done that. Today he peed in the house sometime after my husband and I left, he has not had an accident in the house since he was 5 months. Does anyone think this is behavioral or he might be sick?? Please help

 Quote: LauraSilva

2 wks ago my family went to Florida for 1 wk, we left our 14 month old Dobe at a cage free Doggie Daycare, Since we got back 1 wk ago he is more tired,( his appetite is still good and normal poop) yesterday he chewed the leather couch when we were at work, (he has been cage free in the house for last 2 months)and has never done that. Today he peed in the house sometime after my husband and I left, he has not had an accident in the house since he was 5 months. Does anyone think this is behavioral or he might be sick?? Please help

You could collect a clean catch and drop it at the vet's and find out if he has a UTI. It's usually a pretty simple and inexpensive diagnosis.

Then you'll know what you're dealing with.

Thanks, I am going to do that.

Connie is always such a beacon of common sense! I agree that the easiest thing to do is eliminate a medical problem and then work on figure out what's wrong, behaviorally.

If you decide to address the behavior first, then a medical problem could be getting worse!

Keep us posted?

Not uncommon of the cage free boarding experience. I am all for the UTI (just spent the day at the vet for that very thing) however if that isn't the case, this is a COMMON problem.

At doggy daycare it is a free for all. The dogs go potty whenever they want if it is an indoor facility it makes matters worse. You have same sex dogs running and marking and mounting and competing and claiming territory and playing. So it isn't uncommon for the young dog to loose his housebreaking after a week of mayhem. All the hard work you put in goes out the window. Good news, easily regained with a little structure. I don't know if you crate trained your dog, but you need to go back to that for a while. How long? Cant say, but usually a week or two to get back on track. It is the price you pay when you do cage free. Putting dogs in caged boarding is not such a bad thing. It keeps their denning instinct in tact and keeps things structured. Especially in a young dog coming into maturity. I always crate after a board stay. Just to remind them of the rules.

Your dog has also spent 7 days in close company and then went back home and seems to be a little anxious hence the chewing. Your crate will solve all of this.

After I get my dogs back from boarding I have to lift them in the car. THey are sooooooooooo tired.

Again, I would go to the vet to rule out UTI but if all checks out.....

Thanks for the help, I am calling the vet today about a urine sample. We stopped the crate training because he was good (no chewing, no peeing or pooping in the house) about 2 months ago, but we still have the crate. I am going to bring it out temporarily. Thanks