We have had problems with our wire haired terror spite peeing in the house when I leave for work, despite the fact that we installed a doggy door so he could go to a kennel area. Leaving him in the garage, even with a doggy door to the same kennel area, still left him peeing in the garage. Because of the Florida heat, we could not make him stay outside. It basically came down to crating or getting rid of him. The problem is that in times past he would scratch to get out until he injured himself.

I made the decision to crate him anyway and he immediately started peeing in his crate. I thought dogs weren't supposed to do that! This meant that he was also lying in his own pee.

Oddly enough, it took about six weeks and I think he discovered that all the peeing in the world was not going to get him out of the crate. He has basically stopped this behavior. He also rarely scratches to get out.

We also keep him in the crate in the garage at night when we sleep. We were having major issues with him growling and lunging at my husband. He also woke me up several times during the night acting like he needed to go outside, even though he had access through the doggy door. Since crating him, his aggression issues have abated.

I'm beginning to think that the crate is my new best friend.

"Spite peeing"?!

Buster becomes consistently more and more agitated as I get ready for work. I've even tried changing my routine to psych him out. Despite the fact that I watch him urinate outside just before I leave for work, as I get ready to close the front door, he lifts his leg on the wall. It is his way of letting me know he is royally upset that one of his pack mates is leaving without him. Hence "spite peeing".

The funny thing is that he has no problem using the doggy door when I am home. He KNOWS he is supposed to relieve himself outside. He chooses not to when I'm gone.

What is his morning exercise routine?

Is he now crated during the day or just while you get ready for work?

I don't believe dogs have the cognitive/emotional capacity for something as complicated as "spite," but I'm glad the crate training is working out for you. Crates are indeed a very good management tool.

Why would a dog pee to show it's "spite"?
that's too complex of an emotion for a dog.



YOU think that's what it means. NOT the dog.



when you see him lift his leg and pee on the wall what do you do?
or what did you do? Do you come back in?

 Quote: Chris Kuck

The funny thing is that he has no problem using the doggy door when I am home. He KNOWS he is supposed to relieve himself outside. He chooses not to when I'm gone.

Hi Chris and welcome. He chooses not to use the doggy door when you are not home because peeing inside is a self-rewarding behavior. Why should he go outside when he's got the whole living room to himself, with lots of available spots to pee, and no one to tell him that it's not OK?

Once a dog starts peeing in the house, and is allowed to continue to do so, you have to pretty much start from scratch. And that means crating. Good job on getting the crate.

Take it slowly, and don't give him the opportunity to pee when you are not there.

Are you practicing marker training?

My Bichon is on an every-3-hour schedule at 6 mo old. She's pretty good about it, unless I get distracted and let it go longer. She sleeps in a crate at night and stays dry all night. She got a bug bite on her tail a few weeks ago that threw her off, but we're back on schedule now. For some reason her hind end is extremely sensitive. We keep her in a crate when we aren't home and I put her in for naps, one hour in the am, one hour after lunch. Time to get her outside now!

Buster's urination as I'm walking out the door is definitely a signal to me that he is displeased about the fact that I'm leaving him behind. "Spite" might not be the correct word, as I understand that dogs don't have the emotions of humans, but it is the word I use to describe it, but I don't speak dog language.

I corrected him immediately the times I caught him doing the deed. I knew he'd just urinated outside, so it was not the fact that he needed to relieve himself. He RARELY urinates inside when I'm home, and if he does it is my fault for not paying attention to the signals he is giving me.

I've started crating him at the point where I realize he is going to wig out because I'm getting ready. Fortunately my college student daughter lives at home with us and lets him out later in the day, but I can't trust him if she is still sleeping when I leave for work. Also, my husband and I work staggered schedules so Buster isn't in the crate for a full 9 - 10 hours. I also drive home at lunch time and let him out.

Thanks for posting to this, Lynn. There are times that I feel guilty about the crating, but I've seen such a marked improvement in him, ESPECIALLY with aggression toward family members. Yes, I use marker training to a degree. Honest to gosh, I cannot figure out what motivates this dog! Our other dog, Heidi, is definitely food motivated. I can get her to do just about anything just by offering a "cookie". Buster loves praise, but it doesn't seem like motivation enough. I've tried the e-collar, and it is great motivation against disobeying a known command during training, but I don't leave the derned thing on 24/7.

I've owned dogs all my life, and I can honestly say this is the most obstinate, ornery, bull headed dog I've EVER owned. Thank God for Leerburg, or I might have committed hari kari by now.

 Quote: Chris Kuck

I've started crating him at the point where I realize he is going to wig out because I'm getting ready. Fortunately my college student daughter lives at home with us and lets him out later in the day, but I can't trust him if she is still sleeping when I leave for work. Also, my husband and I work staggered schedules so Buster isn't in the crate for a full 9 - 10 hours. I also drive home at lunch time and let him out.

Chris, from what you are describing, he sounds like he is very anxious when he knows you are leaving; I would hazard a guess that he is peeing out of anxiety. I would not correct for this, just manage it better...

At any rate, get him into the crate with something to occupy him (like a stuffed kong or bully stick or other chewable/edible treat) a good 10 minutes before you start to get ready.
If you normally take him out immediately before you leave the house, change your routine a bit so that you can have him out for a potty break and then settled in the crate well before he sees the signs that you are getting ready to leave. This may help with his anxiety somewhat.

He is getting plenty of potty breaks during the day, so do not feel guilty for crating him. If he is suffering from anxiety, he will be less anxious in the crate than loose in the house.