Hello,

My name is Sara, I recently joined the board and I have also purchased a few videos on obedience and training for dogs. Now, these videos are perfect for our new addition to the family which is an all black per breed German shepherd.

My problem is, it does not aid us with our senior dog. He is an American German Shepherd and is about the age of 15 almost 16. He is a very well behaved dog in general and is a happy puppy. Yet, we have been having difficulty with him deciding to use the house as a potty place instead of telling us he needs to go outside.

I thought this was because he was lazy until I did a bit of research and a trip to the vet. My dog doesn't have arthritis in his back legs, instead he has another disease where he simply looses his muscle mass. He can walk but he can't jump and I guess due to this he is unable to really control when he needs to go.

I can't really correct him for the issue but I can't always be cleaning up. Is there another way to deal with this? He is not an outside dog and being it’s so cold I wouldn't dare put him in the cold. He is also not in pain and because he is still such a happy dog and a good dog with still some pep in his step I refuse to needlessly put him down.

Can someone suggest something?


Thank You,
Sara

Did you ask the vet if it was due to the disease? Could be unrelated, and could be another medical problem entirely. Before I resigned myself to cleaning up all the time, I'd investigate it before chalking it up to the existing mucsle problem, although that's a likely cause.

What about diapers? Seriously. They have them. I'd try that. You're right not to put him down as long as he's in no pain and still has a spring in his step.

Thank You Jenni,

Yes, I have taken him to the vet and at the time the problem wasn’t an extreme and we were told he was a very healthy dog for his age. Which as an owner made me proud, I love a happy pup. The vet did list a few draw backs towards his disease and those were one of them. The uncontrolled urge to go but not know it, I feel horrible about it having seen it first hand myself.

He has been asleep in the living room near me and suddenly while he is asleep I see his tail move and he suddenly goes potty. He will wake up and looked surprised and then hide his head because he doesn’t want to get yelled at.

I have considered diapers and I am considering more and more. I am just not too familiar with the process of them and I am not sure how he would act with them on. Have you had any experience with the product on dogs?

By the way, those are two beautiful dogs.

Thank you,
Sara

 Quote: Sara Fernandes

By the way, those are two beautiful dogs.

Thank you. The sable one now belongs to another forum member, but I'll leave it up to her to divulge...


I personally haven't used diapers, but my aunt uses them for when her dog's in heat, and she doesn't mess with them. They're pretty well-designed so as not to be a big discomfort to the dog. Worth a try, IMO. Congrats on a nearly 16 y/o GSD.

Hi Jenni,
I don't mid a bit divulging that I and my husband are now proud the owners of Blaster, the sable in your signature pic. And yes, he is beautiful and awesome and we thank you so much for this fantastic boy.

Hi Karen! Wasn't trying to hijack Sara's thread, but I can't have her complimenting a dog I don't own now, can I ? A few people have asked about him, so I'm glad the cat's out of the bag, so to speak. I'm also so thankful that he ended up with you guys. He deserves the best!

Sara

I have used diapers on an incontinent female dog. My dog was 17 years old when she had them. It was one of those fabric diapers taht you put on dogs in heat, then you use a human sanitary napkin. I don't know what is available for males but I know they have them.

I did not use them at night because I didn't want her skin to be exposed to urine that long.

What I did for night time was she had one of those orthopedic dog beds. She slept in a plastic airline kennel at night and Her dog bed was in there. I took the dog bed, removed the (removable) fake sheepskin/fleece cover and wrapped the mattress part in plastic - I used yard waste plastic bags. Then I put the cover back on. Then when she wet the bed, I could just wash the cover of the bed and the mattress part was protected by the plastic.

I hope that makes sense. My dog did not mind the diapers at all, even though she was spayed at 6 months and never wore them because of being in heat.

Hope that helps.

 Quote: Sara Fernandes

...He is an American German Shepherd and is about the age of 15 almost 16.... he is unable to really control when he needs to go. ... Can someone suggest something?


Thank You,
Sara

Yes, there's a product called Tinkle Trousers that a senior shepherd mix I know wears indoors.

There are many products for canine incontinence, actually, but this is the only one I know first-hand. They work great for the dog I know.

http://www.tinkletrousers.com/

Here are a couple of the diaper type:

http://www.diapersfordogs.com/

http://www.petdiapers.com/diaper/

 Quote: Angela Burrell

What I did for night time was she had one of those orthopedic dog beds. She slept in a plastic airline kennel at night and Her dog bed was in there. I took the dog bed, removed the (removable) fake sheepskin/fleece cover and wrapped the mattress part in plastic - I used yard waste plastic bags. Then I put the cover back on. Then when she wet the bed, I could just wash the cover of the bed and the mattress part was protected by the plastic.

This also sounds great for nighttime.