Adult dog toilet training

RE: Adult dog toilet training

gemma83 — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 13:54:42 GMT

no not incontinent, she's had bloods and urine tests done. Always in the hallway and most of the time will whine but not always

RE: Adult dog toilet training

Celine — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 13:06:00 GMT

Sorry hadn't read the post properly - not incontinence then!

RE: Adult dog toilet training

Celine — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 13:05:15 GMT

My first thought would have been that the dog is training the owner to get up! But you did say she sometimes doesn't cry and wets anyway (are you sure about this? Might it just be that the owners have closed the bedroom door / slept soundly that night?)

So, if she's definitely wetting with or without crying for attention I'd definitely be looking at medical. How thorough was the vet assessment? Were contrast x-rays and other investigations done (I know, it sounds overboard but) or was it just a quick palpate and chat? Because unless the whole hog was gone I guess we can't totally eliminate medical.

Does she pee in a spot on the rug (intentional peeing) or is she wetting in her bed (incontinence?) Is she spayed?

I think the most likely (in that common things are common) reason will be that pup has learnt that if she whimpers people will get up to see her and it is lovely and fun and much better than being left alone all night. My dog tried this for a bit after he had a bought of diarrhoea and really DID need to be let out urgently throughout the night - he tried to continue it well after he got better! He failed!

I'd talk all that through with them and suggest a late pee as they have been doing, a crate, and accepting that she may whinge/bark for a VERY long time (my dog - one period of ONE HOUR followed by another 25 MINS in one night) because the behaviour has been reinforced for a while now and if reinforcement is being withheld they will just work harder to get it! Client will have to accept that they mustn't call out to the dog or go to the doorway to shush them as this is still perceived as a type of reinforcement (nearly there! They heard me I just have to bark louder!) and will make their lives very difficult. I'd recommend doing it on a Friday night in case they lose a lot of sleep!

Good luck!

RE: Adult dog toilet training

gemma83 — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 22:32:26 GMT

What I find strange is that for a year she would go through the night but now she is getting the owners up once or twice a night to go out. Apparently nothing has changed in her/their routine.

She gets fed at 6pm has access to water all night but doesn't get up to drink in the middle of the night and will go outside last thing at night usually around 10.30-11pm.

Think they might have to try a crate

RE: Adult dog toilet training

enigmaticat-uk — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 16:42:22 GMT

I'm not really big on dog training knowledge but my suggestion would be for her owners to set an alarm for just before the time she is tending to need to go, and take her out for a pee before she goes on the carpet. Once she is in a routine of not going on the carpet then very gradually set the alarm later & later and see if she can eventually wait the whole night. It may be she has a small bladder and they will just have to get up for her to pee at night. (I presume they are taking her out just before they all go to bed)