I have a mixed breed spayed dog that I adopted while living in Korea. She's approximately 8 years old. We're now living in Malaysia which has it's own trials and tribulations - she got scabies from a groomer and then a yeast infection due to the constant humidity. And, she's has to be an indoor dog until I'm in the position whereby I can rent a house (that's not next door to Muslims and even then I won't be able to leave her outside unsupervised).

Anyway. Her toileting routine is to go into my attached bathroom and leave her in there with the door closed until she's finished her business first thing in the morning. She then goes during the day independently. Again in the evening she's put into the bathroom before bed. She doesn't use a pad.

I noticed a while ago that she licks her urine. I didn't do anything about it. Thinking that it's not that common. It is however and I decided a week ago that she was no longer going to do it. Obviously I have to visually supervise her. If I leave her unsupervised in the bathroom she's going to lick her urine and not much point me telling her off after the act.

She won't go to the toilet while I'm with her in the bathroom.

Should mention - since I've decided that I want to change this behaviour she's been in her airline crate. Big enough to lie down in but nothing else. It has a water bowl that clips to the door.

She went to the toilet on the balcony Monday morning. Last night (Wednesday) when I got home it smelt like urine but I didn't see any evidence so I wasn't sure if she had licked it up. I put her in the bathroom but she wouldn't do anything (in fact she sits for a moment then lies down). I phoned the vet because I was worried about the effect of Nabi not drinking let alone holding on to her urine (she has barely drinking anything which she has a habit of doing). The vet recommended I give her cranberry juice. So I went out to buy her cranberry juice (I had tried to get her to go to the toilet). When I got back her was drenched in urine with a small patch on the floor of the crate.

I showered her and miraculously was able to persuade her to eat and drink. She was doing a lot of skipping around with the eating and drinking but I thought that was her normal (off and on again) behaviour. Nope. She peed in front of me (could be because the bathroom floor was wet - funny how that doesn't seem to matter when it's grass!!!!). I put her in the bathroom but she wouldn't pee anymore.

I tried to get her to pee several times this morning before going to work but she wouldn't. When I got home she had her towel tightly wedged into the corner of the crate covered in urine and feces. I showered her and again managed to persuade her to eat and drink. She hasn't been to the toilet since.

When I used to walk her outside to go to the toilet in Korea I realised that she was doing the little scenting pees rather than emptying her bladder (which she would do inside - not in the bathroom). It took me a long time to train her to go to the toilet when we first went outside. However it was easy for me to go in and out with her until she realised there'd be no fun running around checking out the new smells of the day until she peed.

So what do I do? I'm feeling rather desperate. Should I just let her lick away? I can't have her toileting in her crate everday - apart from it being a terrible habit it's hell on my back and distroys my evening.

Help!

She could very well just be cleaning up after herself. My dog even keeps his shed fur cleaned up off of the crate tray. When I used to put the water dish in the crate for him he would get upset about the water he spilled being on the tray and literally throw a fit until it was cleaned up.

My dog is completely an indoor dog, only going outside when my wife and/or I are with him. Is there a reason why you can't take your dog outside to potty instead of having her do it on the floor in your bathroom?

She may well be cleaning up after herself but she never used to do it (that I remember or notice) in Korea. She's inside because I'm in Malaysia. I live in a condo where animals aren't allowed but they turn a blind eye. I don't have a car to drive her out for walks. The other thing is that Malaysia is a Muslim country so dogs aren't exactly welcomed with open arms.

I'm really disappointed that lots of people have looked at my post but no one else has bothered to reply. (

Nabi seems to be winning this battle. I've been leaving her crate in the bathroom (with the crate door open) so she can go and pee whenever she needs to - and of course she's licking the urine. Basically she's deciding when she's going to the toilet not me.

Any ideas?

I'm being quite strict with her these days. She's has to lie on the floor at my feet instead of automatically up on the sofa and she hasn't slept on my bed for at least a week.

You will probably wish no one else had responded. How long is this dog going to have to live like this?

Do you think it's fair to ask an obviously clean animal to forgo eliminating outside in favor of NEVER even being able to go outside and having to go to the bathroom in a small indoor room? I can't imagine what mine would do if they had to live like this. I bet a few would give themselves infections before they'd go inside.

This is not good for the dog, physically or mentally! If you cannot change this situation very soon, I would suggest you do something else with the dog.

Incidentally, I know plenty of Muslims with dogs. As a general rule, they don't believe dogs should be in the house, but I have a hard time believing it would be that big of a deal if you took the poor dog outside on a leash! I also know many people in Malaysia...and every one of them has dogs.

I'm kind of confused...seems like licking urine is the least of the problems here.

 Quote: linda martin

I'm really disappointed that lots of people have looked at my post but no one else has bothered to reply. (


Any ideas?

I'm being quite strict with her these days. She's has to lie on the floor at my feet instead of automatically up on the sofa and she hasn't slept on my bed for at least a week.

This sounds like a life of hell to me. What a sad existance for this animal. My ideas would include either begin taking the dog outside on leash today - morning noon and night, giving her the ability to smell the grass or concrete or whatever, get some decent exercise and act like a dog is supposed to act or responsibly rehome the dog. Her behavior is not normal but how can she be expected to be "normal" under these conditions. I think you are fortunate this is the only strange behavior you are seeing.

 Quote: Linda Martin

I'm really disappointed that lots of people have looked at my post but no one else has bothered to reply. (

Well...I guess it boils down to how many times and different ways do you want to hear that this is no life for a dog?

leih

Yeah, I have to agree with everyone else here. If you can't own the dog, please don't. It's really unfair of you to force her to live under these conditions.

 Quote: barbara schuler

.... This sounds like a life of hell to me. What a sad existance for this animal.

This is why more folks have not "bothered to reply."

This board cares about dogs. They are being extremely kind to you, considering what kind of a life you are providing for this poor dog.

If you want to totally change the way you live with the dog, then you will get help here.* If you don't, I would urge that the dog be rehomed.

"When I got home she had her towel tightly wedged into the corner of the crate covered in urine and feces."

The poor thing, trying against all odds to keep her space clean.


* We would love to help you change her life to help her be a dog. A canid is not meant to live this way, never seeing the outdoors and never getting the exercise she needs and craves. Please let us (or someone) help you to completely change this. This is abuse.

Wish I hadn't read this story.

I'm taking my dogs out right now and try to forget about this tale of abuse.

Plain and simple abuse....I wish I had not read any of this....what a horrible life for this poor dog.